Ex-Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, made a shocking confession recently: “Today, Budget IT showed only four states are viable – Lagos, Rivers, Awka-Ibom and Enugu. Even those that are viable are saddled with huge debts. Cost of governance in Nigeria is unacceptable, we must reverse it now or it consumes everybody.”

“In Nigeria, House members sit for about two times in a week, yet it is a full time job. The most critical thing for the country is education. While Asian countries were busy investing in education, we were busy investing in consumption, picnicking and dancing. In Asia, things are changing, being driven by education.”

“In education, the Federal Government wanted to invest 22.5 Billion Naira, but the States said they did not have money to pay as counterpart. How can we get 25 Billion Naira? A Governor in Nigeria uses 25 vehicle convoy, the wife 15 and Deputy 10. I started with it. Today’s average cost of one vehicle on the convoy is N25million. It is therefore approximately N1.25 billion per state, and N45billion for the 36 states. All they need is reduce the convoy to 12 vehicles for Governor, 7 for the wife and 5 for the Deputy and there would be enough money for the counterpart. In my own time, we discussed it in Exco, I used 5 vehicles and my deputy 3. Using small convoy vehicle does not make you less a Governor.”

“It is criminal and irresponsibility that some states receive 3 to 4 billion Naira every month and take over 1 billion Naira as security vote per month. Even if we are in a war situation, we should even declare surrender. We should not spend more than 5% of our revenue as security vote. If there is any need to spend more, it should be taken to the EXCO or Parliament for approval.”

“I was the Governor for eight years and I say it everyday, if you know any contractor whose certificate was not paid or any supplier who was not paid, show the person to me. I did not borrow any kobo and did not request anybody to raise bonds for us and yet I left money for Anambra State. I have said it repeatedly that I left 56 million dollars and N12 billion Nin Fidelity Bank. I left 50 million Dollars and N10 billion in Access bank. I left 50 million Dollars and over N10 billion in Diamond bank.”

“Why should states own Lodges in Abuja? Do Governors live there? I shut down our own and allowed UNDP people to use it, thus attracting all their programmes to Anambra State.”