Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has disclosed that former President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately refused to approve funds for constituency projects to punish lawmakers for questioning some of the loan requests presented by the executive before the legislature.
He spoke in reaction to a statement credited to President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on constituency projects.
Akpabio had said: “This is the Nigerian Senate.
“If you say I was part of Saraki’s Senate, it means I was part of those who paid 40 percent of the constituency project, and 60 percent has not been paid up till today.”
Also Read:
- WCQ: Osimhen’s brace lifts Nigeria above Rwanda in Kigali
- Kukah inaugurated as chairman Southern Kaduna varsity
- ALSCON sponsors quiz to boost academic growth of host communities
- Niger Delta ex-agitator distances self from sea pirate attacks
- NAPTIP rescues Akwa Ibom girl trafficked to Mali
However, Saraki in a statement released on Thursday by the Head of Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu, emphasised that their initial reaction was to overlook the report.
Saraki said in his statement that his perspective was that there are more pressing issues facing the nation and its people such as hunger and severe hardship, which should demand the full attention of leaders and keep them focused, rather than engaging in trivial exchanges.
He added: “However, the office felt compelled to explain the project funding process to prevent the public from being misguided about the roles of various institutions and individuals.
“For clarification, the Saraki Media Office will want members of the public to note that then President Muhammadu Buhari deliberately refused to approve funds for the constituency projects of members of the Eighth National Assembly obviously to punish the members for questioning some of the loan requests presented by the executive before the legislature.
“Mr. Akpabio, as Senate minority leader for over three years in the four-year tenure of the 8th Senate ought to know better and even his experience as Senate President in the last eight months also ought to have made him more informed.
“Therefore, Mr. Akpabio is very well aware that the leadership of the Eighth Senate cannot be held responsible for failure to fund constituency projects.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
