N15bn Veep Residence: 'It doesn't make sense' - Reuben Abati rubbishes Shettima's reply to Peter Obi

Arise TV co-host, Reuben Abati has reacted to the statement from the office of Vice President Kassim Shettima condemning Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

Peter Obi in a statement on X questioned the motive behind the proposed N15.5 billion budgeted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to construct a new official residence for the Vice President.

His criticism comes after FCT Minister, Nysom Wike recently revealed that the government planned to use the funds for a “befitting residence” for the nation’s Vice President.

Nkwocha, the Vice President's spokesperson said that Obi was merely embarking on armchair criticism of the Tinubu administration after his colossal loss at the presidential poll.

According to him: “For good 24 hours, Obi danced naked in the public square, trying to curry the attention of those who care to listen to his falsehood and warped opinions about waste.

“On Sunday, he accused the current administration of sponsoring over 1,400 delegates to Dubai for COP28. The next day, Monday, the subject of his newfound passion – armchair criticism – after his colossal loss at the presidential poll was the proposed N15.5billion budgeted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to renovate the House of the Vice President, which he claimed would pay the annual salary of 3,000 University Professors.”

Mr. Abati who is the spokesperson for President Goodluck Jonathan described Nkwocha's statement as "one that doesn't make sense".

Speaking on the What's Trending segment on the Morning Show on Wednesday, December 6, he said: "I checked that statement and that was a statement issued by his spokesperson Stanley Nkwocha and this is the first time I will see him issue a statement. Sometimes, I tell our colleagues that it is not everything you respond to.

"There is nothing that Peter Obi said that Atiku hasn't said - that all of us at this table didn't say. As we said at a time when there is austerity in the land, we shouldn't be talking about big structures. The explanation by him is that this is a project that has been there and an ongoing project since 2010. And that government has returned to it.

"The FCTA led by Wike which manages structure in the state says he doesn't want abandoned projects and he has gone to start with the VP residence. So all the explanations given by Stanley Nkwocha doesn't make sense."



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