The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has again lamented the level of monumental corruption in the public governance of Nigeria.
He described Nigeria as a nation held hostage by monumental corruption.
Speaking via a statement released on Friday in reaction to the alarm raised by the Nigerian Senate over huge discrepancies involving trillions of naira in the audited financial statements of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Obi said it is sadly true that Nigeria has become a crime scene.
Naija News recalls that the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Aliyu Wadada, during the investigative session on Wednesday, said the Chief Financial Officer of the NNPC, Adedapo Segun, failed to provide detailed records justifying massive legal and auditing fees, as well as contradictions in receivables reportedly worth over ₦210 trillion between 2017 and 2023.
In his reaction to the discovery, the former Anambra State Governor said the allegation is not just a scandal, but a criminalized and institutionalized betrayal of Nigerians by those in authority through corruption without consequences.
He lamented that the figure in question is more than the country’s national budget within the same period.
Peter Obi said Nigeria can’t afford to continue to function that way and called for a better nation.
“It is with the utmost sadness that I once again reaffirm what I have consistently said: Nigeria has become a crime scene.
“How else does one explain the recent revelation by the Senate, which uncovered the audited accounts of the NNPC from 2017 to 2023? The Senate uncovered ₦210 trillion in financial irregularities, ₦103 trillion in so-called “accrued expenses”, and another ₦107 trillion in unaccounted “receivables.” No documentation. No accountability. No consequences.
“This is not just another scandal, it is a clear and damning confirmation of a nation held hostage by monumental corruption.
“Our national budget within the said period of 2017 to 2023 is as follows:
2017 ₦7.440 trillion.
2018 ₦9.120 trillion
2019 ₦8.916 trillion
2020 ₦10.590 was initially approved and in June revised to ₦9.974 trillion due to COVID.
2021 ₦13.588 trillion.
2022 ₦17.130 trillion
2023 ₦21.830 trillion
Total: ₦88.010 trillion
“Our total national budget within the said period was not up to 50% of the said financial discrepancies and irregularities.
“This is a criminal institutionalised betrayal of the Nigerian people and a grave threat to the future of the society our children will live in.
“No responsible nation can continue to function like this without confronting this truth. This criminality masquerading as governance must be stopped and dismantled for a better Nigeria.
“A new Nigeria is POssible,” Obi wrote via his 𝕏 account.
The post “Nigeria Held Hostage By Monumental Corruption” – Peter Obi Reacts As Senate Uncovers ₦210 Trillion Discrepancy In NNPC Account appeared first on Naija News.