The Senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has revealed how President Bola Tinubu bypassed the national assembly and went ahead to purchase the N150bilion presidential jet without the lawmakers ‘ approval.
According to Abaribe, nobody from the presidency approached the National Assembly with a request for a new presidential jet before the new Airbus A330 was purchased in August by the President.
While speaking on a television programme on Monday, Senator Abaribe, said a request for the new jet was never brought to the National Assembly.
“I am in the national assembly, but I can tell you for a fact that nobody, quote me, nobody brought anything to the national assembly to say please approve this for purchase of a new plane.
“It was done without my knowledge, nobody brought anything. I never saw any document and I have always been in the national assembly. Ask anyone, none,” Abaribe said.
He noted that bypassing the lawmakers to purchase the jet was a slap on the national assembly adding that the legislature has the duty to carry out checks and balances on the executive but lamented that it was not effectively done.
Abaribe expressed worries that the action by the presidency portrayed the lawmakers as a rubber stamp in the eyes of Nigerians.
It is recalled that the purchase of the jet attracted criticisms from Nigerians who lambasted the President for spending such an amount on luxury while the economy was in shambles.
Nigerians had also blamed the National Assembly members for not doing their duties in checking the excesses of the Presidency.