Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has called the seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets by a French court an international embarrassment.
In a post on his X account on Thursday, Obi said the trending international news on the seizure of three Jets belonging to Nigeria’s Presidential fleet is another of many embarrassing things exposing Nigeria’s failed leadership and attitude to the rule of law even in a democracy.
Obi stated that this situation reveals multiple layers of leadership failure and a lack of sensitivity to the struggles faced by the country’s growing poor population.
“The fact that the federal government went ahead with the jet deal despite the cacophonous cry against the purchase of a Presidential jet at this time when the people are going through a horrifying economic hardship shows the insensitivity of this administration,” he stated
“Added to it is the embarrassing aspect of our country’s Presidential jets being held for contractual breaches arising from yet another dimension of inadequate leadership tidiness.”
Obi stressed his long-standing call for transparency and accountability at all levels of government. He pointed out that, until the French court’s ruling, Nigerians had no information regarding the purchase or management of these jets.
“It has been done in secrecy. Federal Government property, which belongs to the people, is being managed as a personal family asset,” he said.
He expressed outrage at the government spending nearly $100 million for a Presidential jet for a country battling with extreme poverty, a high number of out-of-school children and over 40% food inflation. This incident has also opened up an aspect of indiscipline that is copiously embedded in our country, which is the abuse and disrespect for the rule of law, Obi added.
“Here are questions begging for answers: To what extent did the Ogun government follow its agreement with the Chinese firm? After the UK court ruling that prohibited some Nigeria building in Liverpool, what did Ogun state and Federal government do before the French court action?” He asked.
Obi challenged the federal government to come clean and transparent and “tell Nigerians how the country got to this latest international mess.”
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