Politician and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi has insisted that Nigerian leaders found guilty of corrupt practices must face tough sanctions, impressing the need for an end to economic wastage in the country.

Obi insisted in a statement on Tuesday to mark Monday’s International Anti-Corruption Day.

According to him, over the years, Nigeria has been burdened by corruption at all levels of government and across the different arms of government.

He said the country Is grappling with a very high debt profile, occasioned by the insatiable hunger for more loans by the government.

He advised Nigerian leaders to engage in a conscience search and purge themselves of all forms of corrupt practices.

He said, “Today, the Global community marks a very important day – International Anti-Corruption Day, which holds a very important lesson for us in Nigeria, considering how our dear nation has been burdened, over the years, by a sickening level of corruption at all levels of government and across the different arms of government.

“A few days ago, I read a media report credited to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which boldly stated that corruption has brought Nigeria to its knees economically and socially, and I could not agree more.

“Corruption is, indeed, the bane of our national development. From lack of transparency in budgeting and allocation of funds to misappropriation of public funds through mindless looting and budget padding, to abuse of public office for personal gains and the many layers of contract inflation – all are different manifestations of corruption across different levels of government, not to mention the bribery, favouritism and toll-gating that go on in different offices.

“Our corruption perception index of 145 out of 180 countries measured shows the high level of corruption in Nigeria, which needs to be fought to a standstill if we must expect any meaningful development.

“Added to that, we are today ranked among the 11 worst-ruled African nations in the last 10 years. All these have not only continued to discourage good governance but have continued to clog the wheels of our national development.

“ Just recently, I read in the Media how the auditor general of the Federation uncovered financial infractions amounting to N3.403 trillion in some government ministries, departments, and agencies for the financial year ending 31stDecember 2021. A whooping N3.403 trillion not accounted for in a single year! An amount bigger than 20% of our national budget for the said year.

“We are today grappling with a very high debt profile, occasioned by the insatiable hunger for more loans by the government, without a commensurate account of all the previous loans already received and piled up for the next generations. There are no visible investments or positive impacts on the economy from these loans, showing that they were likely misappropriated or consumed.

“All these are different manifestations of the endemic corruption eroding our development efforts. The anti-graft and anti-corruption agencies must step up their fight against corruption and begin to preoccupy themselves with serious issues of national interest.

“Such corrupt practices like oil theft, budget padding, bribery, collection of large sums of money as bribes for political favours or appointments, and misappropriation of public funds should preoccupy our anti-graft agencies.

“Those found guilty must face stern justice. A day like this provides us with the opportunity to search our consciences as leaders and eschew all forms of corrupt practices that pervade every part of our leadership positions.

“And to us the followers, we must stand against all forms of corruption in our capacities for our national interest.

“I remain committed to contributing to the drastic reduction of corruption in our nation. As I have always maintained, in any organization or nation where the leaders are not corrupt, corruption is reduced by over 60%, and fighting the remaining becomes manageable.” (Channels TV)