PRP lambasts Tinubu over new Presidential Jet

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has said that it is appalled by the insensitive and profligate decision of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government to purchase a new jet for the Presidential fleet, at a time when the country is grappling with crippling economic woes and citizens are struggling to make ends meet.
Comrade Muhammed Ishaq, acting National Publicity Secretary expressed this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.
He said, that at this time when the economy is in ruins, with inflation rates inching towards 40% and workers’ wages yet to be reviewed, it is unconscionable that the government is prioritizing luxury spending over the welfare of the people.
According to the statement, the proposal to purchase new airplanes for the presidential fleet is a clear testament to the government’s detachment from reality and its lack of empathy and accountability.
The PRP urged the government to remember that they are not serving themselves, but the Nigerian people.
The government should focus on addressing the pressing issues of poverty, unemployment, and economic stagnation rather than indulging in lavish spending sprees.
“For instance, China, the world’s second-largest economy, purchased its Presidential jet from Boeing in 2000 and has been flying it for 24 years”.
Similarly, the United States, the world’s largest economy, has a presidential jet manufactured by Boeing that was purchased in 1990 and has been used by six successive American presidents for 34 years. In contrast, Nigeria’s Presidential Jet was purchased in 2003 and became operational in 2005, making it a mere 19 years old.
“We cannot understand why our government is not learning from aforesaid good examples, despite the fact we are nowhere as rich as these economies.
We need to prioritize our needs as a nation and be responsible in spending against dwindling resources.

“It is evident that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his counterpart in the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, are living in an ivory tower and perpetuating an unpleasant government that caters more to their interests than those of the people”.