There has been arguments for and against on whether President Bola Tinubu actually needs a new aircraft for his presidential tours.
The debate was sparked off by the report last week that the House of Representative Committee on national and security intelligence requested that the federal government purchase a new aircraft for president Tinubu and his vice, Shettima.
The committee’s recommendation was contained in a report released after an investigation into the status of the aircraft in the presidential air fleet.
This raised a plethora of objections from Nigerians, among whom was the former presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi.
speaking on the development on Monday, Obi, faulted the proposal, saying it highlights the disconnect between the government and the people.
According to Obi, the proposal is unacceptable, adding that there is need for a more compassionate use of resources and prioritizing citizens’ welfare.
But in a swift reaction the special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga took a swipe on Peter Obi over his comments on the proposed purchase of a new presidential aircraft.
Reacting to Obi’s comment in an interview with the media Onanuga said the purchase of another aircraft is a necessity.
He said the proposed presidential aircraft is a “basic thing any sane government will do” because it cannot toy with the president’s welfare.
He said, “Does Peter Obi want the President dead? Is that his wish? Does he want him to continue moving around in a rickety plane and die like the VP of Malawi and Iran President? Let him tell us.
“The plane he used now, I learnt, was bought during (former President) Obasanjo’s era. That was over 20 years ago and I learnt it was a very small plane.
“The plane developed a problem the last time he travelled to Saudi Arabia. The President had to go from there to the UK on a commercial airline. Even those managing them said the aircraft needed to be replaced,” he said.
But, many Nigerians have faulted the president’s special adviser on information and strategy over his line of thought, adding that firstly; there was nothing wrong in the president flying a commercial airline or even ‘Air Peace, and that he was simply using cheap emotional blackmail to drive home his point.
Given the current economic situation in the country, Nigerians argue that if the president does not see anything wrong with the masses enduring poverty for a while, pending when his reforms will start yielding positive fruits, then they see nothing wrong in president Tinubu and his team leading the pack by also sacrificing along with the people. Nigerians deplored the manner in which the president Tinubu led administration has continued to squander the ‘scarce’ resources of the country on luxuries for themselves while expecting the people to make all the needed sacrifices.
Secondly; aviation experts have disagreed with the Onanuga’s postulations that the presidential aircraft is old and needs to be changed, arguing that there is no such thing as a ‘geriatric’ aircraft if it is properly maintained by undergoing all the required annual checks, A- E.
Andy Ekugo, a former aviation correspondent laid out the facts in his Facebook blog, stating, “Every aircraft becomes brand new after undergoing all the required checks in every 5 or 6 years, in addition to all the other specialized checks.”
These checks, according to Ekugo, ensures that the aircraft remains airworthy and safe for operation, lasting for years for as long as the necessary maintenance are done as and at when due, adding that except the federal government wants to tell Nigerians that the presidential jet has not been fully maintained as required, in which case those responsible for its maintenance and regular checks will have some explaining to make over what has been happening to the money budgeted for such.
Ekugo went on to add that the United States Of America Airforce One, used by the American president has lasted for over forty years and is still working perfectly, and wondered why Nigeria should be any different.
The conversation is still on. It remains to be seen in which direction the pendulum will swing.