Amid public scrutiny of the ostentatious lifestyles of Nigerian government officials, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to the Chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service, NRS Zack Adedeji frequently walks to his office from his Aso Rock residence.
Adedeji spoke on Channels Television programme Sunday Politics yesterday saying Tinubu is the most consequential leader since the country returned to democracy, praising some hard decisions taken by the administration to reset the nation’s economy.
The NRS boss also claimed that the president eats once a day, and hardly attends social events or parties, contrary to the suggestions that he and other officials of government are living in opulence in the midst of poverty in the country.
He also defended the purchase of a Cardillac Escalade vehicle by the government as one of the official vehicles for the president, saying Tinubu was not a poor man before he became Nigeria’s leader.
Tinubu only used the car when travelling to the airport, Adedeji said.
Not a few Nigerians insist that the purchase of expensive vehicles for the president and other government officials is very insensitive at a time many families are facing economic hardship, due to the belt tightening policies of the administration.
“Mr President goes from home to office on foot, not even driving except when he is going to the airport. I don’t know where you see the convoy,” Adedeji said.
His comments followed questions about the reported fleet of luxury vehicles attached to the President’s convoy, including Cadillac Escalades, amid widespread concerns over government expenditure and the economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
Adedeji appeared unimpressed by the criticism.
“How much is an Escalade that the president of Nigeria cannot afford? Please don’t embarrass this country,” he said.
But beyond the vehicles and presidential convoy, Adedeji sought to paint a picture of a President whose daily routine is dominated by work rather than luxury.
“What is living large?” he asked. “In the last months, he has not even left the shores of this country, trekking and working.”
According to him, Tinubu spends much of his time attending to official documents and government business.
“If you go there now, you will see him review one document or the other,” he added.
Perhaps the most striking part of Adedeji’s defence was his claim about the President’s eating habits.
“The president eats once in a day,” he said, while also pointing out that Tinubu had rarely been seen at parties since assuming office.
“How many parties have you seen him at in the last three years? Tell me where you have seen him, whether on holiday or anywhere?” Adedeji asked.
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