Former Governor of Borno State and current Vice President of Nigeria Kashim Shettima has criticized the statement made by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, over the proposed N15.5 billion budgeted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to renovate a new official residence for the vice president.
Recall that the FCT Minister, Nysom Wike, had earlier disclosed that the government planned to utilize the funds for a “befitting residence” for the nation’s Vice President. A development that was greeted with intense criticism by Obi in a series of tweets on his X handle on Monday.
The former governor of Nnambra State described such decision as shocking and disheartening. He stated in parts;
“Just recently in the Supplementary Budget, the sum of N2.5 billion was included for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Abuja, which means that he already has a residence. Again, during the budget presentation, I heard the sum of N3 billion was allocated for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Lagos”.
“If we total all these sums, we would have budgeted the sum of N20.5 billion for the housing of the Vice President at this critical time when we are not just the world’s poverty capital, but more people falling into poverty, with so many Nigerians not knowing where their next meal will come from”.
Reacting to Obi’s comment, media aide to vice president Kashim Shettima, Stanley Nkwocha, accused the Labour Party chieftain of being an unhealthy subject suffering from post-election trauma.
He said for the purpose of clarity, the project which was reinitiated in 2010 and funded by the Jonathan administration was abandoned. Adding that after about 13 years ago, the current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, felt it would be a waste to allow such a project facilitated with public funds to continue to lie fallow; thus, in his wisdom and without directives from the Vice President, decided to resuscitate the project.
“We invite more cerebral Nigerians to crosscheck properly which should be considered a waste between Obi’s tantrums because the project has attracted government’s attention, given the decision by the current administration to complete vital abandoned projects.
“What is more wasteful and reckless than abandoning an edifice to rot and depreciate despite the amount that has been sunk into it over the years?” he added.
Stanley also went further to allege Obi’s involvement in some unwholesome sharp practices.
“It appears the former Anambra State governor has forgotten so soon reports about the plethora of contracts he awarded in the twilight of his administration, including road contracts worth over N30 billion he awarded within a record period of three weeks”.
“Nigerians have also not forgotten the investigation by the global International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ)-led Pandora Papers project which linked Obi to a number of secret business deals and relationships that he kept top secret, including businesses he surreptitiously set up and operated overseas”.
“He later admitted that he did not declare these companies and the funds because he wasn’t aware that he was expected to declare assets or companies he jointly owns with his family members or anyone else as provided by the law”.
While stating that the Vice President always submit to his human nature, leaving perfection to the Almighty God, as against the “all-knowing” Obi, Stanley went further to appeal to the oppositions to accept defeat honorably, and put the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians first as patriotic citizens they claim to be.
