Jonathan responsible for new VP residence – Presidency

ACTING President Yemi Osinbajo has blamed the construction of a new Vice President’s official residence on the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

In a bid to deflect criticism on the project which is being considered wasteful in some quarters, the Presidency said in a statement on Sunday that Osinbajo has no need a new residence as Aguda House in which he presently resides is enough for his needs.

Signed by his spokesman, Laolu Akande, the statement pointed out that it was started by the previous administration in 2010 and had not been provided for in the budgets prepared by the present administration.

The Presidency added that even though the project is now about 85 per cent completed, government will decide what to do with it later.

The statement denied that the waste is a reflection of the spending habit of the present administration.

It read: “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 per cent 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.”