After an initial denial by the General Manager, Corporate Communications of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Datti that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA, purchased two armoured BMW cars worth N255 million for the Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, her spokesman has come out to explain that indeed, the cars were purchased for the minister.
According to her Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Joel Obi, threats to Ms Oduah’s life over reforms in the aviation sector and the general insecurity in the country, led the Ministry to purchase the automobiles which cost tax payers a whopping N127. 575 million each.
Mr. Obi affirmed that when the minister came on board with her reforms, which included reversing some concessions and agreements that were not in the interest of the people and government of Nigeria, “a lot of entrenched interests felt that they had been dislocated from the sector. The minister began to receive series of threats to her life, but because of the general lack of security in the land, she did not want to raise an alarm but kept it quiet and then decided to protect herself. So those vehicles were purchased in response to the general state of security in the land and the personal threats to her life because of the giant steps she has taken to reposition the sector.”
He further added that several times, the minister had been trailed and that there were clear and present dangers to her life but they were averted or neutralised.
On the huge sums expended on the vehicles, Mr. Obi argued that they were special purpose vehicles, even as he noted that they were bought in the name of the Minister of Aviation and not in the name of Stella Oduah.
“Normally, you don’t buy one utility vehicle but you buy two at a time because you must have a back-up for public officials. The level of exposure which came with her job warranted the purchase of the vehicles. As a private citizen, she never had these vehicles,” he added.
It would be recalled that an online news portal, Saharareporters, had first broke the news to the world when it claimed that it had obtained documents which showed the paper trail of the transaction involving Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), First Bank and Coscharis Motors.
But Mr. Datti, in his denial of the report said it was all “rumours” suggesting that it was even politically motivated.
“I don’t respond to rumours… [and] as we approach 2015, people are bound to make up all sorts of stories,” he was quoted as saying just as he argued further that “This is a woman (Mrs. Oduah), who is successful and established. A woman that made her mark in oil and gas, who owned trucks, barges, and so on. What is two cars?”
-LEADERSHIP
Both datti and oduah must go,they proved themselves liars.Yan iska kawai.
There is nothing honorable about what the Honorable Minister of Aviation has done.That she even has the effontry to be justifying herself through her Media man is a shame. She is a disgrace to womanhood and should just resign.
We are looking for money to eat only food u pple are spending such amount of money for buying car to protect. Ur self ur life must surely west u blooded fools ?
The people are just cartoons. When she leaves office, will she take the vehicles along or leave them behind? If she performs her duties right, why would people be treatnen her life? Bunch of God-forgotten souls!
Jst imagine……255m jst 4 cars….nd dey can do anytin regards 2 ASUU….. Wat a shameful pple….i bet u, nemesis will catch up wit u soon….u tink u can protect urself by buyin cars worth such amnt…..jst watch behind u….ur shadow will always hunts u.
God Himself will punish her. Only God can safe her but she has chosen protection for herself puting public money to a waste. Let us see how far she will go on this.
ministers under jonathan are reckless in spending tax payers money and jonathan can not fire them just because the presidency and illegitimate office of the first lady all spend nigeria money like a deadly drunk fools
Uhn, this is what we call wickedness. A country where Bokohram is a threat to millions, they have no place to run to, but to just hope that where they are, they are save. A country where the most populace could not afford 3 square meal a day. A country bedridden in abject poverty, beggers on the street, living life without hope at all… Just taking one day at a time. A country where the educational sector is nothing to write home about, institutions on strike, lecturers fighting for their right; yet they receive it not.
The ordinary man could not sleep with two eyes closed, they just hope and pray the morning comes.
In the same country, heartless and selfish individuals parade themselves in wanton attitudes. A country where someone could spend such a huge amount of money on mundane things in the name of running under a bird nest. Well, the ordinary man should just rely and run into the rock of ages.
Nemesis may be slow, but is very fast to catch up with any man.
God Will Surely Judge.
this car-companies are co-conspirators,they’re conspiring with some visionless nigeria leaders to synphone money from our government,they refused to come and build their companies here,so that we can gain employment.,even when our government has endorsed their coming.
Its a pity,fed govt cannot meet up with ASUU demand,Minimum wage for public officers not effected since two years ago,people cant afford three square meal a day,no stable power supply,infact we are tired of this country and a minister is purchasing a millions of naira bullet proof vehicles .Pls o lord let ur will be done and fight for the masses
May God help us and lead us right in Nigeria. The money spent on cars is outrageous, it amounts to profligacy
pls how much is her salary?
Govt of liars! From the president down. LIARS!!!
God go purnish dis aviation minister in manifolds,God go purnish Yakubu Datti,and dose of d same mind like Joel Obi. U wil all suffer in agony for dis. Dis country is evn worthless for dis set of unscrupulous and shameless idiots dat we call our leaders. If one useless fellow tries dis kind of senseless act in some countries, she will be probed. But evrytin is free in Nigeria.
where will this way leading . you’re a foolish woman
what will ICPC AND EFCC WILL DO??????????????. WHAT WILL BE THE REACTION OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE SENATES.WHO WILL SAY SHE IS WRONG.WHAT PERCENTAGE THE MONEY 255M REPRESENT IN ASUU DEMAND.MAY GOD HELP NIGERIA
If all minister desides to tow the line of
If all minister, senators, Reps disides to tow the line of the aviation minister. The this country is finished. Please she needs to be thought a lesson
the simple problem with this country z dat every body mostly the leader are interested in good and betterment of them selves alone, can u imagine, she knw dat the security sector of this counrty z in danger instead of she contributing on wot good to do about it, she z busy spending such amout of money just to save only ha life, so that other will go and perish. may GOd intervain for the lower classes in this country nigeria.
Nigeria! Nigeria!! Nigeria!!! You need to be bereaved of these thoughtless leaders. Cheeeiiiii !!! N255m for 4 cars!!! When will this rape stop? One man is raping his mother and enjoying it. Another man is eating his children for dinner and enjoying it. Another man auctions his children’s tomorrow with one toll of the bell. I think Satan is a Nigerian. IGNORANCE is satan’s most preferred environment. that’s why ASUU is on strike and leaders are trotting the globe. What is education? An institution where you learn to become ignorant in Nigeria. God bless me.
i can remember very well that Dora Akiluyi,when she was in NAFDAC every1 saw that her life was in danger because she was working n very efficient and it never crossed her mind to buy such cars or mismanage funds.
So how many times has your life been threaten and also on what bases???