Peter Obi Condemns Deep-Rooted Corruption in Sports and Governance, Calls Mismanagement “Shameful”

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the widespread corruption in Nigeria, describing it as the primary obstacle hindering the nation’s progress. Obi’s criticism was specifically directed at the alleged mismanagement of funds allocated for sports development, an issue he highlighted in a post on X titled “Corruption in Sports: A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise.”

In his statement, Obi reacted to the recent revelations from FIFA concerning the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the alleged misappropriation of funds designated for stadium development and youth sports programmes. He described the development as both “sickening and shameful,” asserting that it perfectly mirrors the deep-seated decay and lack of accountability that permeates Nigerian governance.

Dependable NG reports that the former Anambra State Governor recalled a specific incident from his time in office where land was immediately allocated in Awka for a FIFA-funded stadium, a project that was unfortunately never executed. He lamented the fact that despite the NFF reportedly receiving about $25 million from FIFA and CAF since 2013, there is very little tangible infrastructure or development to show for the colossal amount. He singled out the reported $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State as a “national embarrassment,” noting that the structure does not in any way reflect the significant funds claimed to have been spent on its construction.

Obi further argued that the real “demarketers” of Nigeria are not those who speak out against graft, but the incompetent leaders who have fostered their own wealth through the mismanagement and outright theft of public funds. He stressed that these stolen resources were originally meant to provide essential services like schools, healthcare, and employment for young Nigerians, as well as to nurture their talents. He warned that until the nation commences a genuine process of rebuilding founded on integrity and comprehensive accountability in every sector, Nigeria will continue to fail to meet its potential, crawling when it should be soaring.