Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has lamented the deepening culture of corruption in Nigeria?s political leadership, warning that it is eroding the nation?s values and discouraging honest labour.

Speaking on Tuesday during a visit to the Godfrey Okoye University School of Nursing Sciences in Enugu, where he donated N20m to support the institution, Obi said Nigeria had turned governance into ?a crime scene? where hard work is unrewarded and dishonesty is incentivised.

?It is not easy to be working in our country today, because those who work are not cared for. Those who don?t work?government officials and politicians?are busy stealing public funds,? Obi declared.

He cited reports by the World Bank and UNICEF that paint a grim picture of poverty, malnutrition, and inequality in Nigeria, stressing that the mismanagement of public resources is at the heart of the crisis.

?Instead of using our resources to do the right thing, we?re using them to do the wrong thing,? he lamented.

Obi expressed concern over the critical shortage of nurses in Nigeria, stating that while the country needs over 1.2 million nurses, it has fewer than 200,000 registered professionals.

He urged students of the nursing college to remain committed to their studies, noting that the global demand for healthcare workers is growing, and Nigeria must rise to meet its own healthcare needs?especially in rural areas.

The former Anambra State governor praised the role of faith-based organisations and volunteer agencies in bridging the gaps left by government neglect, commending the Catholic Diocese of Enugu for investing in education and healthcare.

?What you people are doing is what government is supposed to be doing. That?s the job of governance,? he said.

Responding, the Proprietor of the college and Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga, thanked Obi for his continued support to health and educational institutions across the state.

He assured him of their prayers and spiritual support.

?We are praying for you,? the bishop said. ?Not everybody likes doing the right thing or standing with the poor. What you are doing gives hope. We pray that your dream for Nigeria will come to pass. Things are not working well in this country, and someone with a heart for the people must rise to fix it.? (The PUNCH)

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