“Corrupt Leaders Must Face Stricter Punishment” – Peter Obi Urges Nigeria to Tackle Corruption Like China
In a powerful and thought-provoking statement that’s already sparking conversation across the country, Peter Obi, the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has once again called attention to one of Nigeria’s biggest problems – corruption. During a courtesy visit to veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu at his residence on Thursday, May 15, Obi didn’t hold back as he passionately spoke about the devastating impact of corruption on Nigeria and why the country urgently needs to implement harsher punishments for corrupt leaders.
In his usual calm but firm tone, Obi painted a picture that most Nigerians can easily relate to – a society where hardworking citizens struggle daily just to survive, while those involved in corrupt practices live comfortably and even gloriously, without legitimate jobs or any visible means of income.
In his words:
‘’Africa has no reason to be hungry. All we need to do is to do the right thing. All these things are being affected by corruption because people no longer find value in hardwork, in productivity, entrepreneurship. You started your own business. You are working hard to earn your own living. Today, people with no daytime jobs live better than you live. People with no office live like stars. It is a crisis.’’
Obi’s point is clear – the problem in Nigeria isn’t a lack of resources or potential. Africa, especially Nigeria, is richly blessed with both natural and human resources. But because of corruption, those blessings don’t translate into a better life for the ordinary citizen. Instead of rewarding hard work, the system seems to favor those who manipulate and steal from it. People who wake up early, hustle, build businesses from scratch, and pay their taxes often live in less comfort than people who have never done a day’s honest work but have "connections" or are part of the corrupt elite. According to Obi, this twisted reality is dangerous and unsustainable.
To address this problem, he didn’t just call for reforms – he suggested a drastic approach, one that mirrors how some countries like China deal with corruption. He believes that without firm and serious consequences, corruption will continue to thrive in Nigeria.
“So we must deal with the issue of corruption, aggressively. Maybe what the Chinese people are doing..commensurate…There is an amount you steal, it is death sentence. There is an amount you steal, it is life imprisonment. There is an amount you steal, it is not less than ten years imprisonment.”
In countries like China, corruption is not just frowned upon; it is punished severely. Some types of financial crimes even carry the death penalty. Obi is not necessarily saying Nigeria must start executing corrupt people, but he’s emphasizing that punishments must be appropriate – or even extreme – if we truly want to discourage the looting of public funds. In Nigeria, many high-profile corruption cases drag on for years, and most times, the accused walk free or get light sentences. This, according to Obi, sends the wrong message and does nothing to deter others.
He also linked corruption to the poor state of Nigeria’s development. He believes that if the country can take corruption seriously and begin investing in critical areas like education, health, infrastructure, and the economy, the future can still be bright. But for this to happen, the type of people Nigerians elect into leadership positions must change.
He continued:
“So when you deal with it critically and then start investing in critical areas of development which we can achieve by ensuring that those who we elect are one, competent, two, have the capacity because you can be competent but have passed the age where you have the capacity to work…You must have the capacity to move around and do the right thing. Three, have compassion. Leadership without compassion is not a leader. A leader must be somebody that 24 hours thinking about the people.”
In this statement, Obi lays out the three most important qualities he believes every leader should have:
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Competence – Leaders must know what they’re doing. They must be educated, experienced, and capable of understanding the problems facing the country and how to solve them.
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Capacity – It’s not enough to be knowledgeable. Leaders must also be energetic, physically and mentally fit, and able to take action. Leadership is demanding, and a person who cannot actively work cannot deliver results.
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Compassion – Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Obi insists that a leader must genuinely care for the people. They should constantly be thinking of how to improve lives, reduce suffering, and uplift the masses. Without compassion, leadership becomes self-serving.
Peter Obi’s message is loud and clear: if Nigeria truly wants to move forward, the nation must face corruption head-on. This means electing better leaders and creating a system where stealing from the public is not just immoral but extremely risky and punishable. Until that happens, hardworking Nigerians will keep watching dishonest people live like stars while the country continues to struggle.
