Flying in A Presidential Jet: Hanan , Daughter of President Muhammad Buhari , an Inspiration to Nigeria - MURIC says
Amidst outrage over her usage of the presidential jet for a private event, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has described Hanan, daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari as an inspiration to Nigerian youths.
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Hanan, a photographer, was invited to the Durbar by the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, on Thursday, January 9, 2020.
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She is expected to document the event and other tourist attractions in the state in her gallery.
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Trouble, however, started when pictures of her disembarking from Nigerian Airforce One private aircraft hit the internet.
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The President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives use presidential jets, maintained with taxpayer's money, for official duties.
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But in a statement on Monday, January 13, 2020, MURIC director, Ishaq Akintola, argued that Hanan passed a "strong message" to the Nigerian girl-child by covering the Durbar.
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The statement reads: “How private is private? Are we saying that the traditional institution is inconsequential?
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What happened to our respect for our norms and values? Are we to assume that our system no longer recognises the traditional institution? If so, why do governors still appoint emirs, obis and obas? If the law of the land still recognises traditional rulers, Hanan’s invitation to Bauchi cannot be rightly described as a private affair.
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“Besides, that function passed a strong message to Nigerian youths, especially the Nigerian girl-child. It poses a challenge to them to eschew laziness.
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“President Buhari should not be guillotined for permitting her daughter’s use of the jet. Afterall, it was not for any frivolous jamboree like shopping in Dubai. We may want to ignore the excesses of past landlords of Aso Rock to justify PMB’s action.
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“It amounts to overzealouness on the part of critics to grab every little straw and make mountains out of mole hills. “They are simply trying to draw the attention of Nigerians away from PMB’s monumental achievements simply because they were merely looking for the president’s faults.”
The Presidency had on Saturday, argued that the children of the President had the right to use the Presidential jet for private engagements.
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However, some anti-corruption advocates described it as an abuse of power even as they pointed to the fact that the N8.5bn budget for the maintenance and running of the Presidential fleet was high.
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Findings show that the N8.5bn is equivalent to the combined Internally Generated Revenue of 17 States including Bauchi, Abia, Zamfara, Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Taraba, Yobe and Gombe in the first and second quarters of 2019.
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Hanan, who is a professional photographer, was said to have been given permission by her father to use the Presidential jet to attend the programme and cover the event as part of her Master’s Degree project.
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Hanan, who did her undergraduate project in Kebbi State, graduated with a First Class in Photography from Ravensbourne University, London a few months ago.
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.
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She is expected to document the event and other tourist attractions in the state in her gallery.
.
Trouble, however, started when pictures of her disembarking from Nigerian Airforce One private aircraft hit the internet.
.
The President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives use presidential jets, maintained with taxpayer's money, for official duties.
.
But in a statement on Monday, January 13, 2020, MURIC director, Ishaq Akintola, argued that Hanan passed a "strong message" to the Nigerian girl-child by covering the Durbar.
.
The statement reads: “How private is private? Are we saying that the traditional institution is inconsequential?
.
What happened to our respect for our norms and values? Are we to assume that our system no longer recognises the traditional institution? If so, why do governors still appoint emirs, obis and obas? If the law of the land still recognises traditional rulers, Hanan’s invitation to Bauchi cannot be rightly described as a private affair.
.
“Besides, that function passed a strong message to Nigerian youths, especially the Nigerian girl-child. It poses a challenge to them to eschew laziness.
.
“President Buhari should not be guillotined for permitting her daughter’s use of the jet. Afterall, it was not for any frivolous jamboree like shopping in Dubai. We may want to ignore the excesses of past landlords of Aso Rock to justify PMB’s action.
.
“It amounts to overzealouness on the part of critics to grab every little straw and make mountains out of mole hills. “They are simply trying to draw the attention of Nigerians away from PMB’s monumental achievements simply because they were merely looking for the president’s faults.”
The Presidency had on Saturday, argued that the children of the President had the right to use the Presidential jet for private engagements.
.
However, some anti-corruption advocates described it as an abuse of power even as they pointed to the fact that the N8.5bn budget for the maintenance and running of the Presidential fleet was high.
.
Findings show that the N8.5bn is equivalent to the combined Internally Generated Revenue of 17 States including Bauchi, Abia, Zamfara, Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Taraba, Yobe and Gombe in the first and second quarters of 2019.
.
Hanan, who is a professional photographer, was said to have been given permission by her father to use the Presidential jet to attend the programme and cover the event as part of her Master’s Degree project.
.
Hanan, who did her undergraduate project in Kebbi State, graduated with a First Class in Photography from Ravensbourne University, London a few months ago.
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