A former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on women accountants across Nigeria to take a firm stand against waste, misappropriation, and mismanagement of public funds, warning that unchecked financial recklessness is deepening poverty and unemployment in the country.

In a Wednesday statement shared on X, Obi made the remarks as the guest speaker at the investiture of Mrs. Blessing Ngozi Osakwe as the 12th President of the Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN) in Lagos.

“I charge the group, as a body of accountants, to intervene and halt the waste, misappropriation, and mismanagement of scarce resources, which continue to increase poverty and mass unemployment in Nigeria,” Obi said.

Drawing from his experience in banking and governance, he highlighted the critical role women play in maintaining financial discipline.

“In my time as a bank chairman, I worked with a female risk manager who remained firm in her duties and always did the right thing to ensure the bank didn’t run into trouble. Similarly, as governor, I had two female Accountant Generals and a female Commissioner for Finance who guided me on procedures and documentation,” he said.

Obi urged SWAN to empower members nationwide to hold political office holders accountable.

“Stand up to political office holders. This financial recklessness must be stopped, especially now that we are borrowing and spending away the future of our children,” he said, adding, “A New Nigeria is possible.”

Recall, on Tuesday, Obi reflected on his previous warnings about Nigeria’s growing debt, reiterating the urgency of fiscal discipline. He stressed that borrowing is not inherently wrong, but must be directed toward productive ventures.

“Nigeria cannot continue on this reckless path of borrowing without productivity. There’s nothing wrong with borrowing; what matters is ensuring that every loan translates into real, measurable productivity. Borrowing if not directed towards critical areas like development, health, education, and poverty alleviation will create economic decline and worsen the economy,” Obi said.

Obi’s commitment to promoting financial discipline and accountability underscores his consistent advocacy for responsible borrowing and effective management of public resources, highlighting the critical role professionals, particularly women accountants, can play in shaping Nigeria’s economic future. (The PUNCH)