By Dayo Adesulu

LAGOS—Expert in Strategy and Development, Dr. Imonitie Imoisili, yesterday, charged President Muhammadu Buhari to work towards winning the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. He said that winning Ibrahim Prize of $5 million over 10 years and $200,000 per year for life, thereafter, were enough motivations for African presidents to jettison corruption and meet the criteria for the award.

Speaking while delivering a lecture on Nigeria for All Nigerians: Resetting Nigeria’s Development Default Mode, at the University of Lagos yesterday, Imoisili said: “Is the money involved in the award not much better retirement funds than a self-award of corruption and bribery?”

According to him, the aim of the Ibrahim Prize is to change the perceptions of African leadership by showcasing exceptional role models from the continent. The Ibrahim prize, he noted, will ensure that the African continent conti-nues to benefit from the experience and wisdom of exceptional leaders once they have left office, by enabling them to continue in other public roles on the continent.

In 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2013 the prize committee, after a review of African Presidents, did not select a winner. Meanwhile, Imoisili also urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to employ modern strategy. He said because of the connivance between corrupt politicians and the citizenry, EFCC needs to go extra mile for additional evidence, so offenders cannot escape the wrath of the law.

Some of the modern gadgets to prosecute crime, he said, include Bank Verification Number, BVN; National Identification Number, NIN; e-Passport, Card Reader, surveillance cameras, among others.