A former Governor of Edo State, Adam Oshiomhole, on Friday,
shed light on his political differences with a former governor of Imo State,
Owelle Rochas Okorocha, saying it was purely on issues of obeying the law and
nothing personal.
He also tackled former Senate Whip, Victor Oyofo, for
alluding that former governors go to the Senate to display opulence.
Oshiomhole stated these at the first Senator Ekpe Moriri
Lamai Memorial Lecture organised by Senator E. A Lamai Foundation where
Okorocha who was one of the panellists jokingly alleged that Oshiomhole was one
of the problems of Nigeria.
Okorocha had thanked God that Oshiomhole would be going to
the Senate to fix the problems.
Drama ensued thereafter as the comment did not go down well
with Oshiomhole
Oshiomhole said, “My brother (Rochas Okorocha) said I am the
problem of Nigeria and he is happy that I am going to the Senate. I will take
the last part. He is happy for me so he would organise a dinner in my honour.
There will also be a dinner to mark your exit. So as you are going, I am coming
in.
“When people say a small man like me because big people
think that mere reference to their size should not obey the law when a small
man is presiding.
“And when they say we are short, I hardly see what I am
short of. There is nothing anybody has that I don’t have. When they talk about
economies of scale, they don’t also forget to talk about dis-economics of
scale.”
Turning to Okorocha, he said, “So, my brother, my brother,
you know what caused our misunderstanding? You are my good friend until
tomorrow. It is just that for me, laws are meaningful when those who are
powerful are subjected to obey the law.
“So, sir, be rest assured, I appreciate you, I respect you
but you must learn to obey the law.
“Don’t look at my size, particularly, when I am obliged to
take an oath that I shall defend the constitution. Once we go out now, I am
going to hug you and I must insist you organise a dinner for my coming to the
Senate.”
Oshiomhole also responded to Oyofo who said governors retire
to the Senate to live a life of opulence
He said, “Nigeria was already on its way to Zimbabwe when
you have a life president. When President Obasanjo wanted to amend our
constitution, which should have been the beginning and the end, no gun was
shot, just the power of AIT and other media, covering the session life to the
credit of the National Assembly, shut down that third term bid.
“But the other thing with my big brother. My pension is
N1,250,0000. So when you talk of opulence and corruption is not something that
is restricted to the government. For every government official that is corrupt,
there are three, four, or five businessmen who are even much more corrupt. They
are the treasurers of public officers.
“So if my brother left the oil industry wealthy, and went to
the Senate to live in luxury, then why are you envious of me that left the
labour movement? One kobo gratuity I did not receive, even my official car, I
handed it over, because that is the rule of Nigeria Labour Congress. We used
the word struggle.
“So, why make a
sweeping generalisation about people living in wealth going to the Senate to
live in luxury? When I knew you as a Senator, I did not see you in luxury. I
thought you were working. Actually, that is what you told our people. It was
only today you said that the place is for luxury.”
But, Oyofo, in his response, said a Google search should be
made between himself and Oshiomhole to know who made money from the government.
He said, “Google my name and say what is the net worth of
Senator Oyofo, and they will tell you. In the same manner, Google the name of
Oshiomhole and say how much is he worth, and Google will tell you. Then, you
can approach the issue of defining corruption. So it is not about just standing
and making things look like a joke.
“The truth is that we are in the grip of corruption and
unless we stand up to it and admit it, we are going to pay dearly. It is not a
laughing matter or a joking matter. Anybody you know his name in Nigeria, ask
Google what his net worth is and search for the profession they belong to and
what they are doing whether they own a business. I worked for 30 years finding
oil for Nigeria.”
Oshiomhole continued, “But let me just say that what I have
enjoyed in all these conversations is the fact that we all agree that Nigeria
has to change, and the change must begin with each and every one of us because
senators are recruited from the larger society.”
Oyofo had earlier, in his opening remarks, advocated for
part-time legislators for the country, saying the cost of governance is
bloating every day.
The former Senate Chief whip of the Senate who chaired the
lecture quoted #openNass, which stated that in 2017 alone, the lawmaker cost
the taxpayers $54,000 each.
Oyofo, in his examination of how the country has performed
since the return to democracy in 1999, said, “To be successful in this
exercise, let us remember that the Romans began the Senate. It was a party’s
occupation, and citizens were also appointed into this chamber. Such were
appointed by the councils or magistrates, who, after serving their tenure, were
elected into the chamber.
“We adopted the presidential system coming from America, but
we do not have institutions that support the successful running of this
political experiment.
“Therefore, the legislative arm, which was supposed to check
the executives, and indeed its democratic arm, failed to mature or keep up to
its objectives. After more than 20 years, it has proved ineffective and
expensive.”
A former governor of Edo State, Oserhemen Osunbor, disagreed
with him, saying that it was not the budget of the National Assembly that was
responsible for the magnitude of the challenges confronting the country.
He stressed the importance of the Senate to democracy,
saying it was what gives the states equal representation.
Another panellist, Senator Abubakar Umar Gada, said the
problem is not the Senate but corruption, which has become endemic.
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