Obi knocks FG over seizure of presidential jets

The former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Nigerian government following the international seizure of three jets belonging to the Presidential fleet.

Describing the incident as an international embarrassment, Obi, in a statement via X on Thursday, condemned the federal government’s handling of the situation, highlighting the broader implications of the event.

“The trending international news on the seizure of three jets belonging to Nigeria’s Presidential fleet is yet another of many embarrassing things exposing our failed leadership and our attitude to the rule of law even in a democracy,” Obi said.

He argued that the incident underscores multiple dimensions of leadership failure in Nigeria and reflects a deep insensitivity to the economic hardships faced by the Nigerian people.

The jets were seized by a French court due to a contract dispute between the Ogun State Government and a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.

PUNCH earlier reported that the dispute stems from a 2007 agreement for the development of a free trade zone, which later fell apart, leading to arbitration and ultimately the seizure of the jets. Despite an independent arbitral tribunal awarding Zhongshan approximately $74.5 million, the Ogun State Government has disputed the decision and has not yet honoured the award.

Obi criticised the federal government for proceeding with the purchase of a Presidential jet at a time of severe economic hardship for the country.

“Paying as much as $100 million for a Presidential jet for a country that is the poverty capital of the world and has more out-of-school children with over 40% food inflation is the height of concern for the people’s feelings,” he stated.

He also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the purchase and management of the jets, stating, “Nigerians have no iota of information about both the buying and selling of these aircraft. It has been done in secrecy.”

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government, in response to the court’s decision, condemned the action as unfair and threatened to contest the order.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, described the judicial action as “a new tactic by the Chinese company to seize Nigerian assets in foreign jurisdictions,” and accused Zhongshan of misleading the Paris court regarding the use and nature of the seized assets.

The Presidency also reacted, dismissing the court’s order as fraudulent.

In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said, “The Federal Government is not under any contractual obligation with the company.”

He accused Zhongshan of using “every unorthodox means to strip our offshore assets,” and emphasised that the case was between the company and the Ogun State Government.

Speaking further, Obi urged the federal government to be transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people, stating, “I would like to, therefore, challenge the federal government to come clean and transparent on this matter and tell Nigerians how we got to this latest international mess.”