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Senators didn’t get N10m to cushion oil price effect,
says Gwarzo
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi,
Abuja
Senator
Bello Gwarzo has denied reports that Senators got N10 million each from the
Federal Government to cushion the effect of the recent oil price increase.
In
an interview with Daily Independent, Gwarzo (PDP, Kano) described the
information as ‘mischievous,’ stating that no governor had the
right to recall any legislator.
“There
is a lot of hearsay going on in Abuja now about how much Senators were given.
Someone told me that Senators have been given N10 million by the Federal
Government, to cushion the effect of the oil price increase. Nobody has accused
the governors, who even have access to funds to cushion the effect, of having
collected money from the federal government.
“I
believe that the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) has the
sole responsibility of regulating the prices of refined products, whose
function has absolutely nothing to do with the National Assembly. The only
thing we can do is to intervene. Already, the National Assembly has been boxed
into a corner.”
On
the threatened recall of Senators Jibril Aminu (PDP, Adamawa), Farouk
Bello-Bunza and Usman Sani (ANPP, Kebbi) Sami as a fallout from their
participation at last month’s Northern Senators Forum in Sokoto, Gwarzo
said: “I don’t believe it is a good omen for us to start recalling
legislators. I am obedient to my political party, but my governor cannot
dictate to me on what to do. The same vote that put my governor in office is
the same vote that brought me to the National Assembly. I am accountable to the
people who elected me here.
“I was in Sokoto and if those that are being threatened went to Sokoto
because of an agenda, I do not know about that. But I went to Sokoto because I
was concerned about the unity of the North. At this age, I should be able to
decide for myself where I want to go or whether I want to attend a particular
meeting without being teleguided. Nobody can change my mind for me. I can
decide to fraternise with anybody I choose.
“I
see no reason why a Senator should be directed by a governor. In fact, a
Senator is senior to a governor. It is there in the constitution. Sincerely,
this issue of recall is not a good omen for our democracy,” said Gwarzo.
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