Stanley Nkwocha, spokesperson of Vice-President Kashim
Shettima, said the N15 billion budget for the construction of a new residence
for the VP is not a waste of money.
Obi had faulted the proposed N15 billion for the
construction of a new residence for Shettima, saying that given the current
economic crisis, the money could have been put to good use.
Reacting in a statement on Tuesday, Nkwocha said the
proposed plan for the construction of the new residence was awarded by the
administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
He noted that his principal has committed himself to serving
Nigeria and helping President Bola Tinubu in achieving his set goals and
objectives.
He accused Obi of trying to paint the current administration
in bad light.
“We have taken note of statements credited to the
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 presidential election,
Mr. Peter Obi, who made another frail and futile attempt to paint the President
Bola Tinubu administration in bad light,” the statement said.
“The subject of his new found passion – armchair criticism
after his loss at the presidential poll was the proposed N15.5billion budgeted
by the FCTA to renovate the house of the Vice-President, which he claimed would
pay the annual salary of 3,000 University Professors.
“Giving the reactions and invocations generated by Obi’s
comments, it is necessary for the sake of history to clarify the issue.
“The proposed plan for the construction of the Vice
President’s official residence, for which budgetary allocation was made in the
2024 budget by the FCT Administration, was awarded by the administration of
former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“It was not originated by the present administration.
“This, Mr Obi, knows but chose to play dumb all in a bid to
inflamate a targeted group of Nigerians and, as usual, score cheap political
goals, accolades and praises.”
Nkwocha said the project which was re-initiated in 2010 and
funded by the Jonathan administration was abandoned.
“Appalled by the sorry state of the uncompleted building
that was now overtaken by weeds and reptiles over a decade after construction
started about 13 years ago,” he said.
“The current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, felt it would be a
waste to allow such a project started with public funds to continue to lie
fallow.
“Thus, in his wisdom and without the prompting of the
vice-president, decided to resuscitate the building. We invite more cerebral
Nigerians to crosscheck properly.
“What 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?
“It did not start
today, same for residences of the Senate President and the Speaker. The array
of abandoned Federal Government projects littered all over the country is a
national embarrassment that the current administration has taken a bold step to
save the country from.
“This is why it has made it a priority that all abandoned
projects must be completed before new ones are initiated, save for some on
exceptional basis, either because of the need for strategic alignment or
economic significance.”
