The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, described the seizure of three presidential jets in France as another embarrassment, exposing the failed leadership in Nigeria.
A French court ordered the seizure of the jets following a contract dispute between Ogun State and the Chinese company Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.
The Federal Government, however, has announced that it has initiated both legal and diplomatic measures to ensure the reversal of the “inappropriate orders” against the jets, which it claims are protected by sovereign immunity.
In a post on X on Thursday, Obi criticized the Federal Government and the Ogun State Government, stating that the aircraft seizure has highlighted multiple dimensions of the country’s leadership failure.
He said, “The trending international news on the seizure of three Jets belonging to Nigeria’s Presidential fleet is yet another of many embarrassing things exposing our failed leadership and our attitude to the rule of law even in a democracy. It has also exposed multiple dimensions to our leadership failure and our insensitivity to the plight of the growing poor class in our midst.”
“Added to it is the embarrassing aspect of our country’s Presidential jets being held for contractual breaches arising from yet another dimension of inadequate leadership tidiness. I have been loud in my demand over time that the government at all levels should be accountable to the people, meaning that they must be very transparent in all their dealings.
“Until a court in France prohibits Nigeria from moving or selling these three jets, Nigerians have no iota of information about both the buying and selling of these aircraft.
“It has been done in secrecy. Federal Government property, which belongs to the people, is being managed as a personal family asset.
“Here are questions begging for answers: To what extent did the Ogun government follow its agreement with the Chinese firm? After the UK court ruling that prohibited some Nigeria building in Liverpool, what did both Ogun state and Federal government do before the French court action?
“I would like to, therefore, challenge the federal government to come clean and transparent on this matter and tell Nigerians how we got to this latest international mess.”