2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the mismanagement of funds in Nigeria’s sports sector, describing corrupt leaders as the real “Yahoo boys” destroying the nation’s future.
Reacting to FIFA’s revelation about the misuse of funds given to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for stadium development and youth talent growth, Obi said the scandal reflects a much deeper national problem.
His criticism comes less than a day after he stated that some yahoo boys are geniuses who need redirection. The statement has led to varying reactions.
“Since 2013, about $25 million has reportedly been received by the NFF from FIFA and CAF for football and youth development. Yet, there is little or nothing to show for it,” Obi said, adding that “the so-called $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State is a national embarrassment.”
He recalled that during his tenure as governor, FIFA had planned to fund a standard stadium project in Awka, for which land was allocated, but the project never took off. “We later built the Awka Stadium ourselves because the promised project vanished into thin air,” he stated.
Obi criticized those who accuse reformers of “demarketing Nigeria” by exposing corruption. “The real demarketers of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who have looted public funds meant to build schools, hospitals, and sports facilities for our youths,” he said.
He lamented that despite the country’s vast human potential, corruption continues to suffocate progress. “We call our youths Yahoo boys, yet the real Yahoo of our nation are the leaders who have robbed them of opportunities,” he declared.
Obi emphasized that Nigeria cannot progress until integrity and accountability become the foundation of governance. “We cannot continue to watch our sports decline while corruption flourishes. If we truly desire to rebuild our country, we must begin with honesty in every sector,” he said.
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Corruption in Sports: A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise
While we continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, and the rising unemployment among our youths, the most heartbreaking reality remains the entrenched corruption that permeates every facet of our nation—especially in the critical sectors that could help lift Nigeria in these challenging times.
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. I am certain that further investigations will reveal even worse realities than what we currently know.
I recall vividly that during my time as Governor of Anambra State, I received officials from the Sports Federation who visited and informed us that Awka had been selected as one of six geographical locations for the construction of a FIFA-standard stadium to be fully funded by FIFA. We immediately allocated land for that purpose, and they assured us that the project would be executed through the Federal Ministry of Sports. That was the last we heard of it.
Believing that such a major project was underway, we channelled our resources toward constructing mini-stadiums across the state to encourage grassroots sports. We commissioned the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium in Onitsha, as well as the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha South, among others.
Years later, nothing came of the promised FIFA project, which prompted us to initiate the construction of the Awka Stadium ourselves. Seeing the recent news about funds released by FIFA to Nigeria to develop talent and improve youth sports, I am deeply disappointed by such blatant squandering of opportunities.
I have always maintained that those who accuse us of “demarketing” Nigeria for speaking the truth and exposing corruption are the very ones who thrive on corruption and deceit. The real demarketers of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who have forged their way to wealth through the mismanagement and theft of public funds—resources that should have been used to provide schools, healthcare, and employment for our youths and to nurture their talents.
Since 2013, about $25 million has reportedly been received by the NFF from FIFA and CAF—funds meant for the development of football and youth sports in our country. Yet, there is little or nothing to show for it. The so-called $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State is a national embarrassment. The structure in no way reflects the funds claimed to have been spent on it.
We cannot continue to watch our sports decline while corruption flourishes. 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.
This is yet another shameful reflection of the corruption we have allowed to take root in Nigeria. If we truly desire to rebuild our country, we must begin with integrity and accountability in every aspect and sector. Until then, our nation will continue to crawl where it should be soaring.
A New Nigeria is POssible. – PO
