A former presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has described it as insensitive for anyone to demand a new aircraft for Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima.
The presidency had said Shettima could not proceed to Commonwealth Summit in Samoa because a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK Airport in New York.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the president on Information and Strategy, had said the windscreen of the cockpit was damaged during the incident.
Reacting to the incident, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, stated that the life of Shettima was at risk as a result of the “faulty” presidential aircraft he always flew to represent President Bola Tinubu on official engagements across the globe.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Lawan called on the Federal Government to get Shettima a new aircraft to avoid any tragedy, adding that the aircraft designated to the Vice President has had several incidents in recent times.
However, Obi in a post on his X account on Tuesday stressed that the Speaker was unconcerned about the prevailing economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
He appealed to the President, Vice President, and public office holders that the country’s present situation calls only for minimal and highly contributory inevitable travels.
Peter asserted that it is time to sit down and find solutions to the litany of challenges for the well-being of the people and the development of the country.
He wrote, “I just read a disturbing comment in the media space attributed to one of the supposed political leaders in the country that the life of the Vice President is in danger because of the faults recorded in his official aircraft.
“The leader went further to urge the Federal Government to purchase a new aircraft for the Vice President.
“In making such a remark now, the speaker is insensitive and obviously unconcerned about the prevailing economic situation in the country.
“That Nigerians are facing untold hardship at this moment is no secret. Such a provoking call is coming from a person who probably is oblivious of the fact that Nigeria, at present, has continued to manifest every trait of a failed state.
“We are today among one of the eleven worst-governed African nations in the last 10 years. We are also among the 20 most hungry nations in the world, with our people facing worsening mass poverty, extreme hunger and starvation.
“Our nation remains the poverty capital of the world, with our per capita income crashing further from $1700 in 2023 to $1109 this year.
“Are these not the issues that should be prioritized by committed leaders?
“Our national electricity grid has so far collapsed 8 times this year alone and 105 times in the last ten years, plunging our small businesses into great losses and households into darkness.
“In the past 15 months, several businesses have closed down or become distressed due to the harsh economic environment in the country.
“Are these not the issues that should preoccupy us as leaders, rather than being consumed by our selfish desires for needless luxury at the expense of the people we are called to serve?
“What does Nigeria’s Vice President need a new jet for, and what value are all Presidential and Vice Presidential trips adding to our present situation?
“It was not until 2014 that Indonesia, with sustainable economic growth of over 6% annually for the past 10 years, adding about 50% to both her GDP and GDP per capita, decide to buy a Presidential jet, used by both the President and Vice President.”
“The Vice President travels mostly in the country’s national airline, Garuda Indonesia. And since we have recently undeservedly bought one, it should be used on essential, inevitable trips of the President and Vice President.
“I appeal to the President, Vice President, and our public office holders that our present precarious situation calls only for minimal and highly contributory inevitable travels.
“It is time to sit down and find solutions to our litany of challenges for the wellbeing of the people and the development of our country,” he added.
