Nigerian President’s Security Paramount – Ohanaeze Aboard Tinubu’s N150 Billion Jet

Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said safety concerns raised over the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700 purchased during the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo justify the acquisition of the controversial Airbus A330 recently purchased by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

DAILY POST recalls that the Airbus A330, purchased for about N150 billion, has evoked mixed reactions from affected Nigerians.

While some condemn the move, citing the country’s dire economic situation, others say the Nigerian president deserves a better plane following reports that the old jet malfunctioned.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, while unveiling the new jet, revealed that the decision was influenced by “an investigation by the Nigerian parliament which questioned the safety record and cost-effectiveness of the B737-700(BBJ), especially after it malfunctioned while on a trip to Saudi Arabia.”

Reacting to the controversy, the Secretary General of the Ohanaeze faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said in a statement on Thursday that the security of the Nigerian president “remains paramount.”

According to him, “the tragic incidents involving the untimely deaths of former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Malawi’s Vice President, Dr Saulos Chilima, are a stark reminder of the dangers that can befall senior public officials when adequate measures are not taken to ensure their safety.

“We cannot afford for a similar tragedy to happen in Nigeria, and we must prioritize the well-being of President Tinubu.”

He wondered why those attacking the presidency over the new jet remained silent when members of the 10th National Assembly were acquiring luxury cars.

He, however, urged President Tinubu to “address the concerns of the Nigerian people and take prompt steps to alleviate their suffering.”

Nigerian President’s Security Paramount – Ohanaeze Aboard Tinubu’s N150 Billion Jet