An International Embarrassment: Presidential Jets Seizure – Obi

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate for 2023, called the news of the three presidential jets being seized in France “another embarrassment that exposed failed leadership in Nigeria.”

After a contract dispute between Ogun State and Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, a Chinese corporation, a French court ordered the confiscation of the planes.

However, the federal government has declared that it has taken legal and diplomatic measures to guarantee that the “inappropriate orders” against the jets, which it claims are protected by sovereign immunity, are discharged.

Obi criticized the Federal Government and the Ogun State Government in an X post on Thursday, claiming that the airplane seizure has shown some aspects of the nation’s leadership shortcomings.

“The seizure of three jets from Nigeria’s Presidential fleet, which is currently making headlines around the world, is just one of many embarrassing things that expose our failed leadership and our attitude toward the rule of law even in a democracy,” he stated. It has also revealed a number of aspects of our lack of leadership and our indifference to the suffering of the expanding impoverished class inside our community.

“To make matters worse, our nation’s presidential jets are being detained for contract violations stemming from yet another instance of poor leadership hygiene. Over the years, I have been vocal in my demand that all levels of government be held accountable to the people, which means they have to be extremely open and honest in all of their interactions.

Nigerians are completely unaware of the purchase and sale of these aircraft until a French court orders Nigeria to stop moving or selling these three jets.

“It was carried out in private. Property owned by the federal government, which is owned by the people, is handled like a private family asset.

“The following queries cry for clarification: How closely did the Ogun administration adhere to the terms of its contract with the Chinese company? What did the Federal Government of Nigeria and the State of Ogun do following the UK court verdict that forbade some Nigerian buildings in Liverpool prior to the French court action?

“Therefore, I would like to challenge the federal government to be honest and open about this issue and explain to Nigerians how we ended up in this most recent international crisis.”