Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the upcoming 2023 election, has strongly voiced his opposition to the proposed demolition of more than 200 houses in Abuja for the construction of a presidential fleet plot.
This move, initiated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has stirred controversy as it involves displacing the Nuwalege community along the Airport Road to make way for the presidential fleet development.
The directive to clear the area was reportedly issued in response to a request from the Nigerian Air Force, which sought to relocate the village as it falls within the designated zone for the presidential fleet plots.
In a statement released on Thursday, Peter Obi expressed his dissatisfaction with the project, labeling it as an “inconsiderate venture” particularly in the face of the country’s prevailing hardships.
The former Governor of Anambra State emphasized that, instead of demolishing people’s homes, the government should prioritize reducing the presidential fleet to cut costs and allocate resources to more critical projects.
Obi urged the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the initiative, emphasizing that the focus should be on addressing the pressing needs of the people rather than rendering them homeless for an unproductive presidential fleet.
“I am shocked by the recent report of the planned demolition of about 200 houses in the Nuwalege community in Abuja, to make way for the Presidential Fleet.
I am again pained that we are embarking on such an inconsiderate project at this critical time when the country is going through untold hardship. I would like to reiterate that at this time, our preoccupation should be how to do away with the Presidential Fleet or reduce it to the minimum, to cut costs and save up for more critical projects to help the people, instead of demolishing people’s homes,” Obi stated.
Against the backdrop of the World Bank’s announcement that over 100 million citizens are being pushed into poverty, Obi emphasized the need to focus on alleviating the suffering of the poor rather than accommodating the luxury of a presidential fleet.
“I, therefore, advise that we have a rethink, and most importantly, ensure that our fellow Nigerians are not rendered homeless for the sake of an unproductive presidential fleet. We should rather focus on helping the people and developing our critical sectors for the sake of our national peace, progress, and development. No nation grows or develops by subjecting the people to avoidable inconveniences to accommodate the luxurious excesses of its rulers.”
