Obi also said that allocating funds that might be more than what is put into the healthcare budget to buy SUV vehicles for 400 persons is the height of insensitivity.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the allocation of about N60billion for the purchase of SUV vehicles for legislators, noting that no one would have contemplated it under his Presidency.
Obi’s personal assistant on media, Michael Nwolisa, said in a statement on Wednesday that “spine doctors have been on duty trying to twist and confuse the gullible public on what the Presidential Candidate said at a Press Conference on Monday concerning the controversial purchase of SUV vehicles claiming that he even endorsed it.”
Mr Nwolisa, however, noted that at the press briefing, Obi was unequivocal in condemning it, adding that Obi said his Presidency would have shut down the idea as it is inauspicious at a time when Nigeria is facing developmental problems.
He also said Obi explained that in Nigeria today, healthcare has collapsed leading to our infant mortality surpassing that of India which is seven times our population. Obi also said that allocating funds that might be more than what is put into the healthcare budget to buy SUV vehicles for 400 persons is the height of insensitivity especially when most of them, ex-governors, ex-senators, and ministers have many cars parked in their homes…
“For you now to use funds that are higher than funds allocated to primary healthcare to buy a car for 400 people is very troubling and shows the height of insensitivity. I will not do it as President of Nigeria,” Obi was quoted as saying.
Nwolisa said Obi further noted that “there is even a way we can buy a more competitive vehicle for them even from locally made firms.”
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The LP standard bearer said that given the hardships in the land “it’s time we shake our responsibilities towards what is happening.”
Nwolisa said, “As a former Anambra State governor, Obi went further to explain how he handled similar situations. He negotiated for concessionaire pricing for 60, 406 saloon vehicles which was enough for Judges, Permanent Secretaries, newly appointed commissioners, the deputy governor, and himself the Governor.
“Obi even challenged the public to go and verify the story with the motor Company that had a French man, Mr Eric Maydieu, AGM Commercial, Peugeot Automobile Nig Ltd (PAN) in charge then.
“On whether the Candidate has discussed this with LP legislators to buy into his vision on it, Obi said that he has actually done that and they said it’s an official car for their duty for personal ownership but under my watch nobody would have contemplated it at this time Nigerians are facing horrifying life due to poor management of our economy by the public servants.”
