Obi Condemns FG’s Actions On Seizure Of Presidential Jets

Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate has criticized the Nigerian government following the international seizure of three jets belonging to the Presidential fleet. Obi stated X on Thursday, calling the incident an international embarrassment. He also criticized the federal government's handling of the situation, pointing out the broader implications of the event. "The news about the seizure of three jets belonging to Nigeria's Presidential fleet is just another example of how our leadership is failing and our attitude to the rule of law is showing up in a democracy," Obi said. He said the incident shows the Nigerian government's many failures to lead well and that it doesn't understand the people's economic struggles. A French court took the jets because of a contract disagreement between the Ogun State Government and a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. It's limited. Ireporetreonline previously reported that the disagreement originated from a 2007 agreement to develop a free trade zone, which subsequently fell through, resulting in arbitration and, ultimately, the seizure of the jets. Even though an independent arbitral tribunal awarded Zhongshan about $74.5 million, the Ogun State Government has disputed the decision and has yet to honor the award. Obi criticized the federal government for purchasing a presidential jet at a time when the country was facing severe economic challenges. "Spending as much as $100 million on a presidential jet for a country that's the world's poverty capital and has over 40% food inflation is a huge concern for the people," he said. He also discussed the lack of transparency regarding the purchase and management of the jets, saying, "Nigerians don't have any information about how these aircraft were bought or sold." "It's been done in secrecy." Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government said the order was unfair and would contest it in response to the court's decision. The Governor's Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said the legal action was "a new tactic by the Chinese company to seize Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions." He also noted that Zhongshan misled the Paris court about how and what the seized assets were used for. The Presidency also responded, calling the court's order fraudulent. In a statement, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said, "The Federal Government isn't bound by any contract with the company." He said that Zhongshan has used "every unorthodox means" to strip our offshore assets. He also clarified that this case is between the company and the Ogun State Government. Obi said the federal government should be more transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people. He said, "I would like to challenge the federal government to come clean and be transparent about this matter. They should tell Nigerians how we got to this latest international mess."