3-4 minutes
A former Special Adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Political
Matters, Akin Osuntokun, says the children of the President Muhammau
Buhari have no right to use the Presidential jet.
Osuntokun said this during an interview with The PUNCH while reacting to
claims by Buhari’s Spokesman, Garba Shehu, that the Presidential jet by
tradition is available for use by the first family, the Vice-President,
the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He said, “The President’s children have no right to the Presidential jet. Whoever said they do is not telling the truth.
“In fact, in many advanced countries today, the leaders are not allowed
to use Presidential jets for private matters and in some instances, they
pay the government whenever they do such.
“Prince Harry who is a member of the British Royal family has been travelling recently and has never used government aircraft.”
The President had come under fire for allowing his daughter, Hanan, to
use the Presidential jet to attend a private function in Bauchi on
Thursday.
The President’s spokesman said Hanan received approval from her father who in turn informed the National Security Adviser.
Shehu said, “It’s true that a member of the First Family was flown to
Bauchi yesterday on a mission duly authorised. It wasn’t an impromptu or
improper trip because it followed normal procedure. The Presidency
informed the National Security Adviser of the mission who in turn
informed the Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet.
“The normal practice, in existence for a long time, is that the
Presidential Air fleet is available to the President and the first
family and four others. These four are the Vice President, the Senate
President the Speaker and any other person(s) authorised by the
President.”
It was gathered that a debate has been raging on social media following
the decision of the President to allow his daughter to use the
Presidential jet for a personal engagement.
This is despite complaints by Nigerians that the budget of N8.5bn for the Presidential jets in the 2020 budget is too high.
Hanan, according to Daily Nigerian, was conveyed by the Presidential jet to attend the Durbar in Bauchi on Thursday.
The President’s daughter, who recently graduated with a first-class in
Photography from Ravensbourne University, London, was said to have been
invited by the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, as a special guest of
honour.
In photographs which have since gone viral on social media, Hanan could
be seen disembarking from the plane and being welcomed by Bauchi State
officials.
It was gathered that the durbar was specially organised to avail the
President’s daughter of the opportunity to take photographs of the
traditional durbar, Bauchi architecture and other cultural sites in the
state.
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