Garba Shehu: Buhari’s Children Have Right To Use Presidential Jet

The Presidency, yesterday , declared that there was nothing wrong in President Muhammadu Buhari’ s last daughter , Hanan , flying the presidential jet , having been given the all - clear by the National Security Adviser (NSA ), Major General Babagana Mongonu (rtd ) .

Miss Buhari ’ s visit to Bauchi on the

Presidential jet had triggered a Twitter storm , with most Nigerians condemning the use of the Nigerian Air Force craft for “ personal use” and questioning Buhari’ s integrity.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) has said that President Muhammadu Buhari directly abused his office and exhibited the worst form of corruption by detailing the officially restricted presidential jet to chauffeur his daughter , for a private photography event . The party described the action as “ provocative , condemnable , completely improper and an unpardonable slap on the sensibilities of millions of Nigerians , particularly , the youths , who look up to Mr . President for integrity,

uprightness and respect for rules .

Read More: Senator Adeyeye: Buhari Has No Choice But To Leave In 2023

But, the Presidency defended the development via the Presidential spokesman , Garba Shehu. Shehu, a Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity , told The Guardian that the President ’ s daughter , a member of the First Family , belonged to the group of special Nigerians entitled to fly the jet .

He said : “ It ’ s true that a member of the First Family was flown to Bauchi , Thursday, on a mission duly authorised . There is nothing wrong there. It wasn ’ t an impromptu or improper trip , as it followed normal procedure … “ The normal practice , in existence for a long time , is that the Presidential Air fleet is available to the President and the First Family and four others . These four are the Vice President , the Senate President , the Speaker and any other person( s ) so permitted by the

President …”

Buhari’ s last daughter , Hanan Muhammadu Buhari upon arrival at the Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa International Airport , was picked up in a convoy of about 15 vehicles heading to the Government House. Bauchi Emirate , in a colourful display , had reeled out its cultural architecture for the President ’ s daughter ’ s photography project . The Head of research in the Palace of Dr.

Rilwanu Adamu Suleiman, Alhaji Ado Dan Rimi ( Wakilin Tarihi ) said Hanan was in the state for a personal visit .

Ado , who conducted and organised the

emergency cultural display , said Hanan was in the Palace for her photography project after her graduation from a London university . In 2019 , the President ’ s daughter was said to have graduated with a first class in photography from Ravensbourne University , London and was said to be writing her project on Northern culture .

He said : “ She is undertaking her project , while focusing on our cultural Durbar . She requested for three horses, but we prepared 12 well - decorated horses for her. I was part of those that conducted her round in horse racing and dancing, while she was taking pictures of the event organised within the Palace . “ Though the Durbar is an occasional event done a day after Sallah every year, the Emir can order for its display for a very important persons, and you know President Buhari’ s

daughter is also an important person. ”

Hanan was said to have selected three northern states of Bauchi , Kano and Katsina as her scope of study . She left shortly after her assignment .

The PDP, in a statement , yesterday held

that the development is a strong pointer to the recklessness that pervades the Buhari

Presidency, and the indefensible annexation ofvthe national assets and resources for illegal private use.

According to the party : “ It is even most

appalling that instead of apologising to

Nigerians , the Buhari Presidency, in its

arrogance , is resorting to falsehood and trying to justify the inexcusable . “ Our party holds that Mr . President should

apologise for approving that his daughter uses the presidential jet just for the purpose of allegedly taking photographs in a Durbar event in Bauchi State . “ Perhaps, the Buhari Presidency forgot that it is

public knowledge that the Presidential fleet can only be authorised for use by the President , the First Lady , Vice President , Senate President , Speaker of the House of Representatives , the Chief Justice of Nigeria , former Presidents, Presidential delegation and no one else , ” the statement added .