The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has vehemently condemned the deep-rooted corruption in Nigeria, calling it the main factor stalling national progress and describing the recent football fund scandal as a reflection of the nation’s deeper malaise. In a post on X titled “Corruption in Sports: A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise,” Obi reacted to FIFA’s revelation regarding the alleged mismanagement of funds by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Obi described FIFA’s revelation on the mismanagement of funds for stadium development and youth talent growth as “both sickening and shameful,” arguing that it mirrors the “broader decay” in how national resources are managed. He recalled that during his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, he allocated land for a FIFA-funded stadium in Awka, but the project was “never executed,” forcing his administration to eventually construct the stadium themselves while commissioning other mini-stadiums. Obi lamented that since 2013, the NFF has reportedly received about $25 million from FIFA and CAF for development, with “little or nothing to show for it.” He specifically cited the reported $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State as a “national embarrassment,” stating that the structure does not reflect the funds claimed to have been spent. Obi stressed that those who accuse others of “demarketing” Nigeria for speaking the truth are actually the ones who thrive on corruption. He declared that the real “demarketers” of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who profit from the mismanagement and theft of public funds. He warned that Nigeria’s leaders, who have robbed the youth of their future, are the “real ‘Yahoo’ of our nation.” Obi concluded that for Nigeria to rebuild and move forward, it “must begin with integrity and accountability in every aspect and sector.”
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