Senate President Godswill Akpabio stated on Thursday, June 27, 2024, that the Senate would evaluate any future requests for a new presidential jet if deemed necessary, dismissing current claims that lawmakers are poised to approve such a purchase.
Speaking during a plenary session in Abuja, Akpabio addressed speculation surrounding the potential acquisition of a new jet for President Bola Tinubu. He clarified that no such request is currently under consideration by the Senate.
“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,” Akpabio stated, referring to the rumors. “So, they can go ahead and blackmail the Senate President; that will not affect me.”
He emphasized that the Senate remains committed to addressing the needs of the country responsibly, countering allegations that the National Assembly is indifferent to public welfare.
“The Senate is very responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country,” Akpabio affirmed.
Addressing the claims directly, he remarked, “That is what you can call anticipatory blackmail. The purveyors of the story know very well that maybe there is a problem with the presidential fleet, and that where they will go will be the parliament. And so they are now trying to do anticipatory blackmail to tell us if they bring it, do not look into it.”
Akpabio cited instances of tragic outcomes due to defective presidential aircraft in other countries to underscore the importance of maintaining a safe presidential fleet. “When you hear stories such as the death of the vice president of Malawi as a result of a defective plane and the death of the president of Iran due to a defective helicopter, we shouldn’t ever dream and allow such to be our portion,” he warned.
