Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has sharply criticised the recent trip taken by the wives of 21 local government chairmen in Adamawa State, which was allegedly funded by public money under the pretext of leadership training.
In a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, Obi described the development as a blatant abuse of public resources and a direct insult to the principles of good governance and accountability.
“I have just read the disturbing report that the wives of 21 local government chairmen in Adamawa State were sponsored with public funds to travel to Turkey under the guise of leadership training,” Obi said, expressing deep disappointment over what he called an irresponsible use of taxpayers’ money.
The former governor of Anambra State highlighted the stark contrast between such lavish spending and the dire state of basic education in many local government areas across the country. He pointed out that local governments are constitutionally responsible for primary education but lamented that many children in these areas remain out of school, while those who attend face overcrowded classrooms and a shortage of teachers.
“Today, while our children at the basic education level, whose education is the responsibility of local governments, are out of school, and those in school lack classrooms and teachers,” Obi wrote, emphasising the failure of local governments to prioritise fundamental needs over frivolous expenses.
Obi further reminded that local government funds belong to the people — including market women, farmers, teachers, pensioners, and every ordinary Nigerian who depends on government for basic amenities such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
He cautioned that diverting public funds for such questionable trips is a clear abuse of office that should not be tolerated in any democratic society. “Anything short of that is an abuse of office and should not be condoned,” he said firmly.
Calling the trip “a glaring case of waste” and “a mockery of the very essence of governance,” Obi urged authorities and the public to hold accountable those responsible for mismanaging public resources and to ensure that government funds are directed towards improving the lives of citizens.
The report about the trip emerged amid increasing public scrutiny of how local governments handle their budgets and the growing demand for transparency and responsible leadership at all levels of government.
Peter Obi’s comments come as part of his broader advocacy for fiscal responsibility and good governance, which were central themes of his 2023 presidential campaign.
