David Mark And Nuhu Ribadu Clash (Read)
A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
Nuhu Ribadu and the outgoing Senate President, David Mark, on Monday
disagreed on the need for National Assembly to cut its budget in line
with the current economic realities in the country.
They spoke at a retreat organised for the Peoples Democratic Party
National Assembly members-elect in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
Ribadu had stirred up a hornet’s nest by calling on the lawmakers-elect
to make their monthly salaries public and also cut their budgets. His
call immediately attracted side talks by the participants which included
governors and the leadership of the PDP.
Obviously aware that his advice was not being welcomed by majority of
the lawmakers-elect, the former anti-corruption czar, reminded them that
they would be going to the National Assembly as the minority.
He said that Nigerians would not support the PDP if they (Nigerians) did
not know what was earmarked for the National Assembly and how much a
senator or a House of Representatives member earns.
Ribadu, who was the PDP’s Adamawa State governorship candidate for the
March 28 election, pointed out that patriotism and quality
contributions by members of the PDP in the National Assembly would go a
long way in reinventing and preparing the party for a successful
comeback in future elections.
He said, “If Nigerians do not know how much is earmarked for the
National Assembly or how much money a senator earns, they will not
support you. We must understand the pulse or the mood of the nation.
“The first step, therefore, is to open up the National Assembly by
ensuring transparency. Public office is what it is; public. Also, at
this critical time of austerity, be champions by slashing your own
budget.
“My very good friend, Ben Bruce (a senator-elect) has already spoken
about this. There are many others already saying it. For you to excel,
you must put in extra effort than your colleagues in other parties.”
He stressed that the PDP lawmakers-elect must not only be champions of
probity and discipline, they must wage war against corruption in the
system and ensure strict compliance with appropriation as well as due
process.
Ribadu added, “As legislators, you will be going to the National
Assembly as the minority. There is a sense of personal loss no doubt;
but there are good opportunities for all and democratic practice in
Nigeria.
“Your patriotism and quality contributions as members of the National
Assembly will go a long way in reinventing our party and preparing it
for a successful comeback in subsequent elections.
“You must demonstrate personal will and commitment towards being above
board if you really want to checkmate others. The first charge for you
is to be champions of probity in the workings of the National Assembly
as well as the Legislature-Executive relations.”
But Mark, who showed his dissatisfaction with Ribadu’s charge,
wondered why “every time, people will talk about National Assembly
budget.”
Explaining that the budget of the Assembly had always been in public
domain, the outgoing President of the Senate argued that Senators and
House of Representatives members had always made sacrifices in line
with the nation’s economic realities.
“Every time, people will talk about National Assembly budget; for
Heaven’s sake, unless you would say you have never seen the national
budget, it is a public document. The National Assembly budget is there
with every other budget,” he stated in an angry tone.
Mark,who added that the National Assembly members “ were the first to
make a cut in 2015 budget,” said that “ people should appreciate what we
are doing and not to come and give an impression that our budget is
bloated while every other person had made a cut.”
He stated further, “We are trying our best more than any ministry today.
I can put my hand on my chest without fear of contradiction at all and
say we made a lot of sacrifices in our budgeting system.
“Our budget is open; what we earn as National Assembly members is open.
If anybody wants to receive his salary and donate it, he is free to do
so. He does not need to consult us. I think we should not play politics
with what is a very serious issue. Our budget is in the open and
everybody can see it.”
Mark however charged the PDP lawmakers-elect and other PDP members to always speak in one voice.
