The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has criticised the Nigerian government following the international seizure of three jets belonging to the Presidential fleet.
Describing the incident as an international disgrace, Obi, in a statement via X on Thursday, condemned the federal government’s handling of the situation, highlighting the broader implications of the event.
“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,” Obi said.
He said that the occurrence highlights various elements of leadership failure in Nigeria and demonstrates a profound insensitivity to the Nigerian people’s economic suffering.
He contended that the occurrence highlights various levels of leadership failure in Nigeria and demonstrates a profound disregard for the Nigerian people’s economic woes.
Obi also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the purchase and management of the jets, stating, “Nigerians have no iota of information about both the buying and selling of these aircraft. It has been done in secrecy.”
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government denounced the court’s judgement as unfair and promised to challenge the decree.
Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, branded the judicial action as “a new tactic by the Chinese company to seize Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions” and accused Zhongshan of misleading the Paris court about the purpose and nature of the confiscated assets.
The Presidency also responded, denouncing the court order as false.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, stated in a statement that “the Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.”
He accused Zhongshan of using “every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets,” emphasising that the dispute was between the company and the Ogun State Government.
Furthermore, Obi urged the federal government to be transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people, stating, “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.”
