Good People, I received the message which was delivered by Senator Ali Ndume which he noted: “The [yacht] deal has been signed and delivered, but not paid, and that’s what brought the inclusion of the amount (N5 billion) in the supplementary budget.” Yes, the House of Representatives rejected the federal government’s plan to buy a presidential yacht as part of the supplementary budget, without knowing that the yacht is already somewhere in River Abuja cooling. But where there is no River Abuja, we have Ide Ovim which can provide a good abode.
The Senator noted that this special engine of productivity and innovation for Nigeria (lol) has already been delivered, and is in use in Nigeria, and should be paid for. But with the House rejecting the deal, they could be stressing the presidential office.
Let me say this: why are people complaining? Recall that with 26 days to go, the Senate approved Buhari’s N22.7tn extra-budgetary spending, with some of the funds already spent. Also, the biggest discovery which sank the Nigerian Naira came when it was revealed that the apex bank had borrowed on future crude oil sales. Largely, the American banking system revealed that the money we thought we have has been mortgaged for loans, which we did not know the nation took, along with crude oil which has been pre-sold before they’re piped. What happened after that revelation? The National Assembly did nothing!
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Senator Ndume said it the way it is: the National Assembly does no legislative check and balances, and the executive is close to 100% certain that anything which goes there will be approved. That is why they can spend money, order a yacht, etc before seeking approval at the parliament.
Nigeria needs a mindset shift, but it is not just for the politicians, I must note. Yes, the citizens who vote today, hoping to shout tomorrow, despite knowing the political players they are giving power to.
Nigeria’s democracy is weakening: all executives know that they can spend and get approvals later from the legislatures because it is now a job, not a service. If you do not play along, you can suddenly have a court case opened for you.
The controversial presidential yatch has been met with public outrage as Nigerians have criticized the plan as a waste of money on luxuries considering the economic situation in the country.
President Tinubu had tabled a supplementary budget in the National Assembly for approval, with the planned purchase of the yacht listed under the Nigerian Navy’s proposed capital expenditure of $53 million.
Meanwhile, the presidency has claimed the item named ‘Presidential Yacht, as found in the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill, is not for Tinubu’s personal use.
The presidency said the naval boat bears such a classification “because of the high-level security features.”
“What was named as presidential yacht in the budget is an operational Naval boat with specialised security gadgets suitable for high-profile operational inspection and not for the use of the President.”
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement on Thursday.
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They did everything possible to explain away their criminality and malfeasance, but of course they know the sort of creatures they have as citizens, so they are not even bothered.
Impeachment proceedings ought to be opened immediately, but when the ones saddled with such responsibility are weaker than the one they should be questioning, you can only expect a yawn.
While Abacha is still sending giveaway 25 years after, one of those who helped him with the looting is today a minister of the federal republic. But some still think that there are still grounds to be holding meaningful conversations.
Everywhere you turn to, you are seeing misfits and fraudsters, but let the pretense and delusion continue. When we are done sinking the ground will cover our heads, and we will be forgotten for good.