The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Aviation Nnolim Nnaji, has faulted allegations by some members of the opposition in the House that Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila was shielding some of his colleagues from allegations of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC contracts.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus in the House of Repesentatives had earlier accused Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila of shielding some members alleged to be beneficiaries of contracts in the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC).
Reacting to the claims Nnolim Nanji who is also a member of PDP stated that the news report “ were untrue and didn’t represent the collective position of the generality of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) members in the House”.
“alleged letter referred to in the report could not stand as the position of the major opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
He emphasized that it was unfair to accuse the speaker of shielding the lawmakers whereas “he was the one who in the first place that compelled the Minister to produce the names”.
“As far as I am concerned, the allegation by the Minister against some members was a matter that bothers on the integrity of the House”.
He cautioned against “utterances that will divide us”.
He urged; “Members to rather direct their attention to focus on the NDDC investigation, worsening insecurity including the recent killings in Southern Kaduna, marginalization of some sections of the country, deprivation and hunger across our country rather than attacking the straw man in order to give soft landing to the inefficiency of the NDDC leadership”.
According to him, “As far as I am concerned, the Speaker is doing a good job of presiding over the house, engaging constructively with the Executives on national issues, which is the reason for the investigation in the first place.
“I want to affirm that matters arising from the Ministers letter have been properly referred to Ethics and Privileges Committee and would ordinarily form part of the report to the House by the time we resume from our vacation”.
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