Vice Presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] has rubbished the anti-graft war of President Muhammadu Buhari, stressing that is of no economic benefit to Nigeria.
The former Anambra State governor made the assertion at the ongoing Vice Presidential debate, which is presently holding at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
Obi while making a point during the debate alleged that fighting corruption as it is done by the Buhari-led government will not help Nigeria.
He said “Fighting corruption is not an economic policy…you can’t shut down your shop and be fighting criminals”
“In 2015 we generated $41bn in Foreign Direct Investment, but now, we attracted only $12bn last year. Even our stock market has lost over N2Trillion in one year. You can’t shut down your shop and be chasing criminals.”
“Nigeria’s capital market is only 30 billion dollars, South Africa is 900 billion dollars…what we have got wrong here is that we as a government have failed to do what we need to do.
“Government’s role should have been to create enabling environment through partnership with the private sector. If this is done, there will be more investment…if the private sector drives the economy.
Asked what he will do if he has a fallout with the President, Obi said, “The role of a Vice President is a critical role – the VP is in charge of the economy, expected to revamp the business environment, create jobs…If you continue to do these things you can’t have a fallout with the President.
Today we are suffering from the heavy debts owed by the country the we are using 50% of our revenue to service debt. We need to do more and we can’t even find the money.
Meanwhile Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo fired back at Obi on his remark as regards war against corruption.
Osinbajo said “If you allow criminals to steal all the whole merchandise in the shop, there will be no shop.
“With all due respect I have heard candidates say fighting corruption is not an economic policy how do you build your economy with all the resources have been eroded”