Politics

Peter Obi condemned the government plan to buy New presidential jet describing it as being extremely insensitive to the struggles of average Nigerians at this unprecedented economic crisis in Nigeria

Published

12 months ago

June 19, 2024

At a time when our country is trending on the global media for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency, and widespread poverty, the government’s plan to buy new presidential jets demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.

With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect between the government and the people. It is unacceptable and demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritizing citizens’ welfare.

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 to 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.

While we had earlier refurbished the old VP residence with $2 million, the over 100 years old US Vice President’s house has only undergone wide scale renovations twice, funded by tax payers money; in 1993 and in 2021. Every new US VP is free to finance any minor refurbishing from his personal funds.

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.

Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few. Let’s rise to the challenge, and build this new Nigeria which is now more possible than ever before. -PO

Politics

Tinubu surrounded by sycophants, detached from ordinary Nigerians — Bugaje

Published

6 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A political activist, Usman Bugaje, says President Bola Tinubu is detached from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians because he is surrounded by sycophants.

Bugaje made this statement on Thursday during Channels Television’s special Democracy Day programme titled ‘Nigeria’s Democratic Journey: An Inter-Generational Conversation on Building a Better Nation,’ commemorating 26 years of unbroken democratic rule in Nigeria, blasting Tinubu’s leadership style.

He alleged that the President’s inner circle shields him from the harsh realities the citizens face.

“It looks like the President has been completely encircled by sycophants. They don’t allow him to see the realities, they don’t tell him the truth. But if he knew what was happening in society, he would be ashamed of himself. As far as I know him, I never thought he would allow this situation.

“He is now there, wallowing in the comfort of the Villa, talking in ways that show he doesn’t even know what is happening in this country. If he knew, he would not be doing the kind of things he’s doing now,” he said.

The former lawmaker also lamented what he called prosperity without production, adding that Nigerians were no longer swayed by polished speeches but were demanding tangible results.

He accused the current Nigerian democracy of failing to serve its core purpose, which is to uplift the people and ensure their welfare.

He also decried the helplessness of many citizens who have suffered in the hands of insecurity and economic hardship, pointing to the stories of kidnapped victims, unemployed youth, and struggling small business owners.

According to him, any government unable to ensure basic welfare and security has lost the moral right to call itself democratic.

While citing statistics to back his claim, Bugaje described the country’s current state as disgraceful.

Politics

National Assembly becoming shadow of parliament, drifting backwards – Saraki

Published

8 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the 10th National Assembly is becoming a shadow of what parliament should be.

Saraki said the current National Assembly is drifting backwards due to faulty leadership.

He accused other arms of government of playing a key role in weakening the current National Assembly.

Saraki stated this in his remarks to mark Nigeria’s 26 years unbroken democracy at the National Assembly yesterday, June 12.

He said the current crop of legislators owed it a duty to make the parliament stronger for future generations.

According to Saraki: “Let me now say that except we are here to lie to ourselves, we must acknowledge the fact that the National Assembly is gradually becoming a shadow of what a virile and effective parliament should be.

“Today, we seem to be drifting backwards. And we don’t have to go far to find the reason for this sad development.

“I am convinced that this is not only the fault of the legislature and its leadership. The executive and judiciary have consistently played key roles in undermining and weakening the National Assembly.”

Saraki urged leaders to work together towards making the National Assembly a strong institution.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain said the National Assembly was established to scrutinize the executive.

He cautioned Nigerians against making the National Assembly helpless and hopeless.

“If the National Assembly is made helpless and hopeless to the extent that the people cannot find succour there, then they will be left with no option but to run to the streets. And this is dangerous for our democracy,” he added.

His remark is coming amid accusations that the 10th assembly is a rubber stamp that has leaned completely towards the Federal government.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, had dismissed this, saying NASS enjoys a cordial relationship with the executive.

Adaramodu said the current NASS will rubber stamp things that are in the interest of Nigerians.

Politics

One party state: Tinubu on same page with PDP, other parties – Saraki

Published

9 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said President Bola Tinubu and the opposition parties are on the same page.

Saraki was reacting to Tinubu’s remark that he is not for a one-party state.

There have been claims that Tinubu was moving Nigeria towards a party state, following recent defections to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Some of the defectors had blamed the crisis in their various parties for their decision to join the ruling party.

But, Tinubu while addressing the National Assembly yesterday debunked claims that his administration plans to make Nigeria a one-party state.

He, however, stated that he is happy that the opposition parties are in disarray and he won’t help them.

Tinubu said: “To those who ring the alarm that the APC is intent on a one-party state, I offer you a most personal promise. While your alarm may be as a result of your panic, it rings in error.”

Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Saraki said: “We must take him at his words, he spoke well saying he is not for a one-party state, so we must take him at his words that he supports a multi-party, so we are all on the same page.

“We the PDP buy into this and that is why we are going around bringing everybody and they heard it, so those people saying there is pressure, there is no pressure on anybody.

“We are all for multi-party and everybody should go and get his house in order. As he said, he’s not going to help us, so we are going to sort our own house and get it in order.”