The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has criticised the reported distribution of luxury vehicles such as Hilux trucks and Hummer buses for the 2027 campaign mobilisation, describing the move as “profoundly insensitive” and “an abuse of public trust.”
In a statement, Obi said it was unacceptable for any government to allocate scarce public resources to political activities at a time when Nigerians are battling hunger, unemployment, and widespread insecurity.
He decried what he called a “tragic misplacement of priorities,” noting that while millions of citizens face poverty and hardship, political leaders continue to parade brand-new Land Cruisers, Hiluxes, and Hummers, turning the people’s suffering into the backdrop of political showmanship.
According to him, leadership in the current climate should be focused on feeding the hungry, expanding access to healthcare, creating opportunities for unemployed youth, and tackling insecurity—not on acquiring luxury vehicles to advance political ambitions.
Obi described it as heartbreaking that children are dropping out of school due to their families’ inability to pay tuition, mothers are dying in childbirth for lack of basic medical supplies, and insecurity continues to devastate communities, yet public funds are being channelled into “lavish displays” rather than urgent social needs.
“This is not governance,” he said. “It reflects profound insensitivity and an abuse of public trust disguised as a political strategy.”
Obi called for a shift toward empathetic, prudent, and accountable leadership, insisting that Nigeria cannot continue on a path defined by wastefulness and disregard for the people’s plight.
Despite the grim realities, he expressed confidence in the possibility of a better country. “A New Nigeria is not only necessary; it is possible,” he said.
