Akpabio Not Behind Move For Purchase Of New Presidential Jets — Group

Amidst controversy surrounding the purchase of new Presidential Jets, Rising-Up for a United Nigeria (RUN), a frontline civil rights group has described as misleading and frivolous, insinuations that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, pushed for the purchase of new presidential aircraft.

The National Coordinator of RUN, Amb. Solomon Adodo, stated this while appearing as a guest on a live interview on Radio Nigeria Network News in Abuja.

According to Amb. Adodo, “contrary to insinuations that the Senate President pushed for the planned purchase of the Presidential jets, it was actually the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence that recommended the purchase after an investigation into the status of the Presidential fleet.

“The Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence only ratified it after conducting its own investigation and agreeing to the necessity of new aircraft to avert a national disaster with national security implications.”

While emphasising that the purchase of the aircraft was a matter of necessity and not an idea from the Senate President as some persons were alleging, Amb. Adodo maintained that Nigeria cannot afford to jeopardise its national security by running old aircraft for the Presidential fleet considering  the recent tragic loss of world leaders in plane crashes.

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“The tragic loss of the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi in a crash that was complicated by mechanical faults and bad weather as well as the loss of the Vice President of Malawi, Saulos Chilima should worry every well meaning Nigerian. Instead of pointing accusing fingers, we should be united in pushing for the purchase of new aircrafts for the Presidential fleet.

“In other climes, citizens would have protested and demanded for the replacement of the Presidential fleet following the near disaster that befell Vice President Yemi Osibanjo in Kogi State few years ago aboard one of the dilapidated aircrafts of a private company due to the unavailability of a serviceable aircraft on the President fleet. rather than throwing jabs at individuals for what is long overdue,” he added.

He described those behind the coordinated falsehood and allegations against Akpabio as “enemies of Nigeria who are bent on pitching the Executive against the Legislature, considering the harmonious relationship that has existed between them in the past one year.

“If there is need for new aircraft as has been recommended, nobody can blackmail the Senate President into shirking his constitutional duties. As a progressive, the Senate President has always stood with the masses and always do things in the overall interest of the nation. He deserves a pat on the back and not unsavoury attacks.”

RUN firmly urged the Senate President not to be deterred by the opinions of a few misguided persons and go ahead to approve the planned purchase of the Presidential jets “in the best interest of the nation as Nigeria cannot afford to be amongst the list of nations that have lost their heads of states and governments as a result of air accidents.”