Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has raised concerns over the newly acquired presidential jet, calling for full transparency and accountability regarding its purchase.
Obi made his remarks in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
In his statement, Obi noted that despite the initial denials and back-and-forth over the acquisition, the presidential jet has now arrived in Nigeria.
He credited the French court for helping Nigerians obtain information about the aircraft, which had previously been shrouded in secrecy.
“Now that the Presidential Jet has arrived, from all indications, despite all the denials and back and forth over the newly acquired Presidential aircraft, the jet is now here thanks to the French court that helped Nigerians to get the information,” Obi said.
Obi questioned the government’s lack of transparency about the jet’s cost, age, and operational history, stressing that Nigerian taxpayers, whose money was used to purchase the aircraft, deserve to know these details.
“Now that the Jet is here, can Nigerian taxpayers whose money was used to purchase it be privy to how much it cost and how old the aircraft is and how long it’s been in operation?” Obi asked.
He further called for information on the disposal of the older presidential jets, including the number of jets being sold, their ages, and the reasons for their sale.
“In addition, Nigerians also deserve to know about how the old jets are being disposed of, how many of them, how old they are, and why they are being sold. Transparency and Accountability should be the hallmark of any genuine leadership,” he added.
Obi stressed that a presidential jet is a significant symbol of national sovereignty and state power, and the cost of transporting the President is a matter of public accountability.
He urged the government to provide full disclosure to Nigerians regarding the new jet.
“A presidential jet is a major symbol of national sovereignty and state power. How much it costs to transport the president is a major issue of public accountability. I hope that Nigerians will not be denied the right of full disclosure on the new presidential jet,” Obi stated.
