Godswill Akpabio, minister of Niger Delta affairs, says he
did not accuse members of the national assembly of benefiting from contracts
awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
But this is a departure from a claim he made in July.
While appearing before a house of representatives committee
probing an alleged mismanagement of N81.5 billion by the commission, the
minister said national assembly members were the biggest beneficiaries of
contracts awarded by the commission.
Thereafter, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of
representatives, charged him to name the lawmakers or face the “wrath of the
house”.
The former senate minority leader went on to name Peter
Nwaoboshi, chairman of the senate committee on NDDC, Matthew Urhoghide, senate
committee chairman on public accounts, and James Manager, senator representing
Delta south, as some of the beneficiaries.
They have all denied any wrongdoing.
Speaking with journalists after meeting with Olatunde Ojo,
acting clerk of the national assembly on Tuesday, Akpabio said Gbajabiamila
only wanted to know whether there was “undue influence” from the federal
lawmakers.
“No, you are wrong. That was not what the speaker demanded,”
the minister said while fielding questions from journalists.
“The speaker wanted to know whether there was undue
influence from any section of the national assembly in respect of contracts in
the NDDC. He did not say whether they were contractors, so I am hearing this
from you.”
Akpabio said he would be back to the assembly as soon as the
lawmakers return from their recess.
“This is like homecoming and the national assembly ought to
have resumed today (Tuesday). They postponed it, so I intended that as soon as
the resumption takes place, I am here.
“It is part of my effort to support the president’s decision
that there must be a much more cordial relationship between the executive and
legislature.
“In fact, the president recently set up a tripartite
committee made up of the party (APC), the national assembly and the executive
to ensure oneness because we are running one government.”
The former minority leader said the current government wants
to leave a legacy for Nigerians, adding that “we cannot do this if all the arms
of government are not cooperating”.
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