A member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and former representative of Esan North-East/Esan South-East Federal Constituency in Edo State, Sergius Ogun, has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s political leadership, questioning the financial transparency of public office holders and the conduct of some senior government officials.
Ogun, a lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives, made the remarks during a press conference aired by Arise News on Tuesday, April 21, 2025, where he addressed issues relating to democratic accountability, political history, and governance in Nigeria.
He expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as inconsistent political behaviour among members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that historical context should not be ignored when evaluating current leadership.
Ogun referenced Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle during the military era, particularly the activities of the G34, a group that opposed the late General Sani Abacha’s regime, saying it was important to recognise the individuals who participated in that movement.
“I’m not surprised at the behavior of these individuals in APC. When the G34 went to the late General Abacha so many years ago, no one member of the present-day APC went there. Where were they then?” he said.
The former lawmaker suggested that political legitimacy should also be viewed through the lens of historical participation in democratic struggles, especially during the transition from military to civilian rule in 1999.
He further used the platform to raise questions about wealth accumulation and financial transparency among political leaders since the return to democratic governance.
Ogun called for closer scrutiny of public office holders’ financial backgrounds, arguing that Nigerians deserve clearer understanding of how political leaders have evolved economically over the years.
“In 1999, what was the net worth of the President, Senate President; I had contracts worth $1m,” he said, referencing his own experience in business dealings around the period Nigeria returned to civilian rule.
He added further emphasis on his concerns about transparency and accountability in public service, insisting that Nigerians should not ignore questions about how political office holders accumulated wealth over time.
“Let people answer it. Let us know what they had then and what they have now,” he reportedly added in continuation of his remarks, stressing that public trust in governance depends on openness regarding financial history….See More
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