Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has said the challenges facing Nigeria is as a result of the handiwork of “sycophants” who are out to “destroy the country.”
Reports say Cardinal Okogie made this statement on Sunday, shortly after inaugurating Archbishop, Patrick EboseleEkpu, Resource Centre in Benin, Edo State.He explained that the leadership of the country had been under the influence of individuals who were not interested in the overall wellbeing of the masses.Okogie said that a good leader must be conscious of those around him but that some of them in leadership positions were not interested in the socio-economic development of the country.“Look at the kind of leadership we have been having. The leader may be good in himself, but those around him are sycophants. These are the ones who destroy the country and these are what any good leader should be aware of,” he said.The former Lagos Archbishop decried the attitude of some citizens who had been mixing religion with politics adding that Nigeria needed a leader who would make the welfare of Nigerians a priority, notwithstanding his religion.Okogie also described as wasteful the act of offering financial gratification in exchange for votes, saying the electorate “are even wiser today.”He said, “We are looking for the welfare of the nation; somebody who will be the father of the nation, not just a Catholic, a Muslim or whatever.“If he hasn’t got the capacity, then don’t vote for him. So, we have to try and test them.“And those who are wasting their money buying (votes), Nigerians are even wiser than that today. They will eat your money for nothing.”