Taiwo Amodu and Kehinde Akintola
After the generalized accusations, both the Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives have denied that the bribes of $ 30,000 and $ 5,000 shared to the senators and the members of the representatives, respectively, to ensure their acceptance for the support of the proclamation of President Bola Tinubu of an emergency state and appoint Rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in rivers in the state of rivers in rivers State of Rivers in Rivers in the state of Rivers in the state of Rivers in Rivers in the state of Rivers in Rivers in the state of Rivers.
The president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said that the session he had with the legislators on the eve of the Senate sitting to declare the fate of the state governor of Rivers Axed, Sim Fubara, was an IFTAR (which broke quickly) and not a meeting to distribute dollars.
Similarly, the vice president, media committee and public issues in the lower chamber, Hon. Philip Agbsese, who spoke during a media chat in Abuja, said the camera resolution was not for any pecuniary consideration as it alleges.
Sunday's checks revealed that the two legislative chambers through the vote of voice gave legislative approval to the emergency proclamation.
The president of the Senate, according to a statement issued by his special advisor, media and advertising, Honéme Eyiboh said: “There has never been any reason to share money in such a solemn meeting and money was not shared in any currency.”
He attributed the speculation to those who called “the merchants of Blackmail Enterprise to add flavor to their subsistent hate and malice campaign.”
Eyibah said in the statement that: “My attention has been called the attention of a story in circulation accredited to a press release that I issued. To avoid doubts, I want to declare like this:
“That, I have not issued or issued any press release in relation to the IFTAR (fasting breakdown) organized by Senator Godswill Akpabio
“That, it is true, a newspaper correspondent called me on the phone to confirm or give up the rumor of sharing dollars during the rupture of the fasting.
“That it is true that I confirmed the IFTAR meeting and also affirmed that the president of the Senate has always received his colleagues from both religious religions in each season of spiritual rebirth.
“That, there has never been any reason to share money at such a solemn meeting and money was not shared in any currency. I have vehemently denied this spurious rumor of sharing money. The rumor itself is sold by the merchants of Blackmail Enterprise to add flavor to their hate and malice campaign.
“This is to correct each record and clarify each wrong information that arises from it.”
Along the same lines, the vice president of the Media and Public Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Agbsese, said that the Chamber members were not induced with $ 5,000 to ratify the request of President Tinubu.
On the controversy over quorum, Hon. Agbsese said the Chamber satisfied the constitutional requirement of the quorum with 243 members who attended during the year.
The legislator of Benue, who described the accusation as false, malicious and emanates from the “well of hell”, argued that the position of the house was based on patriotism and the interest of restoring lasting peace to the state of Rivers.
He said: “The accusation that the members of the House of Representatives were induced with $ 5,000 to approve a resolution is unfair to the Parliament. Very unfair for Parliament.
“What we did on Thursday was to align ourselves with what we called the wisdom of King Solomon.
“All the insinuations that any individual received money to give the members is nothing more than lies of the pit of hell.
“The opposition should see the good things we are doing day and night to the country.
“At no time the members of the Chamber participated in any financial incentive in relation to the state of the emergency declaration.
“The decision was made after the extensive deliberations on security and the political situation in the state of Rivers, in line with our constitutional responsibilities to safeguard national stability.
“Any suggestion that legislators were bribed is pure fiction, designed to serve the interests of those who seek to distort facts and create unnecessary tension in the country.
“The House of Representatives remains an independent institution guided by democratic principles, the rule of law and the collective will of the Nigerian people.
“Our duty is to make decisions that are aligned with the national interest, do not succumb to foundation distractions aimed at eroding public trust.
NGF is still not partisan in recent political developments “Shittu
Meanwhile, the General Director of the Forum of Governors of Nigeria (NGF), Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, reiterated on Saturday the neutrality of the forum on the subject that bothers in some recent political developments in the country that can alienate their members with different political interests.
Dr. Shittu's statement entitled 'NGF clarifies silence on political matters' is approaching the statement of emergency in the state of Rivers by President Tinubu.
He reiterated the forum commitment to promote governance and general policy issues of deep consequences, such as salaries, taxes, education and universal medical care, among others.
He said: “The forum wishes to clarify that it is a general body for subnational governments to promote unified policies and collaborate with relevant interested parties in search of sustainable socioeconomic growth and the well -being of people.
“As a technical and policy center that includes governors chosen on different platforms, the body chooses to avoid taking positions that can alien members with various political interests.
“In any language that is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a bad sense of history, only a few years after the forum survived a fundamental division after political differences between its members.
“Anyway, the forum is reputed to its bold positions on governance and general policies of deep consequences, such as salaries, taxes, education and universal medical care, among others.
“We ask for the understanding of the public and the media, sure that appropriate platforms and crisis management mechanisms would be in charge of such problems.”
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