Nigeria Rewarding Bandits While Owing Lecturers Salaries – Peter Obi

Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi has criticized the supposed payment of ransoms to rescue persons abducted by bandits.

According to him, it is a misplaced priority by the government to be paying huge rasnsoms to bandits, while lecturers are owed salaries.

He spoke at the launch of a book titled, ‘Communication and Media Studies: Multiple Perspectives’, written by Stella Okunna, a former commissioner in Anambra.

In his words: “How do we go and negotiate and pay somebody, a bandit, when we have not paid those who are working?” Obi asked following reported negotiations with bandits who abduct schoolchildren in the north.

“You can’t pay people for banditry. The only business that thrives in Nigeria is stealing the government’s money, banditry and kidnapping — and that’s why your country is not progressing.

“We are owing those who have legitimately worked. And we are negotiating and paying those who have stolen kids. It is a criminal system.

“Lecturers are owed. How do we compensate those who have not contributed anything to the economy? The economy is not productive and that’s why it is failing.

“Nigeria will not succeed if we continue asking bandits to come to a meeting, and we are not calling professors to a meeting. That is why the country is where it is today. May God help Nigeria.”