By Ishaya Ibrahim
Peter Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State who also was the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 presidential election, has condemned the planned demolition of over 200 houses to make space for the hangar of the presidential fleet.
Obi, in a post on his X handle on Thursday, said the government should rather be thinking of selling off the presidential fleet instead of planning to destroy homes of people already facing harsh economic conditions fueled by their policies.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had on Tuesday ordered the demolition of more than 200 houses in the Nuwalege community for the presidential fleet plot.
Wike gave the order on Tuesday in Abuja through the Director of the Department of Development Control, Tpl Mukhtar Galadima who said that the directive is a request from the Nigerian Air Force.
But Obi said he was pained that the government was embarking on such an inconsiderate project at a time the country was going through untold hardship.
He said: “I would like to reiterate that at this time, our preoccupation should be how to do away with the Presidential Fleet, or reduce it to the minimum, to cut costs and save up for more critical projects to help the people, instead of demolishing people’s homes.
“A country where the World Bank announced that over 100 million citizens are being pushed into poverty, should not at this time be sending hundreds of people into homelessness to accommodate the Presidential fleet of luxury aircraft. We need to focus instead on how to lessen the pain and suffering of poor people.
“We cannot continue to encourage those who have kept us suffering to enjoy a luxurious lifestyle far beyond our legitimate means. A democratically elected people-oriented government must always care for the people, above itself.
“I, therefore, advise that we have a rethink, and most importantly , ensure that our fellow Nigerians are not rendered homeless for the sake of an unproductive presidential fleet.
“We should rather focus on helping the people and developing our critical sectors for the sake of our national peace, progress, and development. No nation grows or develops by subjecting the people to avoidable inconveniences to accommodate the luxurious excesses of its rulers.”