In a statement made at the Senate plenary on June 27, 2024, Senate President Godswill Akpabio addressed rumors circulating on social media regarding the potential approval of a new presidential jet for President Bola Tinubu. Akpabio clarified that while there is currently no formal request for the approval of a presidential plane, the Senate remains committed to supporting measures that benefit both the president and the Nigerian people.
Akpabio emphasized the Senate’s responsibility to ensure the well-being of the president and the efficiency of his office. He stated, “We care about the president and we care about the Nigerian people. We will approve things that will benefit the Nigerian people. We will approve things that would improve the living standard of the people. At the same time, we will also take cognizance of the duties of the president. 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.”
The Senate President also addressed allegations of “anticipated blackmail” from certain individuals who he claimed were spreading misinformation to undermine the Senate’s potential future actions. He highlighted the importance of the Senate’s role in maintaining the president’s ability to perform his duties safely and efficiently. Akpabio referenced incidents involving defective aircraft that led to the deaths of high-ranking officials in other countries, stressing that the Senate would not allow similar situations to occur in Nigeria.
Akpabio remarked, “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 such as the death of the president of Iran as a result of defective aircraft. We shouldn’t ever sit and allow such to be at 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.”
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He further assured that the Senate would review any future requests related to the presidential fleet based on necessity and the benefits to the governance of the country, dismissing any concerns about current propaganda efforts as premature and baseless.
The issue of acquiring a new presidential jet has not yet been formally presented to the Senate, but Akpabio’s statements reflect a proactive stance on ensuring the operational readiness of the president’s transportation. This approach underscores the Senate’s commitment to both the safety of the nation’s leaders and the efficient governance of Nigeria.
For more details, you can visit the original article on Punch.
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