Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has criticized the Federal Government's plan to acquire new jets for President Bola Tinubu and his deputy, Kashim Shettima. According to a report, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has asked the government to purchase these new aircraft.
Obi, citing the country's current economic hardships, said this move demonstrates the government's "extreme insensitivity to citizens' struggles." In a series of social media posts, the former Anambra governor noted that the decision is disconnected from the pressing issues of rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness plaguing the nation. He described the decision as unacceptable, arguing that the situation demands a more compassionate use of resources, with a focus on improving citizens' welfare.
Obi pointed out that the average age of Nigeria's presidential jets is 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford basic necessities. However, he said that now, as the country faces significant challenges, including a high debt profile, citizens are in even greater need. Obi argued that instead of adding to the government's luxuries, the focus should be on alleviating the suffering of the people and finding solutions to their problems.
The former governor criticized the government's priorities, stating that they are at odds with the needs of society, which is why the country is headed in the wrong direction. He cited examples, such as the government spending $15 million on the Vice President's residence, while the United States, with a much larger economy and higher per capita income, houses its Vice President in a house built over 100 years ago, valued at around $7.5 million. Obi called for an end to this "impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness" and urged the government to prioritize education, healthcare, and lifting citizens out of poverty.
