The Leadership Council of The Initiatives says there is
nothing special about the nomination of Festus Keyamo as minister that would
have warranted Senate President Godswill Akpabio to go to the villa because of
him.
The council is made of serving and former national assembly
members.
Last week, Akpabio was seen at Aso Rock shortly after a
rowdy session on the floor of the red chamber.
Chaos had ensued over a motion seeking to suspend the
screening of Keyamo as a ministerial nominee.
Darlington Nwokocha, senator representing Abia central, had
moved the motion when Keyamo appeared before the committee of the whole.
Nwokocha said Keyamo, former minister of state for labour,
ignored the summon of the national assembly in 2020 over the recruitment of
774,000 Nigerians for the special public works programme.
Addressing a press conference at the weekend, Eseme Eyiboh,
dean of the council and a former spokesperson of the house of representatives,
said Akpabio could have been at the villa for an already scheduled meeting.
“The issue of Keyamo,
I’m not speaking for the senate, but if you followed the process very well,
what took place was very fair,” Eyiboh said.
“They said they wanted to step down his confirmation hearing
and Keyamo tendered an apology and that apology was put to the senate whether
they had accepted or not.
“They unanimously accepted that apology.
“There is nothing very special about that particular nominee
that the senate president would have to go to the villa. It could have been
about the palliatives they are trying to put together (for Nigerians).
“Why did he not go to
the villa in respect of el-Rufai? He was one person whose confirmation hearing
was stepped down.
“Whether he went to the villa or not, there was nothing
special other than being at his post of duty – it could have been an earlier
scheduled appointment.”
‘MONEY RECEIVED BY
SENATORS A TOKEN’
Eyiboh said money gotten by senators to enjoy their recess was
only a token because they have not received their salaries since they were
inaugurated in June.
Akpabio found himself in an embarrassing situation after he
said money had been sent to senators to enjoy their recess.
“They have not taken their salary, the capital releases for
all MDAs were withheld so whatever is given to them, whether as salaries or
allowances – a worker deserves his wages,” Eyiboh said.
“If you allow a
senator to go on holiday… Oru for example has 18 LGAs in that entire district,
Eket where I come from has 12 LGAs. If a senator goes home this time (without
anything) you know what will happen to him.
“So that token was a representation of a gesture. If you are
entitled to your salary and you are not given the full salary and you get this
token, it is an intervention.”
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You all are playing with our intelligence,better shot up before you put yourself into trouble,there nothing like token inform of salary,
ReplyDeleteMoreover we are watching the movie as it unfolds