Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prioritize investigating significant issues such as budget padding and the return of the fuel subsidy.
Speaking on Arise TV on Wednesday, Obi emphasized that arresting Nigerians for abusing the local currency, Naira, should not be the primary concern of the anti-graft agency.
Obi specifically mentioned the recent arrests of controversial cross-dresser and social media celebrity Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, and others for abusing Naira notes. He referred to these actions as “minor issues” compared to more pressing concerns.
“If it is not budget padding today, it would be undisclosed subsidy payments, inflated contracts, and all sorts of things.
These are the issues I want our agencies like EFCC to start dealing with, not arresting Bobrisky and Cubana Chief Priest. These are minor issues.
Our agencies should face budget padding squarely, not arresting Bobrisky because he dressed like a woman and spent N500 notes,” Obi stated.
He also recalled allegations of discrepancies in the 2024 budget made by Abdul Ningi, the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District.
Ningi claimed that while the National Assembly approved a budget of N25 trillion, the President signed a budget of N28.7 trillion.
Additionally, Obi addressed claims that President Bola Tinubu had reinstated part of the fuel subsidy that was abolished on May 29, 2023.
While the presidency has denied these claims, maintaining that the fuel subsidy is gone, Obi insists that such significant issues require the EFCC’s attention.
