Peter Obi: Nigeria Would Be Wealthier If Leaders Safeguarded Public Funds in Banks

Former Anambra State Governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, Peter Obi, has argued that Nigeria would have accumulated substantial wealth if public officials had consistently protected government funds and allowed them to generate value rather than mismanaging them.

Speaking during a radio interview in Nasarawa State on Wednesday, Obi reflected on his record in public office, governance, accountability and education, stressing the importance of prudent financial management.

According to the former governor, public funds should be carefully preserved and managed in ways that benefit citizens. He suggested that Nigeria's financial position would be significantly stronger if leaders had adopted a more responsible approach to handling government resources.

“I wish everybody in this country left money in the bank; they have interest. Nigeria would have been so rich that we don’t know what to do with money,” Obi said.

He noted that during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, government funds were kept in three different banks, describing the decision as part of a disciplined approach to public finance management. Obi also criticised what he described as a culture in which honest behaviour is often questioned while wrongdoing is tolerated. 

He lamented what he sees as a reversal of societal values, arguing that integrity is frequently underappreciated in the country. “Nigeria is a criminalised place. The criminals will always come together to show what the honest person did,” he said.

The former presidential candidate further maintained that leaders who protect public resources help create long-term prosperity, insisting that Nigeria's wealth could have grown substantially if funds had been properly managed over the years.

Addressing questions about publicising government projects, Obi said his administration focused more on delivering results than on ceremonies and media promotion. He argued that citizens could already see projects funded with public money and therefore did not require extensive publicity campaigns.

“We did what we were doing with public money, so the public already see us working, so why are we going to do the ceremony or showing it on TV?” he said. Obi also defended his performance in the education sector while serving as governor, describing basic education as one of the strongest achievements of his administration.

“I was the best in education, basic education as a governor. You can go and check the records,” he stated. He cited assessments by education experts, including Oxford University scholar Professor Paul Collier, as evidence of improvements recorded in the sector during his tenure.

Obi maintained that education remains a critical indicator of development and said his administration's investments in the sector demonstrated what responsible and accountable leadership can achieve.