Peter Obi, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, has shared his thoughts on the controversy about Farouk Ahmed, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who resigned amid allegations.
Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group, had claimed that Ahmed spent about $5 million on the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland. Dangote called for a full investigation and public explanation.
This controversy eventually led to Ahmed stepping down as CEO of NMDPRA.
Obi responded by saying the situation calls for moral responsibility.
He said, “One of the most talked-about public controversies in recent times is the allegation surrounding Farouk Ahmed.
“At current exchange rates, $5 million is approximately N7.5 billion. In a country with over 18 million out-of-school children, the highest number in the world, this revelation inevitably raises questions of proportionality, public trust, and moral responsibility.
“Education is one of the greatest legacies a parent can give a child. No reasonable person begrudges parents for investing in their children’s future. Plato, in The Republic, reminds us that “education and upbringing are what make good human beings,” warning that neglect of education harms not just individuals but the entire constitution of society.
“The issue here, therefore, is not education itself, but scale, context, and moral consequence, especially when such spending is attributed to a public official in a country with extreme inequality.
“With N7.5 billion, it would be possible to build 25 school blocks, at N35 million per block, fully covering construction, furnishing, and basic learning infrastructure. This amounts to N875 million in capital expenditure.”
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