Corrupt Leaders Must Face Stern Sanctions, Peter Obi Blows Hot

Peter Obi, a politician and former governor of Anambra State, has emphasized the need for an end to the country’s economic wastage by calling on Nigerian leaders to face harsh sanctions.

In a statement released on Tuesday to mark International Anti-Corruption Day, Obi insisted.

He claims that corruption has plagued Nigeria over the years at all levels of government and across all levels of the system.

He claimed that the government’s insatiable desire for more loans has caused the nation to struggle with a very high debt profile.

He advised Nigerian leaders to conduct a conscience-search and eliminate all forms of corruption.

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According to him, today is International Anti-Corruption Day, which is a very significant day for the global community because it teaches a very important lesson to us in Nigeria, given how our beloved country has been burdened by a sizable level of corruption at all levels of government and across the various branches of government over the years.

I couldn’t agree more with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a media report that boldly stated that corruption has brought Nigeria to its knees in terms of both economic and social affairs.

“Corruption is, indeed, the bane of our national development. All are different manifestations of corruption across various levels of government, not to mention the bribery, favoritism, and toll-gating that occur in various offices, from lack of transparency in budgeting and allocation to misappropriation of public funds through mindless looting and budget padding to abuse of public office for personal gains and the numerous layers of contract inflation.

Nigeria’s high level of corruption must be combated to a standstill if we are to expect any significant development, according to our survey of 145 out of 180 nations.

“Added to that, we are today ranked among the 11 worst-ruled African nations in the last 10 years. All of these have hampered the progress of our nation’s development in addition to continuing to detract from good governance.

I recently read in the media that the Federation’s auditor general found financial infractions totaling N3. 403 trillion in some government ministries, departments, and agencies for the financial year ending 31st December 2021. A whooping N3. 403 trillion are not being accounted for in a single year! more than 20% of our nation’s budget for the year being requested.

Without taking into account all the previous loans that have already been received and have piled up for the next generations, we are currently grappling with a very high debt profile, brought on by the government’s insatiable appetite for more loans. These loans are unlikely to have had any tangible economic benefits or positive effects, demonstrating that they were likely taken or used in a deceptive manner.

“All of these are various symptomologies of the widespread corruption that are stifling our development efforts. The fight against corruption must be intensified, and the anti-graft and anti-corruption organizations must begin to focus on pressing national interest issues.

“Such corrupt practices like oil theft, budget padding, bribery, collection of large sums of money as bribes for political favours or appointments, and misappropriation of public funds should preoccupy our anti-graft agencies.

“Those found guilty must face stern justice. We have the opportunity to search our consciences as leaders and abstain from all forms of corrupt behavior that characterizes our positions of authority.

We must confront all forms of corruption in our capacities in order to serve our country, as followers.

Source: Channels TV