By Our Reporter
Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has said Nigeria would be significantly wealthier if public office holders protected government funds and allowed them to generate interest in banks instead of mismanaging public resources.
Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general elections, made the remarks during an interview with a radio station in Nasarawa State on Wednesday.
He argued that prudent management of public funds could have helped the country accumulate substantial wealth, stressing the importance of accountability and financial discipline in governance.
“I wish everybody in this country left money in the bank; they have interest. Nigeria would have been so rich that we don’t know what to do with money,” he said.
The former governor disclosed that funds under his administration were kept in three different banks, citing the arrangement as an example of his approach to managing public resources.
He also criticised what he described as a culture of dishonesty in Nigeria, alleging that people who act with integrity are often targeted by those seeking to discredit them.
“Nigeria is a criminalised place. The criminals will always come together to show what the honest person did,” Obi said.
He further lamented what he described as a reversal of moral values, arguing that honest people are frequently treated as though they have committed wrongdoing.
“In Nigeria, to be honest is to be a criminal. To be criminal is to be honest,” he added.
Obi reiterated that the country could have accumulated far greater wealth if successive leaders had protected public funds rather than diverted or mismanaged them.
The former governor also addressed questions about his administration’s approach to publicising government projects, explaining that he believed the results of public spending should speak for themselves.
According to him, government projects are financed with taxpayers’ money and should therefore be visible to citizens without elaborate ceremonies or excessive publicity.
“We did what we were doing with public money, so the public already see us working, so why are we going to do the ceremony or showing it on TV? Maybe I was wrong, but that was what happened,” he said.
On education, Obi defended his record in basic education during his tenure as Anambra governor, insisting that the state performed exceptionally well under his administration.
“I was the best in education, basic education as a governor. You can go and check the records,” he said.
He cited a visit by Professor Paul Collier of the University of Oxford, whom he said toured several states to assess developments in the education sector and witnessed significant improvements.
Obi maintained that education remained a critical measure of development, arguing that his administration’s performance demonstrated how responsible leadership and proper management of resources could improve public services.