Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has assured Nigerians that no sector of the society will be spared in the ongoing fight against corruption, describing the menace as too endemic to be overlooked. Osinbajo said what is happening in the country, especially the high level poverty and other vices bedeviling the country, were direct consequences of corruption that has permeated every sector of the economy. He spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday during the 2016 convocation of Afe Babalola University, in the state capital.

The country’s number two man, while responding to a request by Governor Ayodele Fayose for the construction of an airport in the state, said: “Ekiti State deserves an airport but I have discussed what we need in return with His Excellency. The Federal Government will continue to give support to every project that will fast-track development in each of the states of the federation. We know how important is this airport to Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).”

He stated that the country’s citizens need re-orientation to wipe out corruption that has permeated every institution of government. According to the Vice President “I have great respect for Chief Afe Babalola because of his stand against corruption. Sometimes in 2002, Chief Babalola argued the case for the establishment of Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) where he let the court realised that corruption is the greatest problem of our nation.

“All the institutions of government, I mean the executive, legislature and the judiciary are corrupt. What we need is serious re-orientation. That is why ABUAD is a great university because it teaches learning, character and morality. So, value reorientation is a key weapon to fight corruption.

“That was why the present is intervening, because if we refuse every facet of the country will fail. We must act fast and deal with the situation as quickly as possible”

Commending ABUAD for blazing the trail in academic and other resourceful ventures, Osinbajo advised the graduands to be multi-skilled to be able to compete under the present economic situation.

“You must be trustworthy and honest apart from being skillful and resourceful to be able to make a great impact in the future ahead of you. You must reflect on the values they have inculcated in you in the institution and be conscious of the fact that Nigeria, your country must be great and through which this can be achieved with your contributions”, the VP advised.

He said he never had misgivings for Chief Babalola’s competence to run an all-inclusive university, hinging this on the achievement the ABUAD’s founder made as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Lagos.

Fayose, who pleaded with the Federal Government to inject the airport project in the 2017 appropriation bill, said the request represents the interest of the generality of Ekiti populace.

The governor urged the Federal Government to replicate all the good virtues ABUAD represents in the federal universities, describing the only private university in the state as a reference point to other universities not only in the country, but in Africa at large.

Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Motors, Dr. Cosmos Maduka, was among the three who received the institution’s honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration. Responding to the award, Maduka said: “It all depends on God. Life is about mindset, coming from a humble beginning but I have a godly mother who inspired me for greatness. I never knew I would achieve this much but once you make a decision, the universe joins you to make that dream a reality, that summarises my life story today and I hope to continue to grow higher and higher. So, I appreciate the Afe Babalola University for honouring me with this Doctorate Degree in Business Administration today.”

•Text courtesy of Saturday Sun. Photo shows Vice President Osinbajo.

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