Politics
Peter Obi Goes Against New Jet for VP, Urges Leaders to Focus on Nigeria’s Struggles
Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has raised concerns about the recent suggestion that the Vice President should receive a new official aircraft due to safety issues reported with the current one.
In a statement, Obi criticized the proposal, calling it “insensitive” to the pressing challenges Nigeria faces.
He pointed out that, given the current economic hardships, prioritizing a new jet for the Vice President appears to overlook the greater issues plaguing the country.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s situation is dire: the nation ranks among the eleven worst-governed African countries of the past decade, and it’s also counted among the world’s twenty most hunger-stricken nations.
He emphasized the “extreme hunger and poverty” faced by millions of Nigerians daily, with the country currently holding the unfortunate title of the world’s poverty capital.
Per capita income, which fell from $1,700 in 2023 to $1,109 this year, only underscores the economic strain on Nigerians, who are dealing with rising costs and limited income opportunities.
Beyond the poverty statistics, Obi highlighted the instability of the national electricity grid, which has collapsed eight times this year alone and 105 times over the past decade.
This ongoing instability continues to affect both households and small businesses, deepening losses and increasing the challenges in an already strained economy.
Businesses in Nigeria have been shutting down or struggling to survive in this harsh environment, with many unable to withstand the burdens of high operating costs and unreliable infrastructure.
Given these issues, Obi questioned the need for new luxury acquisitions, arguing that the country’s leadership should instead focus on addressing the needs of the people.
He pointed out that Indonesia, a nation with consistently strong economic growth of over 6% annually for the past decade, waited until 2014 to acquire a single presidential jet.
Even then, it’s shared between the President and Vice President, with the latter frequently flying on the national airline, Garuda Indonesia, for official duties.
Obi urged Nigerian leaders to adopt a similar approach, suggesting that any official travel should be limited to essential and contributory trips.
Instead of focusing on luxury, he called on leaders to take a closer look at the issues affecting the everyday lives of Nigerians.
“It’s time to sit down and find solutions to our litany of challenges,” Obi said, stressing the importance of a selfless and committed approach to leadership for the nation’s wellbeing.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi are reportedly in talks to join the Social Democratic Party (SDP), according to Adewole Adebayo, the SDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections.
Adebayo revealed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, where he shared that discussions are ongoing through close associates of both Atiku and Obi. He mentioned that the SDP is open to welcoming them into the fold.
He added that the party had recently admitted a former governor from Kaduna State, who is also a key member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), signaling a shift in the political landscape. Adebayo emphasized that the SDP is experiencing growth as more individuals join, but there is a need for a cultural shift in politics, particularly regarding internal rules and procedures.
When asked directly about Obi’s potential move to the SDP, Adebayo confirmed that while talks are taking place, nothing is official until a formal announcement is made. He mentioned that he had received updates from party officials, including the Financial Secretary, about the ongoing discussions.
Adebayo also stressed that the SDP would only accept politicians who align with the party’s values and adhere to its democratic processes. “If they are willing to follow our transparent and credible internal processes, we can work together to offer Nigerians a real alternative,” he added.
Jerry Omotsegunwa, Special Assistant on Electronic Media to the suspended Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, has said that both FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and Fubara need to come forward and explain the real cause of their political fallout.
According to Omotsegunwa, neither Wike nor Fubara has clearly stated what led to their dispute. “The FCT minister has not told us anything that led to the crisis, and the governor too has not provided any clarity,” he said.
The rift between the two escalated into a full-blown political crisis, prompting President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State on March 18, 2025. Tinubu also suspended Fubara and members of the State House of Assembly.
Former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, in an interview with DW, attributed the crisis to money, criticizing Tinubu’s emergency rule decision as unconstitutional.
Reacting to Amaechi’s claim, Omotsegunwa said it remains a personal opinion, as the real reason behind the crisis is still unclear.
“This crisis has lasted almost two years, yet nobody has come out to state exactly what the problem is,” he said. “When they talked about impeaching the governor, he asked, ‘What is my offence?’ And the FCT minister responded that he tried to destroy his political structure. Even with this, we are still left without real answers.”
Omotsegunwa added that while he wouldn’t dispute Amaechi’s stance, it remains just his personal perspective.
President Bola Tinubu has revealed that he almost stepped away from the presidential race but was convinced to stay by Aminu Masari and a few others.
Speaking at a special Iftar at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu shared how a late-night conversation with a relative made him question his decision to run. His spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, released a statement detailing the moment.
Recalling the incident, Tinubu said a family member visited him around 3:30 a.m., asking for N50,000 to buy food. The relative blamed him for the currency crisis at the time, saying people were struggling to get cash, even a wealthy uncle of theirs couldn’t find N10,000. The man then questioned why Tinubu was still in the race, hinting that he had no chance of winning.
Despite the doubt, Tinubu handed over the money and confidently told him he would succeed. However, the encounter made him briefly consider quitting. He credited Aminu Masari and others for pushing him forward, with Masari reminding him of the support he had and urging him not to look back.
Tinubu acknowledged the tough economic challenges he faced upon taking office and the difficult decisions he had to make, including the removal of fuel subsidies. He revealed that the subsidy removal wasn’t part of his original inauguration speech but was a decision he had to make immediately.
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