Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, has criticized the 2023 Supplementary Budget.
He described the inclusion of a presidential yacht and provisions for the First Lady’s office, deeming it an aberration.
Obi expressed concern over the insensitivity displayed by the ruling party, especially at a time when many Nigerians are suffering from hunger and experiencing high infant mortality rates.
A supplementary budget should address crucial national welfare needs not covered in the original budget. The recent UN warning about 26.5 million Nigerians facing hunger next year highlights the importance of such budget adjustments to address pressing issues.
He said ” 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.
“However, the fact that we have a supplementary budget for cars for the first lady’s office shows that the government is uncaring and we’re in deep trouble. Bringing in the first lady’s office not in the constitution is more troubling; all funds meant for the first lady’s office should be channeled and used to address issues of the girl child in the country.”
Obi said that the substantial spending on vehicles for federal lawmakers was unnecessary.
According to him, there were better and cheaper options that should have been explored, just as he did during his time as Anambra State’s governor. He mentioned that he provided Peugeot vehicles as official cars for government officials and declined the previously ordered bulletproof cars for his personal use.
Regarding Atiku Abubakar’s proposal for a six-year single-term rotational presidency to address electoral contest-related crises, Peter Obi expressed his support for a five-year single-term rotation among the regions, extending over 30 years.
Kanyi Daily recalls that Emeka Emekesiri, the founder of the Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria (MOBIN) had advised Peter Obi to go back to his village and not try to save Nigeria.
