N250m Gatehouse: Presidency Breaks Silence On Osinbajo’s New Residence
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo[/caption]
The Presidency on Sunday spoke out on the proposed new residence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, including its controversial ‘N250 million’ gatehouse which raised concerns from different corners.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, the Presidency stated that the project is an initiative of the past administration and not contained in the 2016 and 2017 budget.
The statement further described as “misleading and blatantly false” suggestions that the project is of the current administration, adding that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has made it clear that he is satisfied with his current residence.
Advertisement
It will be recalled that contrary to this claim by the Presidency, it was widely reported that the proposed new residence of the Vice President including a N250 million gatehouse was contained in the 2017 Budget proposals presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2016.
The senator representing Bayelsa east constituency, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce had earlier in the month raised concerns over the huge sum budgeted for the Vice President’s gate house.
With a minimum wage of ₦18,000 the ₦250 million budgeted for the Vice President’s gatehouse can pay the salaries of 13,888 Nigerians!
— Ben Murray-Bruce (@benmurraybruce) February”>https://twitter.com/benmurraybruce/status/828846193581182976″>February 7, 2017
The statement reads: “For the umpteenth time, we like to clarify that the proposed plan of the immediate past administration to build a new official residence for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial gatehouse preceded this administration.
“The project which started in 2010, was initiated and funded by the immediate past administration, but had never featured in the two budget proposals of the Buhari administration: neither in the 2016 nor the 2017 spending plans.
“Any suggestion therefore that this project benefits our administration or that it reflects our spending style or preferences is not only misleading but blatantly false.
“Besides, the incumbent Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said publicly that he considers Aguda House, which he currently occupies, a befitting official residence for the Vice President and sufficient for his needs.
“While the project is now about 85% complete, the Federal Government, in the circumstances, will decide at the appropriate time what is the best use for the 14 buildings already on the project site.”
