The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has on Wednesday, during plenary, accused the Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, of lying to Nigerians during his interview with Channels Television, on Tuesday, claiming that the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senate Caucus ganged up against the Niger Delta region for 3%, after the Senate had agreed to give host communities 5%, in the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, .
Speaking through the order of urgent national interest, Senator Omo-Agege told the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, that such never happened, and accused Senator Abaribe of lying to Nigerians on national television.
He said: ‘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 percent
“But notwithstanding that agreement, the APC as a party took a party position to reduce the 5 percent of the host communities to 3 percent. 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 percent.
“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.
“In line with that, Buhari recently came up with an amendment and time goes on, other amendments will also come up to cure some of these issues that we face.
“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, the Senate President advised the Senators to always be on the side of truth, because of the image of the Federal Lawmakers.
He reminded the Senators who may have grievances over decisional of the Red Chamber, that there is always another day for them to present whatever they were looking for.
His words: “DSP, and Distinguish colleagues, the Minority Leader is not here today.
“Let me make my comment on this. First of all, this Senate as far as I can remember, did not vote along party lines, not even the 52 majority. The APC as a majority and even 2 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 is 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 is always another day. That we passed a Bill does not 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.”