Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing the Abia South Senatorial District, has publicly stated that no formal request was submitted to the National Assembly for the purchase of a new presidential jet.
This revelation comes in the wake of the Nigerian Presidency's unveiling of a refurbished Airbus A330 for President Bola Tinubu, which has been met with widespread criticism from citizens who are grappling with economic hardships.
"I am in the national assembly, but I can tell you for a fact that nobody, quote me, nobody brought anything to the national assembly to say please approve this for purchase of a new plane," Senator Abaribe asserted during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. He emphasized that the absence of such a request undermines the legislative branch's role as a check on executive power, a fundamental aspect of democratic governance.
The controversy has been further fueled by comments from Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who clarified that the aircraft was not new but rather a "refurbished jet."
Despite this explanation, the decision has drawn ire from many Nigerians who view the expenditure as a misallocation of resources during a time of economic strain.
Senator Abaribe expressed concern over the perception of the National Assembly as a "rubber-stamped" body, suggesting that its cooperative stance with the executive might be perceived as compromising its oversight responsibilities.
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