Prioritise mass welfare, country still world’s poverty capital, Obi urges

Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has berated the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkareem Lawan, over the call for a new aircraft for the Vice President, Kashim Shettima.

Lawan had noted that the Vice President’s life was endangered by the recurrent use of a “faulty” presidential aircraft for international commitments.

He made the call following Vice President Shettima’s abrupt cancellation of his scheduled appearance at the Commonwealth Summit in Samoa.
But in a statement yesterday, Obi stated that the demand for a new aircraft for Shettima showed the Speaker was insensitive and unconcerned about the prevailing economic situation in the country.

Obi noted that issues that would benefit the masses should preoccupy leaders rather than being consumed by selfish desires for needless luxury at the expense of the people.

He said: “I just read a disturbing comment in the media space attributed to one of the supposed political leaders in the country that the life of the Vice President is in danger because of the faults recorded in his official aircraft.

He said: “The leader went further to urge the Federal Government to purchase a new aircraft for the Vice President. In making such a remark now, the speaker is insensitive and unconcerned about the prevailing economic situation in the country. That Nigerians are facing untold hardship at this moment is no secret.

“Such a provoking call is coming from a person, who probably is oblivious of the fact that Nigeria, at present, has continued to manifest every trait of a failed state.”

According to him, Nigeria has been among one of the eleven worst-governed African nations in the last 10 years, and among the 20 most hungry nations in the world, with the people facing worsening mass poverty, extreme hunger and starvation.

“Our nation remains the poverty capital of the world, with our per capita income crashing further from $1,700 in 2023 to $1109 this year. Are these not the issues that should be prioritised by committed leaders?”

“Our national electricity grid has so far collapsed eight times this year alone and 105 times in the last ten years, plunging our small businesses into great losses and households into darkness.”

He asked what Nigeria’s Vice President needed a new jet for, and what value presidential and vice presidential trips had added to the nation.