The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has knocked the Minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe over his comments on the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The Deputy senate president faulted Abaribe for misleading Nigerians on TV.
Abaribe during an interview on Channels TV had alleged that lawmakers elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) conspired to shortchange host communities while passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). He alleged that APC senators agreed to pass the 3% against the earlier agreed development fees of 5% for host communities.
Recall that the Senate had adopted 3% of the oil revenue to host community despite debates from southern lawmakers for an upward review of the host community fund to 5 per cent to address the developmental deficits in the oil communities and overall quell agitation in the Niger Delta region.
Reacting, Omo-Agege denied the allegations, saying that the APC senators never conspired to adopt the 3% shares.
The Deputy Senate President also expressed his disappointment in the minority leader over his remarks in the interview.
In his words, “The Senate Minority leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe granted an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday. Mr President, in that interview, the Senate Minority leader spoke extensively on events that transpired during the consideration and passage of the bill, PIB, now PIA, most specifically, is the remark he made to the effect that prior to the consideration of the bill, that there was an agreement by the Senate that the host communities be given 5%.
“But notwithstanding that agreement, the APC as a party took a party position to reduce the 5% of the host communities to 3%. I am the Deputy Senate President, but I also represent Delta North Senatorial district in the Niger Delta region.
“There are many communities in my district that are host communities based on the provisions in the PIA. There was never a time that I am aware that the caucus of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a political party, here in the Senate and outside the party met and took a decision that the oil host communities in the Niger Delta be shortchanged by reducing the host communities development fees.from 5% to 3%.
“I have received several calls from my constituents since last night after the interview till now. A decision has been taken by the Senate and that bill has been passed into law with a caveat that those of us who are dissatisfied that opportunities will be given to us as we move on that we can come forward with an amendment.
“I felt so offended and I think some of the APC in the Senate also felt so offended including some opposition Senators because in that decision, some PDP Senators were also part of it. Some Senators from the Niger Delta region also voted for us to have what we arrived at a majority decision and that is what I’m democracy is all about. It was the majority that arrived at 3%; it wasn’t partisan, it wasn’t about PDP or APC position.”
Reacting also, the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan described the allegations of the Minority leader as false, adding that the lawmakers didn’t vote along party lines during the PIA consideration.
The Senate president also advised his fellow lawmakers to always be on the side of truth because of the image of lawmakers.
In his words, “Let me make my comment on this. First of all, this Senate as far as I can remember didn’t vote along party lines, not even the 52 majority. The APC as a majority and even two of the PDP Senators voted along the line that appeared that carried the day.
“So as politicians, ours is to lobby; is to engage our colleagues and if there’s any issue that we feel strongly; an issue that will make life better to those that we represent, there is always another day.
“If you are not able to get what you want, there’s always another day. That we passed a bill doesn’t mean that another day, one cannot have his way. But when the Senate arrives at a decision, we should be at thee forefront of informing the public correctly because we in a position more than anyone else to give a correct position to the members of the public.”
