Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has responded to recent claims by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that a significant number of Nigerian university students are involved in cybercrime. He argued that if the figures are accurate, the country's education and value systems have reached a troubling point that requires urgent national reflection.
EFCC Chairman's Statement
EFCC Chairman Olanipekun Olukoyede stated at a university conference in Kano that approximately six out of every ten undergraduates may be involved in internet fraud. This alarming statistic prompted Obi to issue a response on his official social media page.
Obi's Reaction
The former Anambra State governor described the situation as a reflection of deeper national challenges. He noted that Nigeria's tertiary education system currently serves between 2 and 2.5 million students. He warned that if a large portion of this population is engaged in fraud, the country faces both a moral and structural crisis that demands immediate attention.
Obi questioned the environment shaping young people and the values being promoted in society. He asked what kind of leadership and role models students are observing, suggesting that behavior at the top often influences actions at the bottom.
Call for Value Rebuilding
Obi argued that young people respond to what they consistently see rewarded. He said that when dishonesty appears to go unpunished and integrity is not visibly upheld, it sends a damaging message that shortcuts are acceptable. He stated: "We must understand that young people become what they consistently see. When a system appears to reward wrongdoing, when integrity is not upheld, and when those in leadership are associated with allegations of forgery and dishonesty without consequence, it sends a dangerous message."
He also referenced broader concerns about governance and accountability, stating that a system that appears to tolerate misconduct creates fertile ground for ethical decline among youths. According to him, such conditions weaken trust and discourage discipline and hard work.
Quoting the philosopher Socrates, Obi said: "An unexamined life is not worth living." He added that Nigeria must confront uncomfortable truths about its value system rather than ignore them.
Leadership Responsibility
The ambitious presidential aspirant clarified that his comments were not aimed at condemning students but at drawing attention to leadership responsibility. He said rebuilding trust and moral direction must start from those in positions of authority.
Obi called for stronger enforcement of accountability across institutions and a renewed focus on integrity in public life. He also advocated for a system that rewards honesty and diligence rather than shortcuts or unethical gain. He maintained that the country must urgently restore its value system if it hopes to secure the future of its young population.
Related Development
In a separate matter, former Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami has called on the EFCC chairman to recuse himself from an investigation involving Malami. The former minister claimed he is being witch-hunted by the EFCC over his defection from the ruling APC to the ADC.
