The office of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has issued the statement below to respond to an exclusive story by PREMIUM TIMES, that Mr Saraki has taken delivery of new cars, worth over N300million.


Read full statement below.

“Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has said only his official vehicle, a MercedezBenz, was changed and that the spare car in the convoy is the old one he inherited and has been using since he assumed office June last year.

“Reacting to the claim by Premium Times that the Senate President has taken delivery of vehicles worth N330m, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Special Adviser, stated that it was wrong for Premium Times to classify vehicles provided for security agencies like the police and State Security Service by the National Assembly management for their operations as vehicles bought for the Senate President.

“It is an obvious fact that the official and spare cars that the Senate President inherited and has been using are old and have been malfunctioning. There are instances like the day Dr. Saraki visited Keffi for the marriage of the daughter of Senator Abdullahi Adamu and another day at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport that the spare vehicle broke down. In both instances, the spare vehicle did not return home with the convoy. The same vehicle had malfunctioned at the Presidential Villa and National Mosque on different occasions. It is for this reason that the Senate President approved that instead of providing two vehicles for him as he is entitled, only one should be bought to replace the official vehicle while the old official car should be converted to spare car.

“Also, if the National Assembly Management chose to provide operational vehicles for Security Agencies, should that be presented as if they are personal or official vehicles meant for the use of Dr. Saraki? These are vehicles that cannot be used for other purposes and by other people. The Senate President also have no control over the security vehicles.

“it is also surprising that despite the fact that Premium Times in the same story reported that the order for the vehicle was made in December, it chose to calculate the value of the vehicles based on current exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar. This is obviously a mischief aimed at making the figure look huge and justify the screaming headline.


“The press should avoid deliberately inciting members of the public against public officials. The Senate President and his colleagues are conscious of the economic situation in the country and will continue to act responsibly and responsively.

“Just last week, Dr. Saraki was informed that the Ministry of FCT in its 2016 budget proposed a N6 billion estimate for the construction of the official residence of the Senate President. He outrightly rejected the proposal and directed Senator Dino Melaye, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT to bring down the cost to one billion Naira. He said that it should be made known to the Ministry that if it cannot construct the building with N1 billion then they should leave out the project entirely till after his tenure. He said he will rather stay in his present abode. Senator Melaye had already acted as instructed as indicated in the report his committee presented to the Appropriation Committee.

“It should therefore be noted that if Dr. Saraki can demonstrate frugality and responsible leadership in a matter that saved the country so much money, how can it then be presented as if purchase of cars is a big issue that he cares so much about? Those who know the antecedent of the Senate President know that there is no type of vehicle that can excite him at this stage in his life”, Olaniyonu stated.
Signed
Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/199170-convoy-deserves-new-cars-saraki.html

Everyone has something to say even criminals





Cheeeeers

Ok

How can the spare car be malfunctioning upon the millions allocated for maintenance every year. Abegi park well.

Crazy country. to imagine this is happening under the watch of our saint and supreme leader BuharI is preposterous.

Saraki, May Thunder Fire And Scatter Your Soul!

It Shall Never Be Well With People Around You...

What sort of lies are these. If the Spare Card are malfunctioning, can't they be fixed?
Or is it that Cars meant for the NASS have been banned from repairs?

chubhiee:
[s]Crazy country. to imagine this is happening under the watch of our saint and supreme leader BuharI is preposterous.[/s]

IPOB Charlatan..Should Buhari Intervenes Now In Prosecuting Saraki, People Like You and Other Senseless IPOB Youths Will Be The First To Line The Streets and Cry Witch Hunting On His Behalf!


****

Okay, qwantinu

This is pure madness from a disgruntled element as Saraki.....its very strange and ludicrous for Saraki to lay claim to "buying cars for his convoy" when he is yet to carry out at least one of his oversight functions and besides, he is leaving that seat come March 10.

lalasticlala see the nonsense defence, this Useless Saraki is Putting Up here...

chei!
Saraki the 'legal thief'
somebody should please send this man to jail na..

NgeneUkwenu:
Saraki, May Thunder Fire And Scatter Your Soul!

It Shall Never Be Well With People Around You...

Your pants are on fire.

patiently waiting for cct to their work.

See the response he gave as if he is addressing dummies.

Whatever happened to buying made in Nigeria?? It is their turn now, they prefer "abroad made", and they force the populace to patronise Nigerian made.

yeye dey ooze.

Last2comment:
How can the spare car be malfunctioning upon the millions allocated for maintenance every year. Abegi park well.

A million dollar question. There's absolutely no responsibility whatsoever within government circles

EFCC on his bonnet

NgeneUkwenu:


So Thief Saraki, The Problem to you, is exchange rate and not the Pain you are cursing Nigerians by your insatiable quest for ill gotten wealth?

What about the pain Buhari and Apc are causing Nigerians by playing possum with the battered and crippled economy?

Tell US what has worked since Apc and Buhari took over? bloody Pharisee!

NgeneUkwenu:
Saraki, May Thunder Fire And Scatter Your Soul!

It Shall Never Be Well With People Around You...

r u a man or a woman, clarify this thing so I knw which club to tek u to.

A brand new car will last a minimum of 10 good years before a major problem occurs if properly maintained. Telling us vehicles of 3years plus is beyond repair is another cock and bull story from the senate president. we aren't dummies and most of us drive. An average nigerian buys a 10yr old tokunbo and still rocks the car for another 5 to 7years before wear and tear on the car. We are talking about mecerdes benz that has a fantastic reputation for durability when maintained properly. march 10 is on my mind

so no provision for security personnel attached to the NA mobility by the respective agency head? Na wao. am not sure devil is this devilish except he is also a Nigerian politician or security personnel. Those 2groups are chronic liers, you hardly know the truthful ones amongst them.
Can't wait for breaking news on how bomb blast took place in the NA during plenary.

Last2comment:
How can the spare car be malfunctioning upon the millions allocated for maintenance every year. Abegi park well.

God bless you oh i tire oh we are not all stupid like people in kwara state oh please try another believable excuse please start again.

This is the kind madness and waste that he is used too, as long as he is living large everybody else can go and die.

I am yet to see a common sense law passed since he became president of the Senate.

But it's unfortunately that saraki life will not use these car

I don't care if he has 30 cars oo..I just want to know why he didn't buy Innoson or is he no longer interested in buying Naija to grow the Naira?


All these our leaders will say tell us something and do the exact opposite....Rubbish

NgeneUkwenu:
Saraki, May Thunder Fire And Scatter Your Soul!

It Shall Never Be Well With People Around You...

Do you work for Tinubu?

Saraki!!!!!!!

chubhiee:
Crazy country. to imagine this is happening under the watch of our saint and supreme leader BuharI is preposterous.

I'm sorry did you read what you just typed ?? So in democracy does executive arm of government have any control over what the Legislative does ??

the same you would have called the President a tyrant if he has bent the rules and stop them from getting those freedom.

Stop typing before you think mate

NgeneUkwenu:


IPOB Charlatan..Should Buhari Intervenes Now In Prosecuting Saraki, People Like You and Other Senseless IPOB Youths Will Be The First To Line The Streets and Cry Witch Hunting On His Behalf!


Ndi Ara!

Wailer like you... accept it.. buhAIR is incompetent. .. see mind blowing embezzlement under his nose...
And may God punish dat Saraki... Awon ole