The determination of the Senate to forge ahead with the purchase of foreign branded exotic vehicles at the cost of N4.7 billion was, yesterday, being flayed by a cross section of Nigerians who levelled allegations ranging from irresponsibility to hypocrisy on the lawmakers.
In furtherance of their goal, two of the exotic cars, the first of 120 budgeted at N4.7 billion, were received by the Senate despite assertions that the transaction violated the provisions of the monetisation scheme in which vehicles were provided as car loan advances to the lawmakers last August.
The desperation of the lawmakers to forge ahead with the transaction in the face of dwindling foreign reserves that has led to the depreciation of the naira in the parallel market has also shocked many Nigerians.
One of the Senate’s known faces, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, had recently purchased two Nigerian branded vehicles made by Innoson Motors with a promise to purchase the armour plated cars being rolled out from the company’s Nnewi, Anambra State manufacturing plant.
Besides the huge amount of foreign exchange that will flow out of the country through the purchase handled by Lanre Shittu Motors Limited, the transaction, if locally sourced, was believed could have helped sustain a number of jobs in Nigeria.
Senator Ibrahim Gobir, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Senate Services, the committee which handled the purchase, could not speak on the issue as an appointment on the issue failed at the last minute.
The lawmakers had after collecting car loans amounting to 300 per cent of their annual salary, last August, gone ahead to insist on procuring 2016 Toyota Prado SUVs for each senator supposedly in the guise of being purchased for committee work.
It is totally irresponsible—Sagay
Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) described the action of the lawmakers as an irresponsible act.
Sagay said: “They do not need imported cars. They already have cars but all they need are pool vehicles. In other words, if they are going about doing their committee work, do they go individually or they go about in groups? That is the question. For me, what they have done is an irresponsible determination to acquire expensive toys at the expense of this country. At a time when our economy is in the doldrums, we cannot afford it, but these people are determined to extract the last blood from the body of this country in order to enjoy the luxury which they cannot fund but which they want the poor people of this country to fund for them.”
He added that “for me, it is totally irresponsible and like I remarked, it just confirms my view that they are not fit to be legislators, they are exhibiting the mentality of someone who is deprived and determined to enjoy an unnecessary luxury at the expense of the country. So, it is a big shame.”
Innoson brand should have been patronised—Tsav
Also speaking, a retired Police Commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav said: “I don’t think the pattern of allowing people to go with their official cars is right. There should be a life span attached to such vehicles that were procured with public funds so that the country will not be spending money quite often on cars.
“However, it is sad that now that people are suffering as a result of the present economic crisis, our lawmakers are taking huge money abroad to buy exotic official cars. I think our lawmakers should be servants of the people and not to be served by the people. It is wrong to take delivery of the cars when we have the Inosson brand, which I believe can boost the economy if supported”, Tsav said.
Nigerian Senators are lawbreakers — Mohammed
In his reaction, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed described the Senate and its leadership as law breakers.
He said: “I can say with all sense of responsibility that there is a kind of hate relationship between the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, Dogara against the people of this country if not, they would not have been engaged in any frivolous spending at this time knowing fully well what the economic reality of the country is right now.
“These two ambitious people have come to do what they planned to do which is rubbish the institutions, rubbish the government and engage in frivolous payments and spending.”
He said further: “Nigerians need to rise and confront them else we will know no peace in this country and what we regard as democracy will be a mirage. Also, Mr President must be ready to confront the National Assembly leadership over these issues.”
