Saturday, August 31, 2024 - Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has openly criticized President Bola Tinubu's decision to acquire a new presidential jet, labelling it as a "failure in leadership" at a time when many Nigerians are struggling with hunger and economic hardship.
Last week, the Presidency confirmed through
senior aide Bayo Onanuga that a new Airbus A330 had been procured to replace
the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700, which was acquired during the administration
of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The announcement of the new jet's
arrival has sparked controversy and debate across the country.
In his statement, Duke condemned the
acquisition, questioning the priorities of the current administration and
highlighting the disconnect between the government's actions and the dire
economic realities faced by the majority of Nigerians.
He said;
“There is no glamour in saying your
people are going through hard times; it is a failure of your leadership. If I
am the head of a family, I want my family to have everything. I don’t want life
to be difficult for them,” he said while featuring on Inside Sources, a
Channels TV programme, on Friday.
“If life is difficult, then I feel I have
failed to provide for them or do the things I ought to have done. I would ask
him (Tinubu) to see the Nigerian nation as his family. What is good for his
family is good for the nation.
“Buying a new aircraft or yacht or living large is a failure. You can’t have
kids who are hungry and you are living lavishly, going to parties and wearing
the biggest agbada.”
On the security challenges facing the country, Duke, the governor of the
South-South state between 1999 and 2007, asked the president to hold
heads of security agencies responsible.
He said;
“Hold the security agencies responsible for
a failure of security. There should be consequences. You cannot sit down and
say you are a DPO, commissioner of police or you are GOC and crime is being
committed in your domain. Hold them responsible.”
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