Abuja, Nigeria – May 21, 2025 — Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the alleged discovery of fraudulent insertions in the 2025 national budget. In a statement released on Tuesday, Obi described the disturbing revelations as further confirmation that Nigeria is being governed like a crime scene, where corruption and impunity flourish unchecked.The former Anambra State governor decried what he termed “budgetary criminality,” warning that such unethical practices undermine national development and deepen the suffering of ordinary Nigerians already burdened by poverty, insecurity, and poor governance.“These fraudulent insertions in the national budget are not just technical errors or oversights — they are deliberate acts of sabotage against the Nigerian people. They represent a dangerous trend where public resources are brazenly looted under the guise of governance,” Obi stated.He called on anti-graft agencies, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), to immediately investigate and prosecute those behind the alleged manipulations.According to reports, several questionable allocations were quietly added to the budget without proper legislative debate or transparency. Critics have pointed to these insertions as signs of deep-rooted corruption in Nigeria’s budgetary process, often described as opaque and vulnerable to abuse.Obi emphasized the need for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s public finance management system. “What we are witnessing is a systemic collapse of accountability. This is why our country continues to lag behind while others with fewer resources progress. We must demand transparency, efficiency, and ethical conduct from all arms of government,” he urged.The Labour Party stalwart reiterated his commitment to building a new Nigeria rooted in fairness, discipline, and responsible leadership. He also encouraged citizens, civil society organizations, and the media to continue shining a light on governance malpractices and holding public officials accountable.“This is not about politics or party affiliations — it is about the soul of our nation. If we fail to stop this culture of corruption, we will continue to mortgage the future of our children,” he concluded.The Federal Government has yet to respond to the allegations. Meanwhile, public pressure is mounting for a transparent review of the 2025 budget and the removal of any questionable allocations.
