What does he need it for? Obi says demand for new plane for Shettima insensitive

Peter Obi, the Labour Party flag-bearer in the 2023 presidential election, has condemned the demand for a new aircraft for Vice President, Kashim Shettima, describing it as insensitive to the plight of the citizens.

Over the weekend, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan, raised the alarm over a potential threat to Shettima’s life due to the faulty presidential aircraft he’s using to run diplomatic errands for President Bola Tinubu across the globe.

The Vice President was forced to cancel his trip from the United States to Samoa for the Commonwealth Summit last week after his plane suffered windshield damage at JFK Airport in New York.

The Presidency said Shettima could not proceed to Samoa because a foreign object hit his plane during a stopover at JFK.

Lawan argued that the continued use of the ‘faulty aircraft’ put Shettima’s life at risk, calling on the Federal Government to get him a new plane.

Obi condemns the call for new aircraft for Shettima

Responding, Obi said the Borno Speaker was unconcerned about the prevailing economic hardship confronting Nigerians, including an alleged crisis in the electricity sector.

He labelled Lawan’s request as disturbing and insensitive, considering the economic situation of the country.

“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,” Obi said.

The former Anambra State Governor stressed that Nigerians are currently facing untold hardship, making such a call from someone who’s probably oblivious to the fact provocative.

Obi noted that Nigeria is among one of the 11 worst-governed African nations in the last 10 years and also among the 20 most hungry nations in the world, with the citizens contending with 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,” Obi said.

Obi says Nigerian leaders should be more concerned about poverty

The former Labour Party presidential candidate wondered why the leaders are not bothered by the aforestated challenges, rather than being consumed by what he termed “selfish desires for needless luxury at the expense of the people they 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, decided 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,” he added.

He urged Tinubu, Shettima, and other public officeholders that Nigeria’s present precarious situation calls only for minimal and highly contributory unavoidable 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. Nigeria will rise again if the leadership can commit to selfless service,” Obi concluded.