The Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Enyinnaya Abaribe. has submitted that the approval of the National Assembly was not sought before a new jet was purchased for President Bola Tinubu.
According to Abaribe, the National Assembly never received nor approved a request for the purchase of a new jet for President Tinubu.
B93naija.com recalls the presidency had, in August, unveiled a new Airbus A330 purchased for President Bola Tinubu.
However, amidst the backlash from Nigerians that greeted the new purchase, presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said the aircraft was not new as reported but was simply refurbished.
But speaking on Monday against the background of allegations that the National Assembly is a rubber stamp of all Tinubu actions, Abaribe denied the involvement of the lawmakers in the purchase of a new presidential jet.
Speaking as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Abaribe said: “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,” Abaribe said on the programme.
It was done without my knowledge, nobody brought anything. I never saw any document and I have always been in the national assembly. Ask anyone, none.”
He said the lawmakers have been denied their responsibility of serving as a check on the executive amidst the public perception that the current 10th National Assembly can’t go against the President and the executive arm.
Abaribe added that the lawmakers are not a rubber-stamp assembly but feel the need to cooperate with the executive in the overall interest of Nigerians.
