The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has lambasted the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, that the remark by Mark at the 2013 Budget presentation by Jonathan was derisive.
Mark, who spoke through his Special Adviser, Media, Kola Ologbondiyan, described Okupe as ill informed.
Mark went further to warn Okupe to know his limits when commenting on issues that has to do with his office as the president of the Senate.
The statement by Ologbodiyan reads in full: “Our attention has been drawn to media attacks on the Office and Person of the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, by the Senior Special Assistant to the Mr. President Dr. Doyin Okupe to the effect that the President of the Senate derided President Goodluck Jonathan during the budget presentation on Wednesday.
“It is instructive to first state that Senator Mark and Mr. President are on the same page in the onerous task of ensuring the actualisation of the transformation agenda of this administration.
“There was nothing derisive in the welcome address of the President of the Senate at the budget presentation. We challenge Dr. Okupe to revisit the speech and discover his misadventure.
“It is therefore strange that Dr. Okupe would meddlesomely attempt to create unnecessary disaffection between the legislature and the executive.
“It is common knowledge that budgets are estimates of revenues and expenditures of the Federation for the next financial year. Section 81 of the1999 Constitution (as amended) is very explicit. The position of the Senate, which was expressed by the President of the Senate, is that in line with constitutional provisions, the legislature has a right of appropriation.
“Dr. Okupe as a public affairs manager has a responsibility to make friends and create a harmonious working relationship between the executive and other arms of government. His job is not to make enemies and create unfavourable atmosphere for Mr. President.
“We take exception to such unwarranted attack on the Office of the President of the Senate and we urge Dr. Okupe to know his limits.”
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