- By Halimah Olamide
“In these hard times, there’s no compulsory reason for a country to own Presidential jets. In fact, it is an overindulgence. ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU owned private jets ever before he was declared President.
Publisher of Ovation Magazine and media entrepreneur Chief Dele Momodu has on Wednesday taken on the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga over his defence of a presidential jet for President Bola Tinubu.
Momodu was reacting to a statement by Onanuga, where he had equally taken on the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the last general election, Mr. Peter Obi, who had earlier called on the Federal Government to stop the plan to buy new presidential jets for Tinubu and the vice president, Kashim Shettima.
Describing the plan as unacceptable and insensitive, Obi had said through his X handle on Monday, “At a time when our country is on the front page of global newspapers for facing its worst economic crisis, marked by high inflation, a falling currency, and widespread poverty, the government is contemplating buying new presidential jets.
“This demonstrates extreme insensitivity to citizens’ struggles.
“With rising insecurity, poverty, hunger, and homelessness, this decision highlights the disconnect that is apparent between the government and the people.
“It is unacceptable as the situation in the country today more than ever demands a more compassionate use of resources, prioritising citizens’ welfare,” he said.
Onanuga had however responded to Obi by asking if he (Obi) was interested in Tinubu’s death in a plane crash like the president of Mallawi who died recently.
Responding to Onanuga on Wednesday in what has assumed the dimension of an endless debate, Momodu said Tinubu should be preaching downsizing instead of increasing the cost of governance.
“In these hard times, there’s no compulsory reason for a country to own Presidential jets. In fact, it is an overindulgence. ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU owned private jets ever before he was declared President.
“He can demonstrate the SACRIFICE he preaches by downsizing and returning to them and requesting his retinue to go commercial when absolutely necessary. AIR PEACE has a fleet of Boeing 777 that can be hired for long haul flights and this will keep them in business. Trouble is our politicians are outlandishly flamboyant… There’s nothing wrong with what PETER OBI said and suggested…”