The Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume has declared that Senators are planning on taking drastic action against the Senate President Godswill Akpabio for disclosing that a ‘holiday allowance’ had been sent to their bank accounts.
At plenary on Monday as the Senate was about to adjourn for its annual recess, Akpabio told his colleagues that money had been sent to them to “enjoy” their holiday.
The Senate President said: “In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the Clerk of the National Assembly”.
After awhile, he revised his announcement: “I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the Senate President has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return”.
Akpabio’s comment has been greeted with criticisms by Nigerians berating the senators for feeding fat on the nation’s treasury.
In an interview with BBC Hausa Service, Ndume blamed Akpabio’s public disclosure for the unwarranted attacks on the lawmakers.
He said: “It’s common knowledge that if any employee is going on leave, he/she is entitled to a leave grant. That was the money we received, and it is nothing unusual or special.
“All senators received N2 million. And I am making this comment with a heavy heart because he (Akpabio) is the cause of this controversy”.
The Borno South lawmaker added: “He created an impression as if we were given some special or huge amounts of money. What’s the big deal if I receive N2 million allowance in my capacity as a senator?
“He made a very wrong statement, and I warned him immediately that his comments were unbecoming of an elder.
“In fact, we are even planning to take drastic action against him if he continues making unguarded statements and acting as if we are kids”.
A major supporter of Akpabio in the campaign for Senate Presidency two two months ago, Ndume had cautioned that he should not be hold responsible if his choice fell short of expectations in his new role.
Appearing on Channels Television’s Politics Today, hours after the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, Ndume was asked if Akpabio’s performance should reflect on him as one of his endorsers.
“I don’t think that is right. I’m not Akpabio. Even before God, Akpabio will account for his own; I will account (for mine)”, he responded.
Ndume believed he should not share in any liability attached to Akpabio’s performance.
