- Says it is another waste of public funds for partisan political interests and exposure military personnel “to undue political influences”
The Obi-Datti Campaign Organisation on Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately stop the Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his running mate Kashim Shettima and their wives from using any of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) jets under the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) for their campaign visits and tours.
A statement by the Obi-Datti Media Office frowned at the use of a Jet by the APC Presidential Women Campaign Team led by the wife of the APC Presidential candidate Sen Oluremi Tinubu and Vice Presidential candidate Hajiya Nana Shettima when they arrived Makurdi, Capital of Benue State to commiserate with flood victims on Monday.
The Obi-Datti group raised alarm that “this is another waste of public funds for pursuit of partisan political interests and open exposure of our men and women in uniform to undue political influences.”
The campaign noted that since “NAF aircrafts are maintained with scarce resources,” it means that “the federal government is using borrowed money to fund the campaign activities of the APC Presidential candidate.”
The full statement reads: “The APC Presidential Women Campaign Team led by the wife of the APC Presidential candidate Sen Oluremi Tinubu and Vice Presidential candidate Hajiya Nana Shettima arrived Makurdi, Capital of Benue State to commiserate with flood victims.
“Since their husbands – Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC Presidential candidate and Kashim Shettima have ruled themselves unsympathetic enough to embark on the Humanitarian Tour, it is left to their wives to cover their shame.
Coming almost one week after Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi suspended his campaign to kickstart the first ever Humanitarian Tour by any of the Presidential candidates, it’s a reminder that good things are worthy to be copied.
“But what is disturbing is that both Tinubu and Shettima’s wives are campaigning with Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) aircraft under the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) pilots and crew.
“This is another waste of public funds for pursuit of partisan political interests and open exposure of our men and women in uniform to undue political influences.
“The Obi-Datti campaign organisation calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the Presidential Air Fleet from using NAF operated aircraft for campaign activities. These NAF aircrafts are maintained with scarce resources and in this case, the federal government is using borrowed money to fund the campaign activities of the APC Presidential candidate.
“No aircraft in the inventory of NAF or any of the agencies of the Federal government should be involved in partisan political trips or activities.
“This must stop. Henceforth, The Presidency, which controls the PAF office should live up to its responsibilities and ensure that these aircraft are used only for enhancing governance and not openly supporting a particular Presidential candidate and party.”
