Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has described the recent seizure of three Nigerian presidential jets by a French court as an “international embarrassment” to Nigeria.
Beyond Boders reports that the Paris court made this order because of a disagreement involving a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Ltd., and the Nigerian government.
The court ruled that the Chinese company could use the jets, located at Paris-Le Bourget and Basel-Mulhouse airports, as security for its claim of EUR 74,459,221.
The Nigerian presidency responded by accusing the Chinese firm of using “unfair” methods to take control of Nigeria’s assets abroad.
In a statement released by Yunusa Tanko, Obi’s campaign spokesperson, Obi criticized the federal government for ignoring the rule of law and showing poor leadership. He stated that buying the jets during tough economic times showed the government’s lack of care for the people’s struggles.
Obi also demanded an explanation from the government about the situation with the jets. He highlighted how the purchase of a presidential jet for a country facing severe economic challenges, including high poverty rates and food inflation, shows a disregard for the people’s needs.
Obi questioned the government’s transparency and urged them to clarify how this situation escalated to an international issue. He emphasized that government assets, which belong to the people, should not be handled as personal property.
