Peter Obi Criticizes Federal Government’s Plan to Buy New Presidential Aircraft
Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi criticized the Federal Government’s plan to purchase new aircraft for the presidential fleet on Monday, deeming the move insensitive given the economic hardships faced by Nigerians due to current government policies.
Obi’s comments prompted a swift response from the Presidency. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, rebuked Obi’s remarks as irresponsible, questioning whether Obi would prefer the President to fly in potentially hazardous aircraft. Onanuga expressed concerns about the safety of the President, highlighting the need for updated aircraft. He also mentioned that the current planes, acquired during former President Obasanjo’s tenure over two decades ago, had recently encountered issues, leading the President to opt for a commercial flight from Saudi Arabia to the UK.