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<p>The Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, <strong>Peter Obi</strong>, has voiced his disapproval of the proposal for a new jet for Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima.</p>
<p>He described the call as “insensitive,” especially given the ongoing economic challenges facing the nation.</p>
<figure id="attachment_1120295" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1120295" style="width: 1200px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-1120295" alt="Peter Obi pleads with Tinubu to reject request for new presidential jet for VP Shettima" width="1200" height="600" data-lazy- src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/378B2E12-72E9-4E64-9F5E-3610968F56CE.jpeg.webp.webp"/><img decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-1120295" src="https://toptechblitz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/378B2E12-72E9-4E64-9F5E-3610968F56CE.jpeg.webp.webp" alt="Peter Obi pleads with Tinubu to reject request for new presidential jet for VP Shettima" width="1200" height="600" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-1120295" class="wp-caption-text">Mr Peter Obi</figcaption></figure>
<p>Obi pleaded with president <strong>Bola Tinubu</strong> to reject the request, emphasizing that at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with financial hardships, such extravagant expenditures by government officials are inappropriate.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The former Anambra state governor stated that Nigeria’s challenges, such as extreme poverty, unreliable power grid, and failing businesses, should be the priority of the country’s leaders and not luxury.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">He urged leaders to focus on essential trips and prioritize selfless service to uplift Nigeria’s development and welfare.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><em><span class="s1">“We are today among one of the eleven worst-governed African nations in the last 10 years.</span></em></p>
<p class="p1"><em><span class="s1">“We are also among the 20 <strong>most hungry nations in the world, with our people facing worsening mass poverty, extreme hunger and starvation</strong>.</span></em></p>
<p class="p1"><em><span class="s1">“Our nation remains the poverty capital of the world, with our per capita income crashing further from $1700 in 2023 to $1109 this year. Are these not the issues that should be prioritized by committed leaders?” Obi queried.</span></em></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Using Indonesia as an example, Obi stated: “<em>It was not until 2014 that Indonesia, with sustainable economic growth of over 6% annually for the past 10 years, adding about 50% to both her GDP and GDP per capita, decide to buy a Presidential jet, used by both the President and Vice President.</em></span></p>
<p class="p1"><em><span class="s1">“The Vice President travels mostly in the country’s national airline, Garuda Indonesia. And since we have recently undeservedly bought one, it should be used on essential, inevitable trips of the President and Vice President.</span></em></p>
<p class="p1"><em><span class="s1">“I appeal to the President, Vice President, <strong>and our public office holders that our present precarious situation calls only for minimal and highly contributory inevitable travels</strong>.</span></em></p>
<p class="p1"><em><span class="s1">“It is time to sit down and find solutions to our litany of challenges for the wellbeing of the people and the development of our country. Nigeria will rise again if the leadership can commit to selfless service.”</span></em></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.gistreel.com/peter-obi-pleads-with-tinubu-to-reject-request-for-new-presidential-jet-for-vp-shettima/" previewlistener="true">Source link </a></p>

