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
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