Tinubu Bought Private Jet While Nigerians Are Suffering – Sowore

Former presidential candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has berated President Bola Tinubu following the recent acquisition of a new presidential jet.

Naija News reports that the Tinubu-led administration, on Monday, unveiled the new Airbus A330 purchased under his leadership.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who released the pictures, said it replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

Onanuga, however, did not reveal the amount spent by the Nigerian government to acquire the new presidential jet.

Reacting in a series of posts via his official X handle, Sowore criticized the incumbent administration for reckless spending amid the country’s ongoing hardship and bad economic status.

Sowore accused Tinubu of buying jets and a bulletproof vehicle within the first year of his presidency despite not taking significant steps to alleviate the plight of the citizens.

Sowore has articulated that the primary focus of Nigerian leaders appears to be satisfying their interests rather than the effective resolution of the issues confronting the citizens.

The politician and publisher said: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said one year isn’t enough for Nigerians to enjoy a better country, but look at what he bought for himself in just one year: yacht, jet, bulletproof Escalade, mansion for VP. #RevolutionNow.”

In another post, Sowore wrote: “Bola Tinubu finally launched his $150 million presidential jumbo jet on his way to Paris. The only thing that makes these thieving rulers in Nigeria happy is when they fulfil their personal desires; they don’t care about the people.

“Day of fun at the expense of suffering Nigerians, @officialABAT jumbo luxury Presidential Jet arrives Nice, France.”

Naija News reports that this allegation emerged following a contractual disagreement between the Nigerian government and a Chinese entity, Zhongshan Fucheng Industrial Investment Co. Limited, concerning terminating the company’s management contract for the export processing zone.

In response, the Chinese entity sought recourse in a French judicial system, which resulted in an injunction for the confiscation of three aircraft: a Dassault Falcon 7X, an Airbus A330-243, and a Boeing 737-7N6/BBJ, all owned by the Nigerian government.

In its decision, the presiding court mandated the confiscation of these aircraft.

However, after the ruling, one aircraft was returned to the Nigerian government.

This dispute unfolded concurrently with a widespread protest against the prevailing conditions of hunger and economic hardship across the nation.

The protest, aptly named #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, was characterized by demonstrators’ calls for governmental action to ameliorate the country’s economic landscape, among other demands.