More Nigerians, including members of the Obidient Movement have condemned the position of Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP)’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election on the reason his party’s lawmakers did not reject the luxury sport utility vehicles (SUVs) purchased for members of the National Assembly.
There was an outrage some weeks ago after the National Assembly announced the purchase of luxury SUVs for the 469 lawmakers amid the economic hardship in the country.
During a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Obi explained that the SUVs were official vehicles needed for the lawmakers’ assignments.
“I have actually discussed this issue with them,” said Obi.
“Surprisingly, I can tell you. I heard that these vehicles are official cars, and they have to use it. It is meant for official vehicle [sic], so it’s not as if it is their vehicle, that is meant for official car and everything, because we campaigned for it, and said listen, if it is your car, you return it or do something”.
Obi’s position is at variance with the position of the LP national chairman, Julius Abure who asked the party’s lawmakers to reject the vehicles.
Speaking on the issue, Rufai Oseni, an anchor with Arise Television said he expected Obi to have called on the lawmakers to reject the SUVs.
“I expected Mr Peter Obi to condemn the LP lawmakers just as the National Chairman, Julius Abure said by asking them to reject it but he didn’t. He said he talked to them about it and they said it’s for official use”.
“We know it’s for official use, they are not personal vehicles. But let’s now extend the conversation about official use”.
“We all know that when you say it’s official use, after a certain time, the value goes down and they resell it at cheap prices to these individuals. So when we ask ‘where are the cars these lawmakers use four years ago?’ They are nowhere to be found today”.
“That’s why we are saying with the tenets that these Labour Party lawmakers got in there, they must condemn and reject the vehicles for fairness”.
An X user Pastor Okezie J Atani @ONsogbu wrote “When it comes to buying exotic cars for individuals with public funds, Peter Obi is an expert.He shared cars like pure water when he was Governor of Anambra state. He will never CONDEMN the N160m SUV to NASS members.Hypocrites”.
Another X user @Souljah @jeffphillips1 wrote “Listen to Peter Obi defending LP legislators for collecting the famous N130m SUVs without resistance..
“I heard it’s meant for official cars and everything…”
They need to arrest all of you who aggressively sold this uber-dull fraud with insults and curses as the best thing for Nigeria”.
Also on X, Malik Adinoyi @_adinoyi wrote “Peter Obi defending LP legislators for accepting the SUVs only point to the fact that all politicians are the same regardless.They’ll defend any wrong that directly affect them”.