The
suspended member of the house of representatives, has rejected the
decision to buy 360 Peugeot cars for lawmakers, saying the cars should
have been spent on programmes that the masses would benefit from.
Abdulmumin Jibrin
In an official statement issued on Saturday, the suspended member
of the house of representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, faulted the decision
to buy 360 Peugeot cars for National Assembly lawmakers.
The influential APC politician who said he had dedcided to reject
the car, and called on his colleagues to do the same, adding that the
money used in buying the cars should have been spent on internally
displaced persons (IDPs) or programmes that the masses would benefit
from.
According to TheCable News, the lawmakers had earmarked N3.6
billion for 360 units of Peugeot 508 cars, and 28 units have reportedly
been delivered.
Jibrin alleged that Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house, intended
using the cars as a ploy to silence the lawmakers on the budget padding
controversies.
He said: “This colossal amount of money would have done so much
if deployed to our hospitals, schools, IDP camps, water supply, food
production, payment to local contractors and support programmes for
women, youth and students,” Jibrin said.
“The hurried purchase of the cars is part of the carrot and
stick approach deployed by speaker Dogara to silent members and ensure
that the allegations of massive budget fraud and corruption against him
never sees the light of the day.
“I have stated repeatedly and wish to re-emphasis that these so
called oversight are being used as avenues under Speaker Dogara to
solicit for illegal favours and bribes from MDAs. It is a normal thing
to see members fighting over alleged bribe money after an oversight
visit.
“Nigerians should be vigilant as speaker Dogara tried to be
smart by awarding the supply of the cars to Peugeot Automobile so he can
hide under the guise that the house is supporting local manufacturers
to deflect criticism.
“That it is a complete waste of government resources to embark
on such a selfish purchase of cars. I have therefore decided to reject
any car allocated to me and equally called on all members to reject the
cars as a first step towards redeeming our battered image before
Nigerians and in show of concern to the current economic reality of the
country. The money can be used in so many useful ways to the country.”
No comments:
Post a Comment