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The former governor of the State of Anambra and the candidate for the presidency of the 2023 Labor Party, Peter Obi, criticized the use of ₦ 600 million public funds to sponsor the wives of 21 presidents of the local government in the state of Adamawa during a trip to Türkiye.
Obi has described the expenses, which is said to be packaged as a “leadership formation”, as a reckless waste of scarce resources at a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with poverty and children are out of school.
In a Saturday declaration, the former governor said that the decision was equivalent to “a mockery of the very essence of governance”.
“While our children in terms of basic education, whose well -being and education are borne by local governments, are out of school and those at school are missing classrooms and teachers,
“It is discouraging that scarce resources are channeled into frivolities as foreign trips for the wives of the presidents of the local government who do not have public offices,” said Obi.
He estimated that the funds could give power to 6,000 women entrepreneurs with micro-crubbles of ₦ 100,000 each or financed 30 blocks of six classrooms throughout the state.
“Such an enormous sum, if invested in activities led by women, would raise no less than 300 women in each of the 21 local governments of Adamawa. Alternatively, it could provide classrooms for thousands of children who are currently learning under trees or in dilapidated structures,” he added.
Obi recognized the infrastructure projects of the governor Ahmadu Fingi in Yola, but urged the administration to give priority to education, health care and the reduction of poverty.
He insisted on the fact that the local government funds belong to people and must be used to improve the life of teachers, retirees, farmers and market women.
“Whatever a little to say the least, a prudent and oriented governance is an abuse of office and should not be condemned. This is not only an evident case of waste, but also a betrayal of public trust,” he said.
The development has aroused new debate on responsibility and expenditure priorities in state and local governments, in particular when millions of Nigerians continue to combat increasing inflation and economic difficulties.
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