FORMER Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to provide a transparent account of its dealings related to the old and new presidential jets.
This follows recent controversies surrounding the Ogun State government’s contract with a Chinese company, which led to the seizure of three aircraft.
In response to these developments, Obi urged the federal government to disclose details such as the cost of purchasing the jets, their total number, and other pertinent information that has not been made public.
“Now that the jet is here, Nigerian taxpayers deserve to know how much it cost, its age, and how long it has been in operation,” Obi stated. He also emphasized that Nigerians have the right to be informed about the disposal of the old jets, including the number of jets being sold, their age, and the reasons for their sale. “Transparency and accountability should be the hallmarks of any genuine leadership,” he added.
Obi warned that the government risks losing respect if it fails to provide adequate information to the public about its leadership decisions, particularly when public funds are involved and the President is acting under the people’s mandate.
He further noted that a presidential jet is a significant symbol of national sovereignty and state power, making the cost of transporting the president a crucial issue of public accountability. Obi expressed hope that Nigerians would not be denied full disclosure about the new presidential jet.
The controversy began when a French court ordered Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited to seize three presidential jets belonging to the Nigerian government due to a contract breach.
The Tribunal Judiciaire de Paris prohibited Nigeria from moving or selling the jets until the Chinese firm received the $74.5 million awarded to it. The court allowed the company to seize a Dassault Falcon 7X at Le Bourget airport in Paris, a Boeing 737, and an Airbus 330 at Basel-Mulhouse airport in Switzerland, which were undergoing routine maintenance in France. One of the jets has since been returned to the Nigerian government.
The situation has escalated, with experts criticizing the federal government for frequently defaulting on contract agreements.
In response, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga accused the Chinese firm of attempting “to take over offshore assets of the Federal Government of Nigeria through subterfuge.” Former Ogun State governor Gbenga Daniel has called for a diplomatic resolution to the dispute.