Press Statement
…Urges Presidency to Apologise For Abuse of Office
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) states that President Muhammadu
Buhari directly abused his office and exhibited the worst form of
corruption by detailing the officially restricted Presidential jet to
chauffeur his daughter, Hanan, reportedly, for her private photography
event in Bauchi state.
The party describes the action as provocative, condemnable, completely
improper and an unpardonable slap on the sensibility of millions of
Nigerians, particularly, the youths, who look up to Mr. President for
integrity, uprightness and respect for rules.
The PDP holds that the development is a strong pointer to the
recklessness that pervades the Buhari Presidency and the indefensible
annexation of our national assets and resources for illegal private use.
It is even most appalling that instead of apologizing to Nigerians, the
Buhari Presidency, in its arrogance, is resorting to falsehood and
trying to justify the inexcusable.
Our party holds that Mr. President should apologise for approving that
her daughter uses the Presidential jet just for the purpose of
allegedly taking photographs in a Durbar event in Bauchi state.
Perhaps, the Buhari Presidency forgot that it is public knowledge that
the Presidential fleet can only be authorized for use by the President,
the First Lady, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House
of Representatives, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, former Presidents,
Presidential delegation and no one else.
Moreover, the rules do not grant the President any powers to transfer
any paraphernalia of office or privileges of his position to any of his
children.
The Presidency’s defence is therefore a direct spat on millions of
Nigerians who cannot freely ply our highways because Mr. President and
his party the APC, have failed to fix and rid our roads of kidnappers
and bandits, who have practically taken over major routes under their
despicable watch.
The PDP notes that never in the history of our nation has a Presidency
exhibited such arrogance, impunity and corruption, adding that the
action has further shown that the Buhari Presidency had only been
parading and getting away with false integrity.
Nigerians could recall how President Buhari heavily accused and
criticized previous administrations of voting and wasting huge resources
to maintain the Presidential fleet and promised to sell off most of the
planes to save cost.
Since President Buhari assumed office, none of the planes had been sold.
Instead, the Buhari Presidency had continued to budget more funds for
the fleet with N8.5 bn budgeted for 2020 alone, only to approve that his
daughter uses a Presidential jet for her private photography event.
The PDP urges the Buhari Presidency to respect the sensibilities of
Nigerians by immediately withdrawing his provocative justification and
show leadership by apologizing to the nation for this abuse of office.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
