CurrentReport Blog In a recent development sparking nationwide debate, Mike Emerah, a prominent entrepreneur, has publicly criticized Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, for his stance against acquiring a new presidential jet for Nigeria’s leaders.
The controversy began after a National Assembly committee suggested purchasing new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. The committee highlighted that the current jets in the Presidential Fleet had significantly deteriorated, raising concerns about the safety of the President and Vice President.
However, Peter Obi and several Nigerians have voiced strong opposition to this proposal. Obi argued that it is inappropriate to allocate billions of Naira for new presidential jets while many Nigerians face severe hunger and economic hardship. His comments have resonated with a public already burdened by economic challenges and widespread dissatisfaction with government spending priorities.
In response, Emerah expressed deep disappointment with Obi’s remarks. He suggested that Obi’s comments implied a disregard for the President’s safety, stating, “I am disappointed with Obi’s utterances because it seems to me that he wants the President of a whole country like Nigeria to die in a plane crash, just as some Presidents of other countries have died in the past while using rickety jets.”
Emerah further elaborated that a pragmatic approach should be taken regarding the presidential fleet. “Even if the old jet must be sold, the presidency should first and foremost procure a sound jet before disposing off the old ones or repairing them and not vice versa,” he said. He questioned the feasibility of Obi’s position, asking whether the presidency should halt its functions until a new jet is secured or the old ones are repaired, and stressed the importance of ensuring the proper maintenance and safety of any aircraft used by the nation’s top officials.
