By Musa Baba Adamu
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Osun State, Tajudeen Lawal has described the move by Governor Ademola Adeleke to prove contracts by his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola as a ploy to cover up his alleged mismanagement of the state resources.
Lawal also described the move by the government to set up an implementation panel on white paper on review of government contracts as diversionary.
In a statement issued by the party’s Spokesperson, Kola Olabisi Lawal said, “it is funny that an administration that awarded road/flyover contract to the serving deputy speaker of the state House of Assembly without following the due process would now suddenly consider the setting up of an implementation panel of the White Paper on the Contract Review Committee.
“We wondered why it was a day after our party accused Governor Adeleke of awarding state road/flyover contracts to his brother and nephew that he (Adeleke) suddenly considered it expedient to set up an implementation committee.
“Adeleke should tread softly as Osun people are now wiser and knowledgeable enough to read the true motive of his action meant to unjustifiably victimise the opposition for having the effrontery to catalogue the series of frauds his government is perpetrating against the state in the name of prosecution of legacy projects.”
While stating that Adeleke’s planned probe of his predecessor was diversionary, Lawal added that the governor would fail in his plan to unjustifiably get at the minister whose political fortune was rising on a daily basis.
The National Publicity Secretary (NPS) of the APC, Barr. Felix Morka in a statement on Friday described the PDP as a meddlesome interloper for trying to make a huge success out of what it described as an unsubstantiated allegation.
Morka further argued that Akpabio cannot resign because he has not done anything wrong adding that the PDP only showed that it is an organization that is bereft of ideas of how manage a critical entity like the Senate.
“Again, the PDP has showed itself as an entity bereft of focus and purpose, and like a political scavenger, always quick to feast on sham without thought and consideration for facts and institutional due process.
“It is rather ridiculous that the PDP that is unable to govern itself would seek to dictate to the Senate how it should conduct its proceedings and handle internal matters of discipline of its members. Exactly how is the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi without first referring the matter to a Senate standing committee proof of a cover up?
“How is a committee of the full Senate conducting an inquiry in the matter, in full public view on national television, less independent and transparent or in violation of the Senate’s standing rules or any other laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?
“Contrary to the PDP’s twisted argument, the Senate neither violated its standing rules and orders nor the Constitution by not referring the matter to a relevant committee. Rather, placing the matter before the committee of the whole, under public scrutiny, underscored the premium the Senate placed on transparency in the conduct of its proceedings. It was clear for all to see that the author of the allegation was unable to offer any substantiation or justification.
“It is eerily comical that the PDP, a party with a sordid legacy of monumental corruption would suggest that the President of the Senate should turn himself to anti-graft agencies for investigation. This is the entity that turned graft and corruption to statecraft, the same entity that cannot account for funds raised for the building of its own national headquarters, making such a ridiculous call. The PDP should lead by example and heed its own call”.
The APC spokesman added that the legislature has the powers to make laws on how to organize itself and conduct its activities.
“The legislative authority of the Senate includes the authority to make its own rules and adopt its own procedures for discharging its constitutional mandate. That extends to modifying its rules and standing orders in accordance with its rules and procedures, and in observance of all applicable legal and constitutional standards. It also has the authority to discipline its members in accordance with its institutional and constitutional due process”, the statement concluded.
