Bola Babarinde, a former chairman of the All Progressives Congress in South Africa, has advocated the death penalty for corrupt public officeholders in Nigeria.

Mr Babarinde, in a statement on Tuesday, said there was an urgent need to consider capital punishment as a strict measure to restore the country’s accountability and integrity.

He said that some public officeholders’ ostentatious display of wealth needed scrutiny.

Mr Babarinde, who noted that there should be a regular life audit to assess the legitimacy of public office holders’ assets, said many of them could not afford certain luxuries without engaging in corrupt practices.

He said such a mechanism to monitor and curb public servants’ excessive and reckless display of unexplained wealth was essential to build trust in the citizenry.

Mr Babarinde also said that the present administration needed to be more dynamic and open to advice to address the decline in public character and the increasing difficulty in finding genuinely service-oriented individuals.

“Leadership by example is crucial. The substantial budgets allocated for renovations and SUVs, while public servants preach patience to the citizenry, reflect a disconnect between those in power and the public they serve.

“This disparity undermines public trust and calls for a re-evaluation of spending practices. Transparency in the salaries and allowances of public officeholders is needed.

“The current figures are excessive, and a reduction to 60 per cent of their present levels should be implemented, along with a formal apology to Nigerians for the misallocation of funds and pledge to fully optimise expenditure for national development,” he stated.

The politician added, “Public officeholders and those with police escorts must adhere to traffic regulations. The prevalence of road rage and disregard for laws by those who can afford security details is troubling and needs to be addressed.”

Mr Babarinde also said that the country’s rising cost of staple foods was a pressing issue, driven largely by inadequate local production of essentials such as rice, beans, and wheat.

According to him, the disruption in farming systems and seasons, particularly in northern Nigeria due to climate change and criminal activities, with the displacement of farmers by herdsmen in the Middle Belt and Western regions, exacerbated the situation.

Mr Babarinde, however, said that the Nigerians in the diaspora were willing to drive positive change if their perspectives were considered.

According to him, many perceived challenges are more manageable than they appear.

“Engaging with Nigerians in the diaspora could provide valuable insights and solutions, as their experience and exposure are valuable assets that should be tapped and deployed for national development at home,” Mr Babarinde stated.

(NAN)