SUV Saga: Bello El-Rufai reveals why he rejected luxury cars offered to lawmakers

Bello El-Rufai, a member of the Federal House of Representatives and son of the former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has revealed the reason he refused the SUV that was reportedly given to all lawmakers in 2023.

He made this known for the first time in a no-holds-barred interview with popular journalist, Seun Okinbaloye.

Recall the controversy generated after lawmakers last year in November approved the government's first supplementary budget which included a huge allocation for SUVs and houses for the president, his wife and other public officials.

The National Assembly recently confirmed that more than 460 federal lawmakers will each get SUVs — reportedly worth more than $150,000 each — which, they said, would enable them to do their work better, AFP reports.

In that budget that was presented to the lawmakers, the government allocated about $38 million for the presidential air fleet, vehicles and for renovation of residential quarters for the office of the president, the vice-president, and the president’s wife — even though her office is not recognized by the country’s constitution.

Bello El-Rufai, a lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the 10th National Assembly, has disclosed that some of his colleagues, himself included, refused to accept the SUV.

One of the reasons he pointed out for rejecting the offer at the time was the heavy criticisms from Nigerians with citizens calling out the legislators for being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians amid the economic crisis. Another reason he gave for rejecting the offer was that he was "born into privilege" and he owned an SUV before he even stepped into politics.

"None of us took those SUVs, for the kind insult wey we chop. Why would I take an SUV, Seun? You just said I am a son of privilege. I have had an SUV since working with Huawei," he said.