Renowned leadership coach and former presidential candidate Fela Durotoye has revealed how he rejected a fraudulent ₦5 billion contract while serving in President Tinubu’s administration, refusing to compromise his principles.
Speaking at the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria’s biannual conference in Abuja, Durotoye shared a behind-the-scenes account of how he was pressured to inflate a government contract—a test of integrity that ultimately reaffirmed his stance against corruption.
The Shocking Offer: A Leadership Training Turned Corrupt Scheme
Durotoye was approached by a government official, who claimed to be a pastor, with an offer to organize an eight-week leadership training program across 774 local government areas. After conducting a thorough analysis, his team pegged the project cost at ₦1.3 billion.
However, a few days later, he received a shocking call from the presidency suggesting that the amount was “too modest.” The offer was bumped up to ₦2 billion, but with a catch—Durotoye was instructed to inflate the invoice to ₦5 billion.
Refusing to Play Along
When Durotoye questioned the ethics of the deal, especially given that the program was meant to teach ethical leadership, the official laughed off his concerns. The justification? He deserved compensation for his “service” to the country.
Unwilling to be part of the corruption, Durotoye did something drastic—he switched off his phone and cut off all communication.
Karma Comes for the Corrupt
Three months later, the news broke: several presidency officials were arrested by the EFCC for embezzling ₦426 million from an ethical leadership training fund. The very same program Durotoye had refused to be a part of had now unraveled in a corruption scandal.
A Stand for Integrity
Durotoye went on to reject all government perks, including a car, housing, and salary, making it clear that he was there to serve, not to enrich himself. Despite the prevalence of corruption, he emphasized that he also met honest, like-minded individuals within the system who, like him, wanted to see Nigeria move forward with integrity.
This bold stance further cements Durotoye’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s few leaders unwilling to sell out for personal gain. His story is a stark reminder that even in a system riddled with corruption, integrity is still a choice.
