Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that the National Assembly will give its approval for the procurement of a new presidential jet for President Bola Tinubu without any hesitation should the presidency make such a request, vowing not to be swayed by social media blackmail.
Addressing the claims circulating that the Senate had approved the purchase of new presidential jets for President Bola Tinubu without any formal request, Akpabio said, “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.”
Akpabio continued, “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.”
This statement follows media reports, debunked by Akpabio, claiming that the National Assembly had approved new jets for the President. Recently, the President used a private jet to attend President Ramaphosa’s inauguration in South Africa, sparking debate over the condition of the presidential fleet.
Addressing the issue, Akpabio said the National Assembly would not yield to blackmail and would do the necessary if a request for a new presidential jet was made. “Somebody called me from the BBC, saying what I said in Senator Mongunu’s house was false and should be disregarded, that I was now saying that I would not approve. That is what you can call anticipated blackmail,” he said.
Akpabio emphasized the Senate’s responsibility, citing incidents like the deaths of the Vice President of Malawi and the President of Iran due to defective aircraft. He assured that the Senate would prioritize the governance and safety of the country, stating, “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.”
