Former APC Chair Ayoola Lawal Slams Global Corruption Ranking of President Tinubu

Mr. Ayoola Lawal, the former Secretary of the Committee of APC Diaspora Chairmen, has strongly condemned the inclusion of President Bola Tinubu in the recent global corruption ranking by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Lawal, who previously served as the Chairman of the APC in Scandinavian countries, voiced his concerns in a statement issued on Saturday. He questioned the basis and fairness of the ranking, which placed Tinubu among the world’s most corrupt leaders in 2024.

He described the ranking as “unjustified” and “lacking in merit,” highlighting that many of the allegations cited against the President, which led to his inclusion, were historical and remain unproven.

“It is utterly perplexing that the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, is being ranked based on allegations that predate his presidency and have yet to be substantiated in any court of law,” Lawal said. “The OCCRP’s decision to include him in such a ranking appears to be more about perception than proven factual evidence.”

Lawal also argued that the ranking failed to consider Tinubu’s leadership and policy initiatives, which he described as bold and focused on addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges. While acknowledging that some of Tinubu’s policies have sparked public debate, he emphasized that these should not overshadow his efforts to tackle the country’s pressing issues.

“One would expect the OCCRP to focus on leaders whose actions in office have been proven to undermine public trust through corruption,” Lawal stated. “Targeting President Tinubu with historical and unresolved allegations not only undermines his leadership but also casts Nigeria and Nigerians in a negative light on the global stage.”

The former APC leader urged the OCCRP to provide clearer criteria for its rankings and to avoid what he called “selective judgment” that could harm the international perception of developing nations.

He called on Nigerians to stay focused on holding their leaders accountable through constructive dialogue and democratic processes, rather than relying on controversial rankings that might be influenced by bias.

“True leadership accountability comes from within, through our institutions and collective voice as a people. We must not allow external assessments that lack convincing standards to define our narrative without critically examining their validity,” he concluded.

Lawal also expressed hope that the OCCRP would address the criticisms of its methodology and the inclusion of President Tinubu in its 2024 rankings.