Second Republic politician, Dr. Tunji Braithwaite has averred that the duo of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, made corruption attractive to state governors in the country.

Braithwaite explained that the policies and actions of the two former Nigerian presidents elevated corruption in governance, adding that many state governors were merely emulating them.

The legal icon spoke to the Punch in response to a statement credited to Obasanjo where the former president slammed state governors for living like emperors to the detriment of the masses.

Obasanjo had said at a function in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday that “Nigeria is a country where some governors have become sole administrators, acting like emperors. These governors have rendered public institutions irrelevant and useless.”

In his reaction to the above statement, Braithwaite said, “Obasanjo is not saying anything original because when he assumed office in 1999, I warned that the military constitution would make the governors emperors. Governors determine security votes which they do not account for. Since 1999, the military constitution clothes them (governors and president) with immunity against being arrested for criminal misdeeds. Many of them brazenly looted the treasury and got away with it. Obasanjo became rich through this structure.

“Something appears to be driving Obasanjo to be making frivolous statements everywhere. He and Babangida made corruption attractive to governors and they elevated corruption in governance which subsequent presidents and governors are emulating.”