Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has condemned the alleged mismanagement of funds released by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for stadium and youth sports development.
Obi lamented that despite Nigeria reportedly receiving about $25 million from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 2013 for sports development, there was “little or nothing to show for it.”
He described the much-criticized $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State as “a national embarrassment.”
According to Obi, the revelation underscores the deep-rooted corruption that continues to plague Nigeria’s public sector.
Reacting to FIFA’s recent disclosure that funds meant for football infrastructure and youth development in Nigeria were diverted, Obi likened the situation to the widespread mismanagement of resources in other sectors of the country.
He wrote on his X handle: “FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to Nigeria’s Football Federation for stadium development and youth talent growth is both sickening and shameful. It perfectly mirrors the broader decay in how our scarce national resources are handled.”
Recounting his experience as governor, Obi said officials from the Sports Federation had informed his administration that Awka was selected as one of six locations for the construction of a FIFA-standard stadium fully funded by the global football body.
“Land was immediately allocated for the project,” he said, “but nothing was heard thereafter. Many years later, nothing came of the promised FIFA project, which prompted us to initiate the construction of the Awka Stadium ourselves.”
Obi faulted those who accuse reform-minded leaders of “demarketing” Nigeria when they speak out against corruption, insisting that the real culprits are those who divert public resources.
“The real demarketers of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who have forged their way to wealth through mismanagement and theft of public funds — resources that should have been used to provide schools, healthcare, employment, and nurture youth talents,” he said.
The former governor further described the decline of Nigeria’s sporting sector as a direct consequence of corruption, lamenting that the nation’s youths — its greatest assets — have been systematically denied opportunities for growth and empowerment.
“Our youths are our most prized assets, yet we have destroyed their future and then turned around to label them ‘Yahoo boys,’ when in truth, the leaders who have robbed them of their future are the real ‘Yahoo’ of our nation,” Obi added.
Obi has remained vocal on issues of corruption and maladministration, urging Nigerians to demand greater accountability in public governance.
