The former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has stated that hoodlums receive more salaries than professors in Nigeria, describing it as a sad irony.
Obi stated this at the presentation of a book authored by Prof Chinyere Okunna of the Department of Mass Communication, Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, on Wednesday.
Obi, who was the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) vice presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections, said Nigeria would not advance if bandits were deemed more important than intellectuals.
“Prof. Okunna (the author), who we are honoring today, earns less than a political thug, I can tell you.
“Nigeria would rather pay bandits and converse with them than deal with resourceful and hardworking intellectuals.
“I had never met Okunna before appointing her as a commissioner when I was governor, but I was intrigued when I saw her CV as a candidate.
“While many people objected to her appointment because she was not a member of our political party, I was adamant about appointing her because I wanted the best team for the job.”
