By Daniel Edu
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in response to the proposed purchase of a N5 billion presidential yacht by the federal government under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has strongly criticized the move, labeling it as a stark display of governmental irresponsibility.
The controversy arose after reports surfaced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the allocation of N5 billion for the acquisition of a presidential yacht, a decision met with widespread public outrage. The proposed amount was intended to be part of the capital expenditure of the Nigerian Navy’s budget, within the framework of the approved N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget.
Following the public outcry, the House of Representatives intervened by removing the contentious N5 billion from the presidential yacht and redirecting the funds to the Student Loan budget.
Addressing the issue at a press conference held in Abuja, PDP spokesman Debo Ologunagba expressed the party’s strong disapproval of the plan, denouncing it as a glaring lack of empathy towards the challenges faced by ordinary Nigerians. Ologunagba argued that given the country’s current economic hardships, such an extravagant expenditure was wholly inappropriate and demonstrated a disconnect between the government and the people.
Ologunagba further criticized President Tinubu, suggesting that he had been ill-advised on the matter and called for a more responsible approach to governance. He urged the National Assembly to reject the proposal, emphasizing the need for government officials to lead by example and prioritize the welfare of the citizens over personal indulgences. As an example, he pointed out the alleged misuse of presidential resources, citing an incident where the President’s son, Seyi, reportedly used a presidential jet to attend a polo game in Kano State, highlighting what he deemed a pattern of personal aggrandizement among government officials.
