Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that the National Assembly will approve the proposal of a new presidential jet if such a request is made.
However, while addressing the Senate on Thursday, Akpabio clarified that there is no proposal before the National Assembly seeking funds for a new jet purchase.
“We will approve things that would improve the living standards of the people. At the same time, we will also take cognizance of the duties of the President,” he said.
“If his vehicle is bad, we will repair the vehicle. If his plane is bad, we will approve money for the repair of the plane. So that is not an issue. There is nothing before us. I don’t think you should worry about it.
“Somebody called me from the BBC; that what I said in Senator Mongunu’s house, that the statement was false and should be disregarded. That I was now saying that I will not approve.
“That is what you can call anticipated 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 anticipated blackmail to tell us if they bring it, do not look into it.
“So I think that we should ignore them and focus on what we are doing here. I read the president’s correspondence to us.
“There was nothing touching on a plane or no plane.
“But I can tell you that when you hear stories such as the death of the vice president of Malawi as a result of a defective plane, and then the death of the president of Iran as a result of defective aircraft; we shouldn’t ever sit and allow such to be our portion. It wouldn’t be.
“The Senate is very responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into issues that will benefit the governance of the country.
“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, so they can go ahead and blackmail the senate president, it will not affect me.”
Before Akpabio’s comment, the Senate leader had earlier raised the issue stating that some elements in the fifth columnist were dishing out propaganda to the public about the Senate as it regards the purchase of the presidential flee
