Planned purchase of presidential jets: Ethnic nationalities fume

By Vincent Kalu, Lagos and Noah Ebije, Kaduna

The plan by the Federal Government to purchase two aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Shetimma has been pooh-poohed by leaders of some southern and northern groups who described the planned procurement as a misplaced priority.
Also condemning the move were the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 Northern States and Abuja,
Speaking with Saturday Sun, President, Ijaw National Congress (INC) Prof Benjamin Okaba noted: “This is a misplacement of priority. We have lost the middleclass, what we have is just a tiny group of persons that constitute the upper class and over 80 per cent of Nigerians who live below the poverty line. In the midst of all these, the government should concentrate on how to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor; between the haves and have-nots by raising the standard of living of the downtrodden,” he said.
The Ijaw leader noted that the prices of commodities have gone beyond the reach of the common man while the take home salary of workers can no longer take them home.
“In the midst of all of these, what any reasonable Nigerian expects is that the government should be thinking of having establishments that will reduce poverty, like agricultural schemes, industrial schemes and many other policies and programmes that can make Nigerians employable and that can also make essential commodities affordable to the masses.
“At some point, we heard of the purchase of an expensive yacht for the president, and now, it is about two aircraft. Before now, we heard of the renovations of houses of some very top class Nigerians that gulped humongous amounts of money.
“At the same time, the same government is telling people to manage and to sacrifice. If there is any sacrifice to be made, first of all, it should come from the top leadership of this country, who were sworn on oath to increase the living condition of Nigerians. Service is about sacrifice; you cannot afford to be having all the luxuries of life and those you are serving are dying in poverty.”
President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Dr. Bitrus Pogu, warned that the presidency needs to be more careful about what they do at a time like this when the economy is terrible.
“I don’t think any of the presidential jets is more than 10 years. If they are still within the operating age, there is no need for the president or the vice president to have new aircraft, rather the ones in their possession should be serviced and used.
“This takes us back to the issue of the building of a house for the vice president, which gulped a colossal sum of money. Former vice president had an accommodation. Why should we build another one for this current vice president and waste lot of resources when the economy is in a bad shape,” he wondered.
He called on the National Assembly to work for Nigeria, not for the President.
“Some of the advisers around Mr President are not giving him the right advice. His economic and political advisers should have advised him that this idea of buying new jets is not going down with Nigerians,” he stated.
National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba described the planned purchase as insensitive.
“It’s one of several other insensitive measures taken by this regime to add to other privileges enjoyed by political office holders, even as they call for sacrifices by everyone other than themselves, families and friends. It is sad.”
General Secretary of CAN in 19 Northern States and Abuja, Elder Sunday Oibe said those considering a new jet for the president at this time are callous, wicked and insensitive.
“How should a sane mind be talking of buying a new jet for the president in the midst of hunger, starvation, insecurity, state of hopelessness? See what some sane African presidents are doing for their country but ours is to waste money on frivolities,” he noted.
A former Secretary General of the ACF, Anthony Sani said urged the Senate to avoid actions perceived by the public to be insensitive.
His words: “The Senate should limit government’s expenses to areas that are very necessary. If government functionaries are seen as making the needed sacrifices, it would be much easier for government to dare the rest of us to follow.”