Leadership coach and former presidential candidate of the now-defunct Alliance for New Nigeria, Fela Durotoye, has shared how he resisted a fraudulent government deal worth N5 billion, despite immense pressure from an official who identified as a pastor.
Speaking at the ongoing biannual conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Abuja on Tuesday, Durotoye recounted the experience, describing it as a major test of integrity.
According to him, the official approached him with a lucrative contract to train individuals across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas within eight weeks. The proposal seemed legitimate, and after assessing the project, his team estimated a fair cost of N1.3 billion.
However, just three days later, he received a call from the official, informing him that the job was his. To his surprise, the official suggested inflating the contract price, offering him an additional N700 million, bringing the total to N2 billion. The official then insisted that he should submit an invoice for N5 billion.
Durotoye was immediately concerned about the ethical implications of such an inflated figure, especially since the program focused on ethical leadership. When he raised concerns, the official dismissed them, justifying the scheme as a form of reward for years of service.
“He said he had served the country and deserved compensation. When I reminded him that God’s blessings add no sorrow, he replied, ‘There is no sorrow in this one. You have done well for Nigeria; it’s time for Nigeria to do well for you,’” Durotoye recalled.
Under increasing pressure, he ultimately decided to cut communication by switching off his phone. Three months later, reports surfaced that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrested several presidency officials for diverting N426 million from the ethical leadership training fund.
Reflecting on the experience, Durotoye emphasized the need for strong moral values in resisting corruption. “Only your values can help you turn down corrupt tendencies,” he stated.
He also spoke about his role in the Tinubu administration as a Special Assistant to the President. Durotoye disclosed that he declined an official car, house, or salary during his service.
“It was difficult to process my resignation because, as someone in government told me, my refusal to accept those benefits made it harder to implicate me in corruption,” he revealed.
Despite the challenges, he acknowledged meeting others in government who shared his commitment to integrity. “When we uphold the right values, corruption will no longer thrive in this country,” he concluded.
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