Tag: peter obi

“We can’t allow this to happen, we will resist it. We now see people celebrating electoral fraud publicly.

“That said, I am not opposed to engaging foreign expertise. However, such engagements must be clearly justified, with a transparent explanation of the specific gaps they are intended to fill, why those gaps cannot be addressed locally, and, above all, the concrete benefits to Nigerians.

“This is especially important because Nigeria is not lacking in tax expertise. The country has a strong pool of qualified tax professionals, advisory firms, and globally recognised consultancies already operating locally, with the capacity to support tax reform and modernisation.

“In light of this, it is reasonable for Nigerians to question why external partnerships are made a priority instead of strengthening and leveraging existing local capacity. Sustainable reform should build institutions from within.

“These concerns arise at a time of significant economic strain. Over 60 per cent of Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty. Youth unemployment remains widespread. Small and medium-scale enterprises are burdened by multiple taxes, while government borrowing continues to rise without commensurate gains in productivity.

“In such circumstances, policy attention should focus on simplifying the tax system, closing revenue leakages, broadening the tax base fairly, and ensuring prudent use of public resources.

“Any agreement or policy initiative that lacks transparency, public confidence, and clearly defined, measurable benefits risks further eroding trust in government. It is therefore imperative that the Federal Government publishes the full MoU, clearly explains its rationale, and outlines the mutual benefits—particularly the tangible advantages Nigeria stands to gain.

“Nigeria has one of the largest youth populations in the world, with about 75% of our citizens under the age of 35. With such a large share of the population young, joblessness at this scale should be a national emergency.

“It is deeply troubling that, rather than investing in these youths as our most productive assets, promoting and supporting MSMEs the drive growth and create employment, we the Leaders chose wasteful spending, corruption, unproductive borrowing, and policies that will shrink opportunities and expand poverty, reducing Nigerian youths to easy tools for all forms of vices.

“Nigeria does not lack entrepreneurial and resourceful youths, what we lack are leaders who are intentional about creating opportunities. We need leaders who understand that jobs come from deliberate investments in production and from running a government that is prudent, transparent, and people-centred, that can lift people out of poverty.

“We need leadership that will see youths as the engine of productivity and growth of a nation. This is the time, more than ever, for the Nigerian youths to get involved and ensure they elect leaders who have their best interest and the best interest of our nation.

“Yesterday, a disturbing video emerged from Kwara State in which suspected terrorists arrested by security forces claimed that ammunition and logistics were supplied to them by government officials.

“This allegation, now circulating widely, over the years, trillions of naira and billions of dollars have been continuously collected by the government in the name of security.

“This type of news fallout gives credence to the much-referenced quotation of the late military leader General Sani Abacha that any insurgency that lasts more than 24 hours, the government is involved.

“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo reinforced this point even more directly when he said: Before I left office, Nigeria could identify and locate anyone who committed any crime anywhere in the country. Today, with technology such as drones and improved tracking tools, we can easily locate and remove them. But we are not doing that. Why are we negotiating with terrorists?

“The government controls telecommunications, intelligence systems, and even financial trails, yet kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism continue to thrive. This reality raises serious questions for those in power.

“Between 2010 and 2015, under President Jonathan, Nigeria built one of the most advanced police communication and tracking infrastructures in its history. These systems were specifically designed to track criminal movements, particularly those of terrorists, monitor communications, and facilitate rapid response.

“We must therefore begin to ask:

Where are these pieces of equipment, and why are they not being used? Why do terrorists’ confessions so often implicate government officials?

“In cases such as the St. Mary’s Catholic School attack, about 100 children were released just days ago, and government officials celebrated. Yet no terrorist was arrested, no punishment announced, and, to this day, no clear update has been given on the more than 200 children and teachers still in captivity.

“Why have we not deployed the equipment already at our disposal to trace these terrorists and rescue the remaining abducted schoolchildren?

“When insecurity persists on this scale, day after day, it points either to complicity or to a failure of leadership. No society should accept either.

“Severally over the years, I have consistently alerted that Nigeria is losing billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft, a criminal enterprise that has been allowed to thrive because of weak institutions, lack of accountability, and an entrenched culture of impunity. When a nation’s most valuable resources are stolen in broad daylight, whether at home or on the high seas, its people inevitably suffer. Our schools deteriorate, our hospitals remain underfunded, insecurity worsens, and millions slip further into poverty.

“The seriousness of this incident should be appreciated and thorough investigation insituted to get the root of the matter.

“This incident should serve as a wake-up call. I have consistently mentioned that ordinary Nigerians cannot steal crude oil, and no responsible nation can afford to look away while its wealth is siphoned off by a network of powerful individuals.

“We must strengthen our maritime security, reform our regulatory agencies, digitise and transparently track every barrel of oil produced in this country, and dismantle the criminal cartels that have operated with impunity for decades.

“More importantly, we must rebuild Nigeria’s global image by showing the world that we are serious about the rule of law, honest governance, and responsible management of our national assets. A nation cannot attract investment when it is constantly in the news for corruption, theft, and mismanagement.

“Relevant Nigerian authorities should work with international partners to establish the facts of this case and ensure that anyone found complicit faces justice, without fear or favour. Our nation cannot continue on this path.