June 27, (THEWILL) – Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has debunked reports that President Bola Tinubu requested the approval of funds to procure a presidential jet.
Several reports have alleged that President Tinubu was seeking the National Assembly’s approval of funds for the purchase of a new presidential jet.
On Thursday, at a plenary session, Akpabio said there has been no formal request presented to the Senate seeking approval for the acquisition of a presidential plane.
“I have never had that correspondence to approve the purchase of a plane. We care about the president and we care about the Nigerian people. We will approve things that will benefit the Nigerian people. There is nothing before us.
“We will approve things that would improve the living standard of the people. At the same time, we will also take cognisance of the duties of the president.
“But the purveyors of the story know that there is a problem with the Presidential Fleet. If his vehicle is bad, we will repair the vehicle. If his plane is bad, we will approve money for the repair of the plane. So that is not an issue. There is nothing before us. I don’t think you should worry about it.
“Somebody called me from BBC, that what I said in Senator Mongunu’s house was false and should be disregarded, that I was now saying that I will not approve.
“That is what you can call anticipated blackmail. The professors of the story know very well that maybe there is a problem with the presidential fleet and that where they will go will be the parliament. And so they are now trying to do anticipated blackmail to tell us if they bring it, do not look into it.
“So I think that we should ignore them because of what we are doing here. I read the president’s correspondence to us. Nothing was touching on a plane or no plane, but I can tell you that when you hear stories such as the death of the vice president of Malawi as a result of a defective plane. And then you hear students talk about the death of the president of Iran as a result of defective aircraft.
“We shouldn’t ever sit and allow such to be in the ocean. It wouldn’t be. The Senate is very responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country.
“Irrespective of anticipatory blackmail because those people know very well that something like that might come in the future. And if it’s a necessity, the Senate will look into it. But there is nothing like that before us now.”
About the Author
