President Bola Tinubu and his entourage left Lagos for Pretoria to attend the inauguration of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday.
They traveled on two private planes.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, and other government officials escorted the President.
PUNCH reported that a source disclosed the information.
“They went in two private jets. Of course, you are aware that the presidential jets are no longer in good shape,” the source, who preferred not to be mentioned, said.
Tinubu reportedly left the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on a Dassault Falcon 8X aircraft around 11:06 am.
Recall, the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence urged the Federal Government to acquire a new aircraft for President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
However, Former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi argued that the move is ill-advised, given Nigeria’s current economic difficulties.
The Presidency, through the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga responded to Obi’s criticism, saying he doesn’t value the life of the President.
“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. This is a basic thing any sane government will do. You can’t toy with your President’s welfare,” he said.
“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.
“Why will any right-thinking person still want the President to move around in it? In any way, it is the National Assembly that officially recommended that new ones should be bought. Sometimes, Peter Obi opened his mouth to make unnecessary statements.”
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