Akpabio Explains Reasons for Approving Purchase of Presidential Jet

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said the red chamber will approve funds for the purchase of a new presidential jet if requested by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Speaking during plenary on Thursday, Akpabio, however, said he had not received any correspondence from the President requesting the Senate’s approval for a presidential jet.

Akpabio spoke after a closed-door meeting of senators at the chambers which lasted for about an hour.

The senators had cut short their recess which was supposed to elapse on July 2, 2024, and returned for an emergency session to consider a bill for an act to amend the 2023 supplementary appropriation act to further extend its implementation to December 31, 2024, as requested by President Tinubu.

Akpabio said, “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.

“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 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.

“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.

“There is nothing before us. But the purveyors of the story know that there is a problem with the presidential fleet.”

Earlier, the Senate leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), said there was no such request from the President.

Addressing newsmen after plenary, the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), said, “What is not before the Senate, the Senate can’t deliberate on it.

“It is the bill that is before us that we will deliberate on it. The issue of aircraft has never been deliberated on. So the issue of aircraft has never come up. If the issue comes up, we will consider it on its merit, we will debate it.”