Nigeria
Senate on Wednesday went rowdy over alleged disbursement of social intervention
funds to members of APC throughout the country by the federal government.
Senator
Biodun Olujimi representing Ekiti South Senatorial district accused the federal
government of disbursing free money to citizens loyal to the ruling All
Progressives Congress, APC, for political reasons.
Speaking
through order 42 of the Senate rules on Wednesday, the minority leader while
displaying a sample of forms for funds disbursement explained that the form,
“carries PVC number and a designated Customers’ account number with Access
Bank”.
Olujimi’s
explanation generated abrupt pandemonium at the background with the Senate
President having a hectic day controlling the noise.
Raising a
point of order, Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi East) insisted that those arguing in
favour of the motion should be allowed by the Senate President, noting that it
was a norm in the Senate.
Immediately,
the Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan amid tumultuous noise explained that the
intervention funds disbursement was for everyone, adding that it was
successful.
At a point,
the Senate leader became uncoordinated, but managed to speak despite
interruptions from Senators who do not have the floor to speak.
“Let me say
from the onset that the social intervention of this present administration is
computer-based, and very transparent.
“For the
first time in the history of this country, you will see where the programme
covers all nook and cranny of the country.
Senator
Albert Akpan interjected, saying while speaking on Order 49 and 55(2) of Senate
rules, he insisted on proposing a motion before debates, saying the Senate
President has disallowed the process of plenary, but the Senate President
calmed lawmakers, noting that the matter should not be looked at from
partisanship.
Again, Ahmed
Lawan said: “Mr. President, this chamber is not our chamber, it belongs to the
people and we must listen to them.
“We have a
country that inherited poverty, we have a country where its resources were
squandered completely in the last 16 years.”
“Remember
how funds allocated to Sure-P was stolen. I want to convince everybody here
that what we have here is not a matter that we should fight.
“I want to
suggest that the minority leader should surrender the document where a
non-partisan committee would investigate, I so submit.”
The Senate
President, while insisting that the matter be debated further ruled that a
committee be set in motion to investigate the allegations.
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