Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced at today’s plenary that the Senate would approve a proposal for the purchase of a new presidential jet if President Bola Tinubu requested it. He clarified, however, that no such request has been made to the Senate so far.
“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 standards of the people. At the same time, we will also take cognizance of the duties of the President,” Akpabio stated.
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He emphasized that the Senate’s role includes ensuring the President has the necessary resources to perform his duties effectively. “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.”
Addressing rumors, Akpabio noted, “Somebody called me from the BBC and said that what I said in Senator Mongunu’s house was false and should be disregarded. I was now saying that I would not approve. That is what you can call anticipated blackmail.”
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Akpabio suggested that such stories were attempts to preemptively influence Senate decisions. He cited past incidents where defective aircraft resulted in the deaths of the vice president of Malawi and the president of Iran, underscoring the importance of a reliable presidential fleet.
“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.”
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Previously, Akpabio raised concerns about propaganda against the Senate regarding the purchase of the presidential fleet, reaffirming that any decisions made would prioritize the nation’s governance and well-being.