According to a report published by Daily Post, Entrepreneur Mike Emerah has criticized Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, for his opposition to the purchase of a new presidential jet for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. The National Assembly committee recently recommended the acquisition of new aircraft for the Presidential Fleet, citing the deteriorated condition of the current fleet, which they argue poses a risk to the lives of the President and Vice President.
Peter Obi opposed this recommendation, arguing that it is inappropriate to allocate billions of Naira for a new jet while many Nigerians suffer from hunger and starvation.
Obi’s stance has been supported by several Nigerians who share his concerns about government spending priorities.
In response, Mike Emerah expressed his disappointment with Obi's position, describing it as extremely negative. "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 stated.
Emerah further argued that the safety of the nation's leaders should be a priority and suggested that a new jet should be procured before considering the sale or repair of the old ones. He questioned Obi’s logic, asking if Obi expected the presidency to cease its functions until the old jets were sold or repaired.
"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," Emerah said. He also raised concerns about the reliability of repairing old jets, questioning the guarantee of proper repairs and the standards used to ensure safety.
Emerah’s comments highlight the ongoing debate over government spending and priorities, with strong opinions on both sides regarding the proposed procurement of a new presidential jet.