On Tuesday (today), former Governor of Edo State, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, tendered a verbal apology to his colleagues at the 10th National Assembly after alleging on live television that Senators in the 9th Senate looted their offices, carting away office furniture and equipment.
Naija News recalls that Oshiomhole had, on Sunday, while appearing live on Channels Television Politics Today programme, alleged that some lawmakers from the previous assembly looted items such as carpets and TVs from their offices.
According to him, a development that led to most of the federal lawmakers in the 10th national assembly using their money to put their offices in shape.
“In spite of the presence of security men and women, television sets, carpets, and chairs were looted by the immediate past senators and House of Representatives members.
“The former lawmakers left their offices in shambles with holes in the walls, which had to be fixed by serving lawmakers from their pockets,” Oshiomhole had said.
Oshiomhole’s submissions, however, caused uproar in the Senate on Tuesday morning during the plenary session as a Federal Lawmaker, Solomon Adeola, slammed the former governor, demanding that he apologize to the Senate.
Senator Adeola said Oshiomhole breached the privilege of his office and demanded that he tenders a public apology to the 10th Senate.
Adeola explained that the procedure is clear at the end of every Assembly; lawmakers are to sign for every item in their offices before they are taken out, maintaining that no Senator looted their offices in the 9th Assembly.
He asked Oshiomhole to explain why he made these allegations on live television without confirmation.
Wading into the arguments, the Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, requested that the matter be discussed behind closed doors, but a majority of the lawmakers refused that the matter be discussed in an executive session.
To douse the tension in the chamber, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, also intervened, explaining that all items in the offices of Senators depreciate to the tune of 25 per cent and the tradition every four years is to give lawmakers the right to offer to purchase those items and if accepted, the lawmaker will either pay outright for the items or the funds are removed from their severance gratuity.
Oshiomhole Apologizes
According to Channels Television, after a series of arguments, Oshiomhole was thereafter given the floor and expressed his utmost respect for the National Assembly.
The former Governor of Edo State explained that he indeed appeared on a respected national television station but said he defended the collective integrity of the Senate.
He emphasised that at no time did he say Senators looted their offices but rather that the offices were vandalised, prompting Senators to provide the basic needs of their offices by purchasing some furniture.
He, however, tendered an apology to his colleagues, who he says felt offended by his comments.