R enowned leadership coach and former presidential candidate, Fela Durotoye, has revealed how he turned down an opportunity to fraudulently siphon ₦5 billion from a government training contract, despite immense pressure from a senior official who claimed to be a pastor.
Speaking at the ongoing biannual conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in Abuja, Durotoye recounted the experience, which he described as a defining test of integrity.
According to him, the official approached him with a lucrative training contract that involved conducting leadership training across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas within eight weeks. Durotoye was assured that he had already been selected for the job and was encouraged to submit his invoice.
After conducting a thorough cost analysis, his team arrived at a fair and reasonable sum of ₦1.3 billion for the training. However, just three days later, he received a congratulatory call from the presidency, informing him that he had been awarded the contract but with one alarming caveat—the proposed budget was “too small.”
“They told me they would add ₦700 million to make it ₦2 billion, but then asked me to submit an invoice for ₦5 billion,” Durotoye disclosed.
Shocked by the request, he questioned why the amount should be inflated, particularly for a program centered on ethical leadership. The official, however, dismissed his concerns and attempted to justify the move.
“He assured me that he wasn’t ripping off Nigeria, claiming that after years of service, he deserved compensation. When I reminded him that true blessings come without sorrow, he simply replied, ‘There is no sorrow in this one. You have been doing well for Nigeria. It is time for Nigeria to do well for you,’” Durotoye narrated.
As the pressure to comply intensified, Durotoye made a bold decision—he switched off his phone and cut off communication. Three months later, reports surfaced that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arrested several presidency officials for embezzling ₦426 million from an ethical leadership training fund.
Reflecting on the ordeal, he emphasized the importance of strong moral values in resisting corruption.
“Only your values can help you turn down corrupt tendencies,” he warned.
Refusing Perks in Government Service
Durotoye also shed light on his time serving under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a Special Assistant. He revealed that he refused to accept any government benefits during his tenure, rejecting an official car, government housing, and even a salary.
“It was difficult to get my letter out because, according to somebody in government, my refusal to collect those things would make it difficult to pin me to corruption,” he stated.
Despite the challenges, he acknowledged encountering some like-minded individuals within the government who shared his commitment to integrity and accountability.
“When we have the right values, there won’t be corruption in this land,” he concluded.
Durotoye’s revelations have sparked widespread reactions, with many Nigerians praising his unwavering stance on transparency while calling for stricter measures to tackle corruption at all levels of governance.
0 Comments