In a scathing critique, Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has condemned the federal government over the recent seizure of Nigeria’s Presidential jets by a French court.
Obi described the incident as an international embarrassment that underscores a profound failure of leadership in Nigeria.
Obi’s remarks, delivered via a series of posts on his X handle on Thursday, called for the federal government to offer a comprehensive explanation to Nigerians regarding the situation. He emphasised that the seizure of assets, which belong to the Nigerian people, by a foreign court, reflects poorly on the country’s leadership and highlights a disregard for transparency and accountability.
“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,” Obi stated.
He went on to question the secrecy surrounding both the acquisition and the attempted sale of the Presidential jets, assets that should be managed in the public interest. Obi argued that the Federal Government’s actions reveal an alarming level of insensitivity, especially given the current economic hardships facing millions of Nigerians.
“The fact that the federal government went ahead 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,” Obi asserted.
He further criticised the lack of transparency in the management of the Presidential fleet, pointing out that until the French court’s intervention, Nigerians were largely unaware of the details surrounding the jets’ acquisition and potential sale. Obi accused the government of treating public property as though it were personal, private assets.
“Federal Government property, which belongs to the people, is being managed as a personal family asset,” he remarked.
Obi also highlighted the broader implications of the incident, arguing that it reveals deep-seated issues of indiscipline and disregard for the rule of law within the Nigerian government. He called on the Federal Government to be transparent and provide answers to the questions raised by this international scandal.
“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 international mess,” Obi concluded.
The seizure of Nigeria’s Presidential jets has ignited widespread debate and further intensified scrutiny of the government’s actions on the international stage.