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Improve living standard of Nigerians, not new presidential jet, Obi charges FG
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 election, Peter Obi has chided the Federal Government for seeking to acquire new aircraft for the presidential fleet despite the nation’s economic problems.
Obi, who condemned the planned purchase as insensitive and unacceptable, said it was unfortunate that the executive was thinking of luxury amidst the suffering of Nigerians.
The LP standard bearer said this in a series of tweets on his X handle on Monday.
He said “At a time when our country is on the front page of global newspapers for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency, and widespread poverty, the government is contemplating buying new presidential jets.
“This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.
“With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people.
“It is unacceptable as the situation in the country today more than ever demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritizing citizens’ welfare.
“It’s on record that our presidential jets have an average age of 12 years, purchased when most Nigerians could afford necessities.
“Now, as our country faces significant challenges, including a high debt profile, our citizens are in even greater need.
“ Instead of adding to our luxuries, we should be focused on alleviating their suffering and finding solutions to their problems.
“For long, our bad leadership has made our priorities, as leaders, to be at variance to the needs of society, which is why we are headed now south, as a nation.
“To elucidate further, despite dropping down to the fourth-largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of $252 billion and a per capita income of $1,080, with huge debt burdens and borrowing to service debts, yet, we are spending $15 million for our Vice President’s residence, while the USA, the world’s largest economy with a GDP of $25 trillion, about 100 times our GDP, and a per capita income of $80,000, about 80 times ours, still houses their Vice President in Number 1 Observatory Circle, a house built over 100 years ago, and whose value is less than the $15 million we are spending on our VP’s residence.
“A reputable real estate company reports that the US Vice President’s Official Residence is valued at about $7.5 million today.
“While we had earlier refurbished the old VP residence with $2 million, the over 100-year-old US Vice President’s house has only undergone wide-scale renovations twice, funded by taxpayers’ money; in 1993 and 2021. Every new US VP is free to finance any minor refurbishing from his funds.
“It’s, therefore, time to stop this impunity, insensitivity, and shamelessness and refocus on the needs of our people.
“We must prioritize education, healthcare, and lifting our citizens out of poverty. Let us work together to build a nation that truly serves its people, not just the interests of a few.
“Let’s rise to the challenge, and build this new Nigeria which is now more possible than ever before.”
President of the ANAP Foundation and founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Atedo Peterside, has said that Nigerians are monitoring Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, as he oversees the Osun State governorship election.
Peterside made this revelation on Saturday while appearing on an Arise TV programme focused on the Osun governorship election, stressing that the conduct of the poll would be closely watched by Nigerians.
He said the outcome of the election would provide an important indication of INEC’s level of preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the Osun election would serve as a “link pin” to the 2027 elections, but Nigerians should not assume that a successful poll in Osun would automatically guarantee a successful general election in 2027.
“Osun will serve as a link pin to the 2027 election, and Nigerians should not go with the notion that because Osun was successful, then automatically the 2027 general election will be successful,” he said.
Peterside also warned against deliberate delays in the electoral process, particularly in areas considered to be strongholds of a particular candidate.
He said any deliberate attempt to delay voting or the transmission of results in such areas could raise serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
“In a situation where an election is deliberately delayed because it is a weak area for a particular candidate, clearly, it is a form of rigging,” he said.
He added that claims of technical glitches or other problems during the process should be carefully scrutinised, noting that such incidents could undermine public confidence in the election.
Peterside further expressed the expectation that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, election results should be uploaded promptly after voting and collation.
“All things being equal, by 5pm or 6pm, we expect that all the results must have been uploaded, as we experienced in 2023,” he said.
The Oyo State Police Command has nabbed 10 suspected members of a human parts trafficking syndicate and recovered suspected human remains, including a heart and pieces of a skull, during an intelligence-led operation in the state.
The suspects were arrested at their various hideouts in Iseyin and Saki areas of Oyo State following months of intelligence gathering, discreet surveillance and monitoring by operatives of the Command’s Monitoring Unit.
The suspects were identified as Adam Ibrahim, 42; Nasiru Kabiru, 22; Tijani Wasiu, 54; Abiola Nasiru, 45; Amusa Gbadamosi, 57; Raheem Taofeek, 46; Jimoh Muritala, 35; Suleiman Busari, 47; Ganiyu Nurudeen, 36; and Usman Abdullahi, 52.
According to the police, searches conducted at the suspects’ hideouts led to the recovery of several suspected human parts, including one suspected human heart, human flesh, pieces of human skull and assorted charms.
The Command said the recovered items had been secured as exhibits and would undergo forensic examination as investigations continue.
The suspects reportedly confessed during interrogation to varying degrees of involvement in the alleged trade in human parts for ritual purposes. The police said they were also assisting investigators in tracing the source of the recovered items, as well as establishing how they were procured and their intended use.
The Command added that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, commended the operatives for the successful intelligence-led operation and their painstaking efforts in tracking down the suspects.poli
He assured residents that the Command would continue to intensify its efforts to combat criminal activities and protect lives and property across the state.
Ahead of today’s guber poll, the Police has deployed some of its security dogs to Osun state to ensure seurity is not breeched during and after the election.
The police dogs have been prepared to assist security personnel in detecting and confronting potential threats from violent criminals.
Osun Decides: We’re monitoring INEC boss from all sides— Peterside
Police Bust Human Parts Syndicate in Oyo, Nab 10, Recover Heart, Skull
Osun decides: Ahead today’s poll, police dogs deployed to combat thugs
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