The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, says Nigeria has been criminalised.
Obi spoke on Friday as Guest Speaker at the maiden convocation of Chrisland University, Abeokuta.
The former Governor of Anambra State who spoke on “Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship: A critical Intersection for Economic Development in Africa, urged the coming generation not to toe the lines of the previous leaders in the country.
Obi who assessed the economy of the country, submitted that the failure of the leaders in the country to invest in education and entrepreneurship brought the country’s economy to its present situation .
He lamented that the past leaders depended on oil economy, which he said has led to the poor economic status of the country.
The former Governor further said the challenges confronting the country were 75 per cent, saying, Nigeria has been criminalised .
He said “The truth is that in Nigeria, the problem is over 75 per cent. The country has been criminalised. Quote me, I am talking from experience of somebody who had served, I was there for eight years.
While blaming Nigerians especially religious leaders on their alleged roles in promoting corruption, Obi said, “What I found in Nigerians and your parents here, including me, I am a victim of that, I was governor for eight years, you can hardly see anybody who tells you something is wrong.
“Everybody calls you His Excellency, that since you came, things have changed, even, when you know that nothing has changed.
“It is just that we have a government that has criminalised the society and people celebrate criminality. So, nobody could say to them, stop.
“Those who steal, if they come to church they will give them front seats, so, why would they not steal? They are the ones who are given chieftaincy tittles, they are the ones who get tittles in the world. So, We need to change all that.”
