Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has criticized calls for a new jet for Vice President Kashim Shettima, describing the proposal as “insensitive” given Nigeria’s current economic struggles.
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, noted that Nigeria’s leadership should prioritize addressing the nation’s pressing challenges, including poverty, unreliable power, and faltering businesses, rather than considering luxury expenses.
He urged leaders to limit travel to essential trips and focus on serving the country’s development and welfare needs.
“We are now among the eleven worst-governed African nations over the past decade. Our people face severe poverty, extreme hunger, and worsening living conditions,” Obi said, highlighting Nigeria’s standing as the “poverty capital of the world,” with a drop in per capita income from $1,700 in 2023 to $1,109 this year.
“Shouldn’t these issues be our leaders’ priorities?” he questioned.
Drawing a comparison, Obi noted that Indonesia, with over a decade of sustained economic growth, only acquired a presidential jet in 2014 for essential use by both its president and vice president.
He suggested that Nigeria’s recently acquired jet should suffice for necessary trips.
Obi called on leaders to focus on solutions to Nigeria’s critical issues, expressing hope that “Nigeria will rise again if the leadership can commit to selfless service.”