Peter Obi condemns deep-rooted corruption in Nigeria, faults misuse of FIFA funds

The Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed concern over the pervasive corruption in Nigeria, describing it as a major obstacle to the country’s development.

In a post on X titled “Corruption in Sports: A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise,” Obi condemned the alleged mismanagement of funds released by FIFA to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for stadium projects and youth development, calling it “sickening and shameful.”

He said the revelation by FIFA mirrors the wider decay in governance, noting that despite receiving about $25 million from FIFA and CAF since 2013, there was little to show for it.

Obi recalled that during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, land was allocated in Awka for a FIFA-funded stadium, which was never constructed. He described the reported $1.2 million stadium project in Kebbi as “a national embarrassment.”

The former governor accused corrupt officials of “demarketing” Nigeria through mismanagement and diversion of public funds, stressing that rebuilding the nation must start with integrity and accountability.

“We cannot continue to watch our sports decline while corruption flourishes,” Obi said. “Our youths are our most prized assets, yet we have destroyed their future and then turned around to label them ‘Yahoo boys,’ when, in truth, the leaders who robbed them of their future are the real ‘Yahoo’ of our nation.”

He said Nigeria would continue to lag behind unless corruption is tackled head-on and leaders begin to demonstrate genuine commitment to accountability and transparency.