Amidst protest by the opposition Senators, the Senate yesterday approved N10.069 billion for the Kogi state Government as a refund for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.
The PDP Senators alleged that it was too much coincidence to okay approval of the said payment when the gubernatorial election is just about 72hours to hold in the state.
President Buhari had last month transmitted a letter to the red chamber seeking the approval for the said refund.
The Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) during the approval opined that the approval should be delayed for at least a week to avoid squandering the money for election purpose.
In an adage he said, “The witch cries in the night and the child dies in the morning. The approval comes when election is on Saturday. Why not delay the approval so that it will not look like endorsing a vote buying, the Senator added.
However, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC Kano), applauded the Kogi State Government for channelling the state meagre resources to be responsive to the people of Kogi state through fixing their deplorable roads.
Subsequently, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan justified the approval, saying other states that applied also were considered, why should Kogi be different?
In his statement, “God’s time is the best. The Senate has seen the necessity. We have done justice to Kogi as we have done to other states”.
Meanwhile, Senator Clifford Ordia, the chairman of the Senate committee on Local and Foregn Debts also in charge of the refund processes disclosed that the Kogi state Government had fixed seven roads and a bridge.
He said “Our humble recommendation is that the Senate do approve the refund of N10 billion for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government,”.
Opposition berates Senate for payment of N10 billion to Kogi state on eve of election
Amidst protest by the opposition Senators, the Senate yesterday approved N10.069 billion for the Kogi state Government as refund for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government.
The PDP Senators alleged that it was too much coincidence to okay approval of the said payment when gubernatorial election is just about 72hours to hold in the state.
President Buhari had last month transmitted a letter to the red chamber seeking the approval for the said refund.
The Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) during the approval opined that the approval should be delayed for at least a week to avoid squandering the money for election purpose.
In an adage he said, “The witch cries in the night and the child dies in the morning. The approval comes when election is on Saturday. Why not delay the approval so that it will not look like endorsing a vote buying, the Senator added.
However, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC Kano), applauded the Kogi State Government for channelling the state meagre resources to be responsive to the people of Kogi state through fixing their deplorable roads.
Subsequently, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan justified the approval, saying other states that applied also were considered, why should Kogi be different?
In his statement, “God’s time is the best. The Senate has seen the necessity. We have done justice to Kogi as we have done to other states”.
Meanwhile, Senator Clifford Ordia, the chairman of the Senate committee on Local and Foregn Debts also in charge of the refund processes disclosed that the Kogi state Government had fixed seven roads and a bridge.
He said “Our humble recommendation is that the Senate do approve the refund of N10 billion for projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government,”.
