Seized Presidential Jets: FG Keeps Govt Transactions Secret For Corruption Purposes – Obi’s Spokesman Tanko

Yunusa Tanko, the spokesman for former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticized the government’s tendency to keep transactions secret, often for corrupt purposes.

Tanko argued that when these secrets are eventually exposed, it leads to public embarrassment and a scramble to cover up the truth.

He expressed his concerns while responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding the seizure of three presidential jets undergoing routine maintenance in France.

Tanko criticized public officials for secretly acquiring assets and engaging in financial transactions without the knowledge or consent of the Nigerian people.

His comments come in the wake of the recent seizure of three jets—a Dassault Falcon 7X, an Airbus A330-243, and a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ—by a Chinese company, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited.

The jets, owned by the Nigerian government, were seized following a French court’s ruling in favor of Zhongshan, which had its export processing zone management contract revoked by the Ogun State Government in 2016.

The situation has sparked widespread controversy, with many blaming the Nigerian government for negligence and incompetence.

In a recent turn of events, Zhongshan agreed to release one of the seized jets after learning that President Bola Tinubu required the aircraft for a scheduled meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Tanko, in a discussion with DAILY POST on Sunday, suggested that there may be many more such cases that Nigerians are unaware of.

He emphasized that those in power often act as if they are not accountable to the people, despite the fact that they hold office in trust for the public.

He highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability, noting that public officials frequently make significant financial decisions—such as signing contracts, purchasing properties, and obtaining loans—without informing the citizens they are meant to serve.

According to Tanko, “It is clear that most of the people that found themselves in positions of power, do not know or are ignorant that they are holding that office In trust and for the people.

“So they are supposed to be accountable and transparent to the people all the time.

“They sign, buy properties and collect loans on behalf of the people without them knowing. The Freedom of Information Act of 2011 gave every Nigerian the right to access information.

“The Nigerian government keeps government transactions secret for corruption purposes and when it gets exposed it becomes embarrassing, they will then start looking for one lie to cover the first one.

“So the government needs to be accountable and transparent to the people with open consultations. It saves the country from a lot of embarrassment like the case of the presidential jets and Ogun State contract.”