- Peter Obi: “ You Are Insensitive to the Sufferings of Nigeria. You Can’t do that …”Presidency: “ Do You want Tinubu to travel in Rickety Commercial planes?..That plane is old, it was Bought 20 years ago under Obasanjo..”
- Economist: “ Emulate Argentina’s President who brought down Inflation, Cut Cabinet size by 50%, Dump Presidential jet, Slash Public expenditure by 50%, Cancel All Bogus Contracts…Resorts to Direct Labour works…
By Abiola Olawale
Following examples of countries like Argentina whose inflation rate crashed after the country’s President, Javier Milei, cut cabinet size by 50%, Cancelled bogus contracts, resorted to direct Labour works in public projects execution and dumped his presidential jet, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has engaged in verbal wars with the presidency over the latter’s plan to commit funds for the purchase of new aircraft for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima.
Obi, a two-term Governor of Anambra State, faulted federal lawmakers and Federal Government for planning to procure new aircraft for the presidential fleets at a time Nigerians are grappling with severe economic hardship.
The 2023 presidential candidate described the move of the FG as unacceptable. According to him, the move demonstrates a clear lack of sensitivity towards the plight of the Nigerian people.
It would be recalled that the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence had recently called on the Federal government to buy new aircrafts for Tinubu and Shettima.
The committee’s recommendation was contained in a report released after it investigated the status of the aircrafts in the presidential air fleet.
Reacting to the development, Obi who took to his official X handle said: “This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles. With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people. It is unacceptable as the situation in the country today more than ever demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritising citizens’ welfare.
“It is on record that our presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford 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.
“While we had earlier refurbished the old VP residence with $2m, the over 100-year-old US Vice President’s house has only undergone wide-scale renovations twice, funded by taxpayers’ money; in 1993 and 2021. Every new US VP is free to finance any minor refurbishing from his funds.
“It is, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people. We must prioritise education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty. Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few.”
However, in a swift counter-response, the Presidency knocked Obi, accusing him of making comments without proper investigation or adding context to it.
The Presidency said most of the aircraft in the presidential fleet are faulty, adding that one of them developed a problem the last time Tinubu travelled to Saudi Arabia.
The presidency said Tinubu had to go from Saudi Arabia to the United Kingdom (UK) on a commercial airline.
The Presidency also expressed its concern regarding Obi’s lack of sensitivity in his comment, questioning whether he would prioritize flying faulty aircraft thereby jeopardizing the President’s life to his so called claims.
Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga who spoke with the press said: “Does Peter Obi want the President dead? Is that his wish? Does he want him to continue moving around in a rickety plane and die like the VP of Malawi and Iran President? Let him tell us. This is a basic thing any sane government will do. You can’t toy with your President’s welfare.
“The plane he used now, I learnt, was bought during (former President) Obasanjo’s era. That was over 20 years ago and I learnt it was a very small plane. The plane developed a problem the last time he travelled to Saudi Arabia. The President had to go from there to the UK on a commercial airline. Even those managing them said the aircraft needed to be replaced.
“Why will any right-thinking person still want the President to move around in it? In this way, it is the National Assembly that officially recommended that new ones should be bought. Sometimes, Peter Obi opened his mouth to make unnecessary statements.”
An economist who spoke with the New Diplomat raised concerns about the government’s decision to invest significant funds despite the prevailing economic challenges in the country.
He questioned why Tinubu has not taken measures to reduce government expenditure, similar to the actions taken by Argentina’s President Javier Milei.
According to the economist, Tinubu should instead merge many ministries, sell off the N15bn mansion built for Vice President Kashim Shettima, cut down government expenditure by 50%, ban all foreign travel except when necessary and reduce salaries of public officers and those of Senators.
The New Diplomat reports that Argentina’s inflation rate came down drastically to 4.2% in May 2024, as per data released by the INDEC national statistics bureau.
The development which had been greeted by applause came amid Milei’s efforts to address the most severe economic crisis facing the country in several decades. President Milei, like President Tinubu inherited a comatose and inflation-ridden economy when he took office last December.
Milei since taking over office in December had slashed public spending by half, cut the Cabinet size by half, done away with tens of thousands of state jobs, suspended new public works contracts and ripped away fuel and transport subsidies as well as abandoned presidential jet, a familiar prestige travel plane for presidents.