Obi Blasts Federal Government Over Insensitive Jet Purchase Plans |READ FULL

Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has strongly criticized the Federal Government's move to acquire new jets for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER reports that the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence on Friday urged the Federal Government to purchase new aircraft for Tinubu and Shettima.

However, Obi, citing the severe economic hardship facing the nation, labeled the move as a demonstration of the government's "extreme insensitivity to citizens' struggles.ÔÇØ

In a series of posts on his official X handle on Monday, Obi highlighted the disconnect between the government and the people, given the rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness in the country.

The former Anambra governor called the decision unacceptable, emphasizing that the current situation in Nigeria demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritizing the welfare of the citizens.

He wrote, "It's on record that our presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford basic necessities. Now, as our country faces significant challenges, including a high debt profile, our citizens are in even greater need.

"Instead of adding to our luxuries, we should be focused on alleviating their suffering and finding solutions to their problems. For long, our bad leadership has made our priorities, as leaders, to be at variance with the needs of society, which is why we are headed now south, as a nation.

"To elucidate further, despite dropping down to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $252 billion and a per capita income of $1,080, with huge debt burdens and borrowing to service debts, yet, we are spending $15 million for our Vice President's residence, while the USA, the world's largest economy with a GDP of $25 trillion, about 100 times our GDP, and a per capita income of $80,000, about 80 times ours, still houses their Vice President in Number 1 Observatory Circle, a house built over 100 years ago, and whose value is obviously less than the $15 million we are spending on our VP's residence.

"A reputable real estate company actually reports that the US Vice President's Official Residence is valued at about $7.5 million today.

"It's, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people. We must prioritize education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty,ÔÇØ he concluded.

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