Labour Party leader and 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the Federal Government over the reported distribution of campaign vehicles and materials ahead of the 2027 elections, describing the move as a “profound insensitivity” to the country’s worsening socio-economic crisis.
In a statement released by the Peter Obi Media Reach (POMR) spokesperson, Ibrahim Umar, on Thursday, Obi condemned what he called the persistent prioritisation of politics over governance by the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. His reaction followed reports that the federal government had allocated luxury vehicles—including Hilux trucks and Hummer buses—for political mobilisation despite escalating insecurity, hunger, and poverty nationwide.
Writing on his X handle, Obi said the decision to channel scarce public resources into campaign preparations at a time when Nigerians were battling hunger, unemployment, and rising insecurity amounted to a “serious moral failure.”
“While ordinary Nigerians are grappling with poverty and hopelessness, those in leadership positions continue to flaunt their wealth by driving brand-new Land Cruisers, Hiluxes, and Hummers, treating the suffering of the people as mere background for political theatrics. This tragic misplacement of priorities is unacceptable,” he stated.
Obi argued that true leadership in a challenging period should prioritise providing food, healthcare, job opportunities, and security for citizens—rather than displaying luxury vehicles or launching early political campaigns.
He lamented that many families could no longer keep their children in school due to rising costs, while inadequate medical supplies continued to contribute to preventable maternal deaths. According to him, insecurity remains a daily threat for many communities, yet authorities have chosen to “purchase and distribute luxury vehicles rather than urgently address the needs of the people.”
“This is not governance,” he said. “It reflects a profound insensitivity and an abuse of public trust disguised as a political strategy.”
Obi added that Nigeria must break away from what he described as “wastefulness, insensitivity, and misplaced priorities,” insisting that citizens deserve leadership rooted in empathy and accountability. Despite the bleak outlook, he reiterated his belief that “a New Nigeria is not only necessary; it is possible.”
