Adewole Adebayo, presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has described Nigerians as more honest and compassionate than people in Britain and the United States.
Adebayo made the remarks during an interview on the Naija Unfiltered Podcast, where he spoke about his international experience, leadership and the character of Nigerians.
The SDP candidate said his professional work and investments had given him the legal right to live and work in 21 countries, adding that his experiences abroad had strengthened his belief in Nigerians.
“All I can say is that I have travelled, and you can check the record: I have a legitimate right to live and work in 21 countries by virtue of my professional work and investments,” he said.
Adebayo, who said he became a fellow of the Institute of Arbitration in Singapore, compared the remuneration of public officials in Singapore with that of their Nigerian counterparts.
The presidential candidate also argued that economic hardship could affect people’s conduct, regardless of their nationality.
“It is the duty of a leader of a country to not push your people to the point of extinction and expect them to not cave under it,” he said.
Adebayo said Nigerian leaders should lead by example, arguing that citizens could easily identify hypocrisy among public officials, who preach against corruption while allegedly enriching themselves.
He said 99 percent of his wealth was managed by other people and that his experience employing Nigerians had rarely left him disappointed.
“Rarely have I regretted hiring Nigerians to work for me. Nigeria has more honest people than Britain, than Americans, than anything. Nigerians have a heart of compassion,” he said.
Adebayo added that Nigerians should not be portrayed as inherently corrupt or dishonest, blaming the country’s leadership for setting poor examples.
“We are good people, but our leaders are the worst example,” he said.
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