Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 general election, 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 made the remarks during an interview with a radio station in Nasarawa State on Wednesday, where he discussed financial accountability, public spending and his administration’s record in Anambra State.
The former Anambra governor said the country could have accumulated substantial wealth if successive leaders had consistently managed public funds prudently.
“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.
Obi disclosed that his administration kept public funds in three different banks, citing the arrangement as an example of responsible financial management.
He also lamented what he described as a culture of dishonesty in Nigeria, alleging that people who act with integrity are often unfairly criticised while wrongdoing is tolerated.
“Nigeria is a criminalised place. The criminals will always come together to show what the honest person did,” he said.
He further argued that the country’s moral values had been reversed, with honesty sometimes treated as wrongdoing.
“In Nigeria, to be honest is to be a criminal. To be criminal is to be honest,” Obi added.
On publicising government projects, the former governor explained that he believed the results of government activities should speak for themselves, since such projects were funded with taxpayers’ money.
“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.
Obi also defended his administration’s performance in basic education, insisting that Anambra recorded strong results in the sector during his tenure.
“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 assessed developments in education across several states and witnessed significant improvements in Anambra.
Obi maintained that education remained a key indicator of development, arguing that his administration’s record in the sector demonstrated the importance of responsible leadership and effective management of public resources.