Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has fiercely criticized President Bola Tinubu’s government following the startling seizure of several presidential jets by foreign business partners.
Obi, who previously served as the governor of Anambra State, issued a powerful statement on Thursday, boldly labeling the incident as an “international embarrassment.” He accused the Tinubu administration of operating in shadowy secrecy, likening their governance to that of a personal family estate rather than a national office.
This scathing reaction came on the heels of revelations that a French court had authorized the confiscation of three presidential jets linked to Nigeria’s Federal Government, a move stemming from a legal dispute involving Zhongshan, a Chinese company.
In his response shared on his X account, Obi lamented how this debacle highlights the profound failure of leadership in Nigeria. He further condemned the Tinubu government for its blatant mismanagement of national resources, all while countless citizens continue to suffer in deep poverty.
“Where was the urgency from both the Ogun state and Federal governments before this French court took action?” Obi questioned, underscoring the dire need for accountability and transparency at the highest levels of power.
According to him, “The trending international news on the seizure of three Jets belonging to Nigeria’s Presidential fleet is yet another of many embarrassing things exposing our failed leadership and our attitude to the rule of law even in a democracy.
“It has also exposed multiple dimensions to our leadership failure and our insensitivity to the plight of the growing poor class in our midst.
“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.
“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.
“I have been loud in my demand over time that the government at all levels should be accountable to the people, meaning that they must be very transparent in all their dealings.
“Until a court in France prohibits Nigeria from moving or selling these three jets, Nigerians have no iota of information about both the buying and selling of these aircraft.
“It has been done in secrecy. Federal Government property, which belongs to the people, is being managed as a personal family asset.
“Paying as much as $100m dollars for a Presidential jet for a country that is the poverty capital of the World and has more out-of-school children with over 40% food inflation is the height of concern for the people’s feelings.
“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.
“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 both Ogun state and Federal government do before the French court action?
“I would like to, therefore, challenge the federal government to come clean and transparent on this matter and tell Nigerians how we got to this latest international mess. – PO”
