Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 election, recently criticized calls to procure a new aircraft for Vice President Kashim Shettima after a reported issue with the current presidential plane. Obi responded to comments by Abdulkareem Lawan, the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, who argued that Shettima’s safety was at risk due to the faulty aircraft.
Obi found the demand insensitive, particularly given Nigeria’s current economic struggles, including widespread poverty, hunger, and an unreliable power grid, which he noted has collapsed multiple times this year. Emphasizing that Nigeria is among the worst-governed and most impoverished countries globally, he argued that addressing citizens' hardships and revitalizing the economy should be the government’s priority, rather than acquiring luxury items.
He further criticized the lack of focus on urgent national issues like mass poverty, job losses, and failing infrastructure, suggesting that leaders should prioritize alleviating these struggles instead of prioritizing personal comforts.