Iranian President, Malawian Vice President died as a result of defective aircraft – Nigerian Senate ready to take action
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said that the Nigerian Senate would consider a new aircraft for President Bola Amed Tinubu if such demand is made.
He noted that such demand has not been made, but should it come to his table, he won’t allow what happened in Iran and Malawi to happen in Nigeria.
Iranian President Raisi and Malawian Vice President respectively died in aircraft crash recently.
Iranian President aircraft crashed while coming back to Iran with a helicopter. Malawian Vice President’s aircraft crashed after reportedly losing radar communication.
The two respective crashes did not mention defects as the reasons for the crashes.
Iran has been under excruciating sanctions from the West, which has made it impossible to purchase parts for its presidential fleets.
On the contrary, Malawi is not under any sanction. A crash can happen even with a new aircraft. Many factors aside aircraft defects could lead to aircraft crashes.
The Senate President was accused of misplaced priority when reported that he had approved the purchase of a new aircraft for the President littered the Nigerian internet space.
Nigerians complained bitterly that the Senate was considering a new aircraft, in spite of the hardship facing the country.
Peter Obi, who contested the last presidential election, spoke negatively about the purchase, labelling the act “insensitive.”
The presidency has defended the act while accusing those opposed to the purchase of wanting the president to die.
The president has used private jets for government functions in the past, which indicates official presidential aircraft might not be suitable for use.
Although, President Bola Amed Tinubu has an eye for a new fleet.
Immediately after assuming office, it was reported that he purchased a presidential yatch.
The Senate President said that the demand for a new aircraft has not reached his table, but despite the attack, he would consider a new aircraft if the presidency makes such demand.
“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 said on the floor or the chamber on Thursday.
The Senate has been accused of giving more attention to expenditures that involve politicians while neglecting workers and common Nigerians.
“It would take a few seconds to approve what the President needs. What the legislatures need for their kitchens and wardrobes, but what Nigerians and Nigerian workers need take a century, ” a protesting critic said.
Akpabio labelled the fuss around the presidential jet as “blackmail,” insinuating that those making false news out it were doing so to forestall future approval.
“Somebody called me from the BBC, that 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. The professors of the story know very well that maybe there is a problem with the presidential fleet and that where they will go to will be the parliament, ” he said amidst explaining his position.
“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 stories 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.”
The Senate President noted that fake news won’t deter him from his role of protecting the government and ensuring the smooth running of its affairs.
“It’s not good for us to run the Senate by answering people in the social media because the social media is garbage in, garbage out.”
There is no demand for a new aircraft yet, but it would be approved immediately if demand is made summed up the position of the Senate President.
