By Olusegun Lawrence President Bukola Saraki has justified procurement of new official vehicles that has been widely criticised as portraying the Number three man in the country as being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
A statement issued by his Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the old vehicles have been malfunctioning hence, the need to purchase new ones.
He said it was wrong to classify vehicles provided for security agencies like the police and State Security Service by the National Assembly management for their operations as vehicles bought for the Senate President.
“It is an obvious fact that the official and spare cars that the Senate President inherited and has been using are old and have been malfunctioning.
“There are instances like the day Dr. Saraki visited Keffi for the marriage of the daughter of Senator Abdullahi Adamu and another day at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport that the spare vehicle broke down. In both instances, the spare vehicle did not return home with the convoy.
“The same vehicle had malfunctioned at the Presidential Villa and National Mosque on different occasions. It is for this reason that the Senate President approved that instead of providing two vehicles for him as he is entitled, only one should be bought to replace the official vehicle while the old official car should be converted to spare car.
“Also, if the National Assembly Management chose to provide operational vehicles for Security Agencies, should that be presented as if they are personal or official vehicles meant for the use of Dr. Saraki?
“These are vehicles that cannot be used for other purposes and by other people. The Senate President also have no control over the security vehicles.
“it is also surprising that despite the fact that the online media in the same story reported that the order for the vehicle was made in December, it chose to calculate the value of the vehicles based on current exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar.
“This is obviously a mischief aimed at making the figure look huge and justify the screaming headline,” the statement issued by Olaniyonu on Saturday reads in part.
Olaniyonu was reacting to an earlier report by PREMIUM TIMES that Mr. Saraki had taken delivery of new exotic cars purchased by the National Assembly management for his official use, brushing aside widespread criticisms against such lavish spending at a time of national economic crisis.
