The 2023 Presidential candidate for the Labour Occasion, Peter Obi, has spoken out in opposition to the deliberate demolition of about 200 homes within the Nuwalege group of Abuja to make means for the growth of the presidential fleet.
In a press release on Thursday by way of his X account, Obi stated he was “shocked” and “pained” by the information of the demolitions, calling the transfer “thoughtless” given the present financial hardship going through most Nigerians.
“I’m once more pained that we’re embarking on such an thoughtless mission at this essential time when the nation goes by way of untold hardship,” Obi stated. “A rustic the place the World Financial institution introduced that over 100 million residents are being pushed into poverty mustn’t presently be sending a whole bunch of individuals into homelessness to accommodate the Presidential fleet of luxurious plane.”
Obi argued that as a substitute of increasing the presidential fleet, the federal government ought to be on the lookout for methods to scale back or remove it to chop prices.
“We can not proceed to encourage those that have stored us struggling to take pleasure in an expensive way of life far past our legit means,” he stated. “A democratically elected people-oriented authorities should at all times take care of the folks, above itself.”
The presidential candidate urged the federal government to rethink the demolitions and focus as a substitute on insurance policies that will alleviate the struggling of poor Nigerians.
“I, due to this fact, advise that we now have a rethink, and, most significantly, be certain that our fellow Nigerians will not be rendered homeless for the sake of an unproductive presidential fleet,” Obi acknowledged. “We should always quite give attention to serving to the folks and growing our essential sectors for the sake of our nationwide peace, progress and growth.”
Obi emphasised that no nation can actually develop when its leaders prioritise their extravagances over the welfare of their folks.
“No nation grows or develops by subjecting the folks to avoidable inconveniences to accommodate the luxurious excesses of its rulers,” he stated.