Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, has called on President Bola Tinubu to disclose the exact cost and age of the newly acquired Presidential Jet.
Obi made this request through a series of posts on his X account, responding to the mixed reactions from Nigerians regarding the purchase of the new jet.
Many criticized the government’s decision to acquire a new aircraft amidst severe hunger and hardship in the country.
Obi further stated that Nigerians have the right to know how the old presidential jets are being disposed of, how many there are, how old they are, and why they are being sold. He emphasized that transparency and accountability should be the foundation of any genuine leadership.
He remarked, “Despite all the denials and back and forth regarding the newly acquired Presidential aircraft, the jet is now here, thanks to the French court that helped Nigerians obtain the information.
Now that the jet is here, Nigerian taxpayers, whose money was used to purchase it, deserve to know how much it cost, how old it is, and how long it has been in operation.
Additionally, Nigerians deserve to know about the disposal process of the old jets, their quantity, age, and the reasons for their sale. Transparency and accountability should be the hallmark of any genuine leadership.”
Obi also mentioned that failing to provide adequate information about the leadership’s actions to the people, whose money is being used, would only result in the government losing respect.
He highlighted that a presidential jet symbolizes national sovereignty and state power, and the cost associated with transporting the president is a significant issue of public accountability. Obi expressed hope that Nigerians would not be denied full disclosure regarding the new presidential jet.
The purchase of the new Presidential Jet for President Tinubu has sparked nationwide controversy, with many Nigerians criticizing the government’s extravagant spending while over 133 million citizens live in multidimensional poverty.
