In a recent statement, former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has issued a warning to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, as reported by DAILY POST.
Frank cautioned Akpabio against provoking a Kenyan-style uprising through his recent comments.
In a statement released on Monday, Frank reacted to Akpabio’s statements about the parliament's anticipatory approval for President Bola Tinubu's new presidential aircraft.
The aircraft is worth billions of Naira.
Frank underlined the role of the parliament and accused Akpabio of derailing from this role by encouraging the executive on spending, despite the economic challenges faced by taxpayers.
Frank criticized Akpabio's approach and added that Akpabio's behavior goes against Nigerians interest and mocks the National Assembly.
He stressed the need for Akpabio to respect his constitutional role and go through money bills diligently.
Frank also highlighted the issue of the age of the aircraft and questioned the allocation of about N214 billion for the maintenance of the Presidential Fleet from 1999 till date.
Frank wondered why Akpabio didn’t investigate the spending of the N214 billion.
He suggested selling some of the existing aircraft to reduce the cost of buying new ones.
He warned Akpabio to be mindful of uprisings like those in Senegal and Kenya.
Frank noted the election of a youthful opposition in Senegal and the ongoing protests in Kenya, where youths invaded the parliament.
He stressed the importance of avoiding actions that could lead to similar unrest in Nigeria.
“Akpabio can choose to be President Bola Tinubu’s cheerleader, praise singer and errand boy but he must not reduce the National Assembly to an organ extending anticipatory approvals for requests yet to be made by the executive and justifying the same."
”So the question is, what happened to the about N214 billion allocated in annual budgets for maintenance of the Presidential Fleet from 1999 till date?"
“Above all, he must be mindful of the uprising in Senegal that led to the election of 44 years youthful opposition, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the ongoing one in Kenya where the youths invaded the parliament to stop lawmakers from considering an anti-people Finance Bill and the attendant killings of scores by security forces which has sparked a call for President William Ruto’s resignation despite his hasty withdrawal of the Bill,” he said.