Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, has strongly condemned reports of a ₦150 billion purchase of a presidential jet.

He called it an unacceptable misuse of public funds in the face of Nigeria’s ailing healthcare system.

Speaking in a recent interview on Channels Television, Obi stated: “I will not use ₦150 billion to buy a jet when 80% of our primary health care centers are not functioning.”

Obi’s criticism touches a nerve in Nigeria’s broader governance discourse, whether leadership is too focused on elite comfort at the expense of essential services.

While proponents of the jet purchase argue that the president and vice president require safe, efficient transportation due to the demands of their offices and the deteriorating state of the current fleet, critics counter that such a luxury cannot be justified when the majority of Nigerians are grappling with poor access to basic healthcare, rising inflation, and unemployment.

With over 80% of these facilities reportedly in disrepair or under-resourced, many citizens are left vulnerable to preventable diseases and maternal deaths.

Peter Obi’s statement aligns with his well-known advocacy for prudent governance and people-focused budgeting.

He has consistently argued for fiscal discipline and a redirection of government spending toward sectors that directly impact the lives of ordinary Nigerians.