The visit by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and Nana Shettima, wife of his running mate, Kashim Shettima on Monday to Makurdi, Benue state to commiserate with flood victims, in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Presidential fleet, has generated several reactions from Nigerians.
The two women traveling in the Presidential fleet with their associates have received numerous criticisms from the public. Many Nigerians see this as an abuse of power.
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Checks by QUEST TIMES reveal that only the President, Vice President, their families, or staff could use the NAF Presidential fleet at any time.
Neither Tinubu nor Shettima has the privilege of using the presidential fleet under the NAF regulations.
A military source confirmed to QUEST TIMES that only “…the Commander-in-Chief or any member of the Air Force High Command can use the facility at any time. The Air Force cannot be dragged into partisan politics.”
Many people wondered how Tinubu, who last held a political office in May 2007, could have been allowed to use the presidential jet in a campaign season.
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QUEST TIMES reached out to the presidency for comments on this development but to no avail.
There is no indication that President Buhari or the NAF authority gave the approval for Tiubu’s wife to fly the presidential fleet.
A Lagos-based political analyst, Olusegun Atanga, who spoke to QUEST TIMES said “Even though Tinubu’s wife is a serving Senator, there is no reason why she should fly the Presidential Jet just because her husband is contesting for president. That is a clear violation of the law and such constitute abuse of office.”
A political scientist, Chibuzor Duru, is of the view that Tiubu’s wife’s use of the presidential jet is very wrong even if it may have been used for a good cause. According to him, “Tinubu is neither the president nor a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). There is no basis for his wife, a private citizen, to use the presidential fleet just by being married to a presidential candidate. It is wasting taxpayers’ money. It’s very wrong in my opinion.”
There were also reactions from Twitter. Some of the reactions QUEST TIMES is currently monitoring are:
Osi (@Osi_Suave) wrote on Twitter “So senators now have access to the presidential fleet. Fantastic news bro.”
@MySureStructure wrote “Attention CinC @MBuhari. Presidential Jet is for Mr.President and NOT for the APC Presidential Candidate or wives. Do not Joke with 2023 Election. Dont Dare!”
AUTO LAW (@lawsman) said “Buhari’s regime looking assets to sell in order to fund the budget. Na wa oh. Sell of those presidential jets your children are using to go round the placing just to take pictures, then sell of all the bullets proof suv’s carrying politicians around before you think of our asset.”