Presidential Profligacy and Budget
2016
“Corruption
destroys nations and its workforce, reduces productivity, hinders development,
worsens poverty, marginalizes the poor, and hence it becomes a human rights issue…” - Carol Ajie Blog
post in June 2014
When President Buhari rode to power on
the crest of a Spartan lifestyle, anti-corruption activism was and still is a
lofty goal, achievable. Surprisingly, after he was sworn-in, Buhari no longer
practices what he preached. Seven months after he took the Oath of office and
the Oath of allegiance on 29th May, 2015 and against the principles
of transparency and accountability President Buhari has declined to disclose
sums he said he recovered from Nigeria’s treasury looters and projects he
intends to fund with his mentor Dictator Abacha’s loot returned.
Furthermore,
President Buhari’s failure to downsize excessive presidential fleet; and his prodigious
spending of N1.8Billion monthly on maintenance costs for 11 aircraft viz
Falcon 7X Jets, Falcon 900, Gulfstream 550, Boeing 737 BBJ, Gulfstream IVSP,
Gulfstream V etc., majority of Nigerians live in squalor in the cruel face of
splendor when the lives of IDPs could be transformed with as little as 10% of
the monthly air fleet maintenance costs. What does it cost President Buhari to
provide modest housing for poor? Personal sacrifice!
Shocking extravagance displayed in 2016
budget presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on 22nd
Dec., 2015 exceeds President Jonathan’s profligate regime. Buhari’s frugal
inclinations suddenly disappears. Scrutinized by the media including a media outlet
controlled by a lead stalwart of the ruling political party, the Nation, Punch
newspapers and others, Buhari’s budget proposal 2016 is indicative of a regime
not prepared for prudence and inglorious willingness for prodigal spending.
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