Obi: I never took one kobo of public funds as Anambra governor
Peter Obi, 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says he never misappropriated public funds during his eight years as governor of Anambra state.
Obi spoke on Friday during a talk show with students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.
He said corruption is not as difficult to fight as widely believed if leaders first exercise self-discipline.
“We are talking about corruption, but let me tell you, fighting corruption is not as difficult as people make it look.
“If you, your wife and children are not stealing, you have reduced corruption by 60 percent,” he said.
The former governor recalled his time as a bank chairman, saying he resisted the temptation to use his position for personal gain.
“Go and check any bank where I was a director or chairman, where that bank gave me a loan as a director. Go and check whether there was anything missing while I was there.
“I served as governor of a state for eight years and I challenge everybody to go and show me where one kobo of Anambra state that I’m not entitled to was linked to me,” he said.
2027 Presidency And Anti-Corruption Agenda
Obi said corruption can be addressed swiftly if leaders lead by example, using his own record as a reference point.
“If I have the opportunity to serve as Nigeria’s president in 2027, I will do so for only four years. It can be less but it will never be more. I will not stay a day longer than four years.
“People say what can you do in four years? There is a lot you can do in four years because you can bring civility and laws that start good governance in four years,” he added.
In July, Obi joined other prominent politicians to adopt the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 elections, with the aim of unseating President Bola Tinubu.
It is not yet clear if he will contest under the ADC or return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has publicly invited him back.
