The Vice Chancellor of the Osun State University, Prof. Labo Popoola, has said Nigeria would remain economically poor as long as those in positions of authorities continue to suffer from spiritual poverty.
Delivering a paper titled: “Promoting Prosperity and Eradicating Poverty,”, at the 72nd birthday anniversary of the chairman of Tuns Group Limited and Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Tunde Badmus, in Osogbo, Osun State capital, he posited that for any leader to make a difference he must first break the yoke of spiritual poverty, which he said was the bane of right political leadership.
The Professor of Economics said those engaged in graft lack the capacity to lead the nation because they don’t have the spiritual freedom required by the exalted positions of authorities.
According to him, taking the nation to a “prosperous zone” should be the business of everyone, adding that the followers as well as the leaders have stakes and responsibilities.
He expressed sadness at the “compromising attitude” of the followers, whom he said encouraged corruption by celebrating corrupt leaders and looking up to them as solutions to their poverty.
Popoola, who shared his recent experience of a roadside cornseller, who openly glorified ill gotten wealth, said: “I was waiting for a corn seller to roast some maize for me sometime ago when overheared her praying for a young daughter that God would enable her steal public funds without being caught and would spend on her family. I was shocked to hear that.
“This country is in a mess because spiritually poor people are the ones who have the opportunity to rule. Whoever is spiritually poor will steal public funds. Another case is that of spiritually poor followers, who will see nothing wrong in stealing of public funds.
To revive the nation’s economy, Popoola called for revitalisation of the education sector, total rehabitation of infrastructural amenities, reducing cost of living and massive investment in agriculture.
He said Nigerians should cultivate culture of hard work, integrity and must spend less on frivolities and should work more to earn honest and commensurate pay.