Former Anambra State governor and Labor presidential candidate Peter Obi has criticized recent calls to force Nigeria’s Vice President Kassim Shettima to buy a new jet.
According to a statement released through X’s official account, Obi shared his thoughts and called the proposal “insensitive” and “insensitive” to the economic hardships affecting Nigerians. Ta.
Obi’s remarks came in response to public statements by political leaders who called on the federal government to procure a new official aircraft, citing concerns over the safety of the vice president’s current official aircraft. However, Obi said the focus on purchasing luxury goods during times of economic hardship reveals a disconnect with the reality faced by most Nigerians.
“Nigerians are currently facing untold hardships,” Obi said, stressing that poverty, hunger and deteriorating economic conditions should be a top priority for government leaders. He noted that Nigeria remains the “poverty capital of the world,” with per capita income plummeting from $1,700 in 2023 to just $1,109 this year. He said the plight of millions of people struggling to afford basic necessities should drive the nation’s priorities, not provide further comfort to political elites. said.
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“Aren’t these issues a committed leader should prioritize?” Obi asked, highlighting Nigeria’s broader struggles, including serious infrastructure failures. He noted that the nation’s power grid has collapsed eight times this year alone and 105 times in the past 10 years, leaving businesses in crisis and millions of households in the dark.
Mr. Obi highlighted global comparisons, pointing to Indonesia, a country that only acquired a presidential jet in 2014 despite a consistent 6% economic growth and expanding GDP. . He questioned the value of continued business travel for the president and vice president in the current situation in Nigeria, saying, “What does the vice president of Nigeria need a new jet for? What value does it bring to the current situation?”
Obi called on public officials to exercise restraint and shift their focus to domestic issues. He called on the president, vice president and other leaders to prioritize “minimum, high-contribution, unavoidable travel” and focus on solving Nigeria’s “numerous challenges.”
Concluding his statement, Mr. Obi expressed hope that Nigeria’s fortunes would improve if its leaders could commit to selfless governance, saying, “If leaders can commit to selfless service, Nigeria will rise again. I guess so,” he said.
Obi’s comments have sparked a debate about the government’s priorities amid growing public discontent, with many Nigerians watching closely to see whether political leaders will shift their focus to issues that affect daily life. There is.
