‘Nigerians facing hardship’ — Obi faults Borno speaker’s call for new aircraft for Shettima

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 elections, has faulted a call by Abdulkarim Lawan, speaker of the Borno state house of assembly, for the purchase of a new aircraft for Vice-President Kashim Shettima.

On October 25, the vice-president aborted his trip to the 2024 Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa.

Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, had said Shettima’s trip was cancelled due to damage to his aircraft.

Reacting to the development, the Borno speaker said Shettima needed a new aircraft urgently, adding that the vice-president’s life was at risk.

In a statement posted on his X handle on Tuesday, Obi said the Borno speaker was insensitive with such a comment, adding that he was “obviously unconcerned about the prevailing economic situation in the country”.

The former governor of Anambra said the call was provoking, noting that the speaker is ‘probably oblivious of the fact that Nigeria, at present, has continued to manifest every trait of a failed state”.

“That Nigerians are facing untold hardship at this moment is no secret,” the statement reads.

“We are today among one of the eleven worst-governed African nations in the last 10 years. We are also among the 20 most hungry nations in the world, with our people facing 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 prioritised 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.

“Are these not the issues that should preoccupy us as leaders, rather than being consumed by our selfish desires for needless luxury at the expense of the people we 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.

“I appeal to the president, vice-president, and our public office holders that our present precarious situation calls only for minimal and highly contributory inevitable 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. A new Nigeria is possible if we can get our priorities right.”