Sani and Sowore descend on Tinubu for refusing to cut the cost of governance
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu may not truly care about the masses, focusing rather on optics for media headlines – remember, he singlehanded funded his election – but irrepressible critics are raising their voices over his agenda to increase the cost of governance, citing the his latest quest for a N5 billion Presidential Yacht in his supplementary budget.
Most of the budget will be funded by additional borrowing on top of the massive debt the irresponsible Muhammadu Buhari bequeathed to Nigerians through his years of the locust.
Former Senator Shehu Sani has urged the President to perish the thought. Activist Omoyele Sowore accused him of breeding a dynasty of robbers, as usual.
For context, at least 133 million Nigerians are living in multidimensional poverty, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
From among them Tinubu has voted N25,000 each for 15 million households per month for three months, totalling N75,000.
He started off by bribing federal lawmakers with N70 billion as fuel subsidy removal palliative and another N40 billion, to get them to do his bidding. To ensure they do not turn down his requests or censure him in any way, going forward.
From the total N110 billion bribe, the lawmakers have already awarded contracts to buy luxury cars.
The vehicles, comprising 2023 models of Toyota Land Cruiser and Prado SUVs, are for the 469 NAASS members, with posher models for the principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Senate will take delivery of 107 Toyota Prado (2023 model) at a cost of N160 million each, and bullet proof models for Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy President Barau Jibrin at a cost of N320 million each.
The House of Representatives will distribute a total 358 units of 2023 model of Toyota Land Cruiser to members and one bullet proof model each to the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The market price of a 2023 model Toyota Land Cruiser is between N135 million and N145 million.
Nollywood actor and comic Oluwaseyitan Aletile, popularly known as Seyi Law, was among the first to knock Tinubu with a post on X (Twitter), saying: “I am absolutely not in support of the procurement of the presidential yacht. It is quite insensitive to the plight of Nigerians at this moment to even rationalise it.
“I call on the president, @officialABAT, to once again prove to Nigerians that he listens. Thank you, your Excellency.”
His view was echoed by Sani, who wrote on Twitter, per Daily Post.
“The president should without delay cancel the purchase of that N5 billion Presidential Yacht.
“The poor can’t be struggling for survival in a canoe while their leader is yachting.”
Sowore added:
“The @officialABAT dynasty of thieves! They want to buy a ‘Presidential Yacht’ for N5billion for a man who’s never been to a stream before, they want to renovate a Presidential Lodge in Lagos for N4b for a man who just built a mansion in Lagos that stretches from Bourdillon to Queens Drive in Ikoyi!
“Reason the joker was grandstanding about his son, Seyi sneaking into FEC [Federal Executive Council] meetings just to fool the unwary. #RevolutionNow.”
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Related articles:
CSOs plan protests, SERAP sues NASS over purchase of SUVs for federal lawmakers
Catholic Bishops alert Abuja, rising poverty collapsing Nigeria
Life becoming unbearable for Nigerians, say Yoruba elders; press Tinubu to walk his talk
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Tinubu earmarks N17.7b for Presidential Yacht, Air Fleet in supplementary budget
Tinubu on Tuesday presented to the House of Representatives a N2.176 trillion 2023 supplementary budget for approval. Below are some of the details, per Vanguard.
Defence received the highest allocation of N476.543 billion, followed by Works (N300 billion), and agriculture (N200 billion).
State House (Presidential Villa)
- N2.9 billion – SUVs
- N1.5 billion – official vehicles for the office of the First Lady
- N4 billion – renovation of the residential quarters of Mr. President
- N4 billion – renovation of Dodan Barracks, the official residence of Mr. President in Lagos
- N3 billion – renovation of the official quarters of the Vice President in Lagos.
- N4 billion – construction of an office complex in Aso Rock.
- N12.7 billion – Presidential Air Fleet
- N5 billion – Presidential Yacht
Other allocations
- N5 billion – renovation of 100 schools
- N5.5 billion – Education Loan Fund (funding for Student Loans)
- N100 billion – housing got N100 billion
- N100 billion Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)
- N49 billion – Department of State Services (DSS)
- N50 billion – Police formations and commands
- N615 billion – Service Wide Votes
- N29.7 billion – Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA)
- N18 billion – Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo on November 11