Senate President Godswill Akpabio has firmly denied reports that the Senate approved the purchase of new presidential jets for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He labeled as malicious the claims quoting him as saying the National Assembly would authorize new aircraft acquisitions despite the country’s economic challenges.
According to The PUNCH, this rebuttal followed the recommendation by the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence to procure new planes for the President and Vice President, citing the current jets as faulty and unsafe.
Recently, Tinubu traveled to South Africa for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration using a private jet.
In response to criticism from the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who called the plan insensitive, the Presidency defended the need for new jets, questioning whether Obi preferred risking the President’s life by using unreliable aircraft.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga remarked, “Does he (Obi) want him (Tinubu) to continue moving around in a rickety plane and die like the VP of Malawi and Iran President? Let him tell us. This is a basic thing any sane government will do. You can’t toy with your President’s welfare.”
However, Akpabio, through his media aide Jackson Udom, clarified that the National Assembly had not approved any such purchase.
Speaking to journalists in Maiduguri, Borno State, after a condolence visit to Senator Tahir Monguno, Akpabio stated, “I want to dispel the rumour that you are hearing that the Senate President said he would buy a new plane for the President and his Vice, irrespective of the fact that Nigerians are hungry or whatever.
“I never said that. I was actually in Zanzibar, Tanzania. It is the handiwork of propagandists and fifth columnists, who never see anything good in what we are doing.
“Rest assured, pray for the government, have patience and be assured that the combination of Tinubu and Shettima will bring wealth and prosperity to all,” Akpabio said.
He expressed contentment with the improved security in Borno State and encouraged Nigerians to support and pray for the Tinubu administration.
“I am happy to see that peace has returned to Borno, as a result of the hard work of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I want to tell the good people of Borno to continue to support the administration,” Akpabio added.
