On Saturday, after arriving the United Kingdom (UK), Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, made a public statement admonishing Nigerian elite and political rulers to patronise local businesses in order to grow the economy.
He said, “I just arrived in the UK this morning, on Air Peace from Lagos to London. I have now taken almost a dozen flights to or from London on this airline. I want to sincerely thank the management and staff of Air Peace for their professionalism, consistency, and competence on this route.
“Once again, I use this opportunity to appeal to Nigerian Elites and political leaders to give strong and deliberate support to indigenous businesses. It is never easy to run any business in our difficult environment, let alone highly capital-intensive sectors like air and land transportation, especially given the challenges of competitiveness and rising operational costs.”
The opposition leader added, “Nigerian businesses need our encouragement and patronage, not harassment or unnecessary intimidation. Supporting local businesses, particularly those that create massive employment, is critical for job creation, economic growth, and sustainable national development.”