Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, has voiced his disapproval of the inclusion of a presidential yacht and provisions for the office of the First Lady in the 2023 Supplementary Budget, describing it as an aberration.
He made these remarks during a press conference on Monday, held in Abuja on the Supreme Court Judgment of October 26, 2023, regarding the 2023 Nigeria Presidential election.
Obi emphasized that such actions exemplify a high level of insensitivity on the part of the ruling party.
He pointed out that at a time when Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented hunger and possibly the highest infant mortality rates globally, allocating funds for a presidential yacht and the First Lady’s office is ill-timed and misplaced.
He stated, “Supplementary budget is meant for very important national welfare needs of the people that are not captured originally in the budget or do not have adequate funding. The United Nations has warned in the past week that 26.5 million Nigerians will go hungry next year. This is an issue of national importance that can go into a supplementary budget.”
Obi expressed his concern about allocating budgetary resources to the First Lady’s office, emphasizing that it is not constitutionally mandated.
He suggested that funds meant for the First Lady’s office should instead be redirected to address pressing issues concerning the girl child in the country.
Obi also criticized the excessive amount allocated for vehicles for federal lawmakers, deeming it unnecessary.
He pointed out that there are more cost-effective alternatives that should have been explored.
He cited his own example as a former governor of Anambra State, where he opted for Peugeot vehicles for government officials and rejected bulletproof cars initially ordered for his official use.
