Oby Ezekwesili: Tinubu’s government is fiscally reckless — nothing justifies presidential jet acquisition

Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, has described the President Bola Tinubu administration as “financially reckless and profligate”. 

Speaking on Channels Television on Tuesday, Ezekwesili said the administration has worsened the nation’s economy.

She added that Nigerians should be “vexed” about the “fiscal profligacy” of the federal government amid the huge debt profile of the country.

The former vice-president of the World Bank’s Africa region said the administration should not be pitied for inheriting a bad economy — because most of its supporters and active players defended the economic policies of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“All the data and economic indicators show clearly that they have not done a good job of the economy,” Ezekwesili said.

“They have worsened it. They could have avoided the fiscal recklessness and rascality that we see.

“If you are a Nigerian, you should be vexed at this government. All we have seen from this government since it came into office is fiscal profligacy.

“The political class has decided that they are bandits against the people of Nigeria.”

The former minister said politicians are playing with the intelligence of Nigerians by trying to justify the purchase of a presidential jet.

On Monday, the presidency confirmed the purchase of a new Airbus A330 to replace the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 purchased under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

“I don’t see how it is feasible that the topmost priority of the government that has the level of biting hunger in the land and poverty, is to consider the purchase of a befitting aircraft for the president, construction of a N20 billion home for the vice-president, purchase of all kinds of funny looking cars in the fleet of national assembly members and the executive,” Ezekwesili added.

The activist said she has the “moral authority” to criticise the current government because “I served this country. They want everything about what I earned? They can find it in their folders”.

“As a minister, they have something called ministers’ imprest. My permanent secretary will tell you that I did not touch a dime,” she said.

“So when people say ‘you were in government’. I was in a sane government. I wasn’t in a government that watches women scream: ‘We’re hungry, we haven’t eaten’.”