The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has asked President Bola Tinubu to pay attention to combating corruption in the public service.
Speaking on Thursday during a press conference in Abuja, Obi said the president must ensure proper investigations and recoveries of missing or stolen funds while addressing past corrupt matters.
The former Governor of Anambra State advised the president to eliminate corruption through increased transparency and accountability in public procurement and contract award processes.
“The focus should be on eliminating current and future official malfeasance through increased transparency and accountability in public procurement and contract award processes, as well as thorough monitoring of execution to ensure that limited resources are efficiently utilized and applied productively.
“All future borrowing must be tied to regenerative investments and visible, productive assets that benefit the nation. This will ensure both productivity and the ability to service and amortize such loans, rather than continuing the current practice of accumulating massive debt with no tangible returns, which places undue strain on future development revenue,” he said.
Obi also condemned Tinubu’s frequent overseas travels, saying he spent over 30% or about 180 days abroad, covering over 30 publicly recorded overseas trips.
The LP chieftain, therefore, called on the President to spend at least 72 days visiting each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each.
He added, “Mr President, out of the approximately 580 days (as of December 29, 2024) you have been in office, it is reported that you have spent over 30%, or around 180 days, on more than 30 publicly recorded overseas trips. My appeal is that you dedicate at least 20% of 2025, roughly 72 days, to visit each of Nigeria’s 36 states for two days each.
“As President, such visits would allow you to better understand the dire economic and security situations across the country. Furthermore, it is time for you to visit our national hospitals. Consider, for example, that your next medical examination be conducted at one of our National Hospitals or Regional Federal Medical Centres, such as the FMC in Sokoto or Birnin Kebbi or Calabar or Umuahia or Akure, among others.”
