Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has condemned the purchase of luxury cars by members of the National Assembly, calling them the “biggest threat to our Democracy.”
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Ezekwesili’s reaction came after reports emerged that lawmakers had purchased 109 2023 model Toyota Land Cruisers for senators and 360 Toyota Prados for members of the House of Representatives, at a cost of over N100 million each.
In a statement on social media, Ezekwesili described the purchase as “insensitive” and “ludicrous.”
“I read the extremely ludicrous and duplicitous statement released by the Spokesman of the @HouseNGR on their insensitive purchase of 360 Toyota SUVs for themselves,” Ezekwesili wrote. “You all had the audacity to spend scarce public resources on luxury cars at a time majority of their citizens cannot feed, transport themselves, pay school fees and hospital bills due to cost of living crisis?”
Ezekwesili went on to say that the purchase of the cars was a sign that the lawmakers were out of touch with the needs of the people.
“At this stage, it is evident you want to continue with your serial bad behavior,” she wrote. “Since not even 1 of you fellows @nassnigeria @HouseNGR @NGRSenate saw the heartlessness of that decision to buy 360 new Toyota SUVs for yourselves at this time of severe economic distress of the citizens and country, please know that you all are the biggest threat to our Democracy.”
Ezekwesili added that the lawmakers would eventually be held accountable for their actions.
“And very soon too,” she wrote.
