Posted by By GODWIN TSA, Abuja on
The Action Congress (AC) has asked Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello to step down as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, because of the conflict of interest resulting from her business partnership with Prince Albert Awofisayo, Chairman of Vamed Engineering, the firm which got a N27 billion contract to refurbish 17 teaching hospitals in the country.
The Action Congress (AC) has asked Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello to step down as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, because of the conflict of interest resulting from her business partnership with Prince Albert Awofisayo, Chairman of Vamed Engineering, the firm which got a N27 billion contract to refurbish 17 teaching hospitals in the country.
This is even as a pro-democracy group, Nigerian Voters Assembly (VOTAS) yesterday called on the leadership of the Senate to immediately suspend Obasanjo-Bello pending the determination of the case of contract scam leveled against her.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Obasanjo-Bello could not effectively carry out her oversight functions over the teaching hospitals, especially the refurbishment contract which seemed to have been poorly executed.
AC said information available to it showed that the chief medical directors of the teaching hospitals had complained about the quality of equipment supplied to the hospitals by Vamed, with many of the equipment said to be refurbished rather than brand new.
'In fact, we learnt that a particular CMD refused to install the machines supplied to his hospital because they have not been certified, and this caused a shouting match between him and Obasanjo-Bello,'' the party said.
It said it was clear why former President Olusegun Obasanjo pushed for her Senator- daughter to be made the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, in return for his support for David Mark to become Senate President.
'With Obasanjo-Bello as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, which has oversight function over teaching hospitals in Nigeria, the issue of poor execution of the N27 billion contract by Vamed will be easily covered up.
'It is therefore clear that Obasanjo-Bello cannot continue to function in that capacity while the investigation into the N27 billion hospital refurbishment contract, which we have called for, is being carried out,'' AC said.
The party renewed its call on the anti-corruption agencies and the National Assembly to probe the execution of the N27 billion contract, as well as Obasanjo-Bello's role in the N3.5 billion power contract.
'The probe of the N27 billion contract is important, because it is the biggest contract ever in the health sector, and its execution will impact directly on millions of our citizens,'' AC added.
In a release signed by its Convener, Comrade Moshood Erubami, copies of which were made available to media houses in Ibadan yesterday, VOTAS advised the senate leadership to tread the path of honour and embrace ethical procedures and sanction the accused senator pending the conclusion of her case by the anti-corruption body.
'The senate should meet and treat the matter with all sense of responsibility and suspend Senator Iyabo Obasanjo now. This is the only ethical way that the country can be enduringly spared of such experiences in the future, either in or outside public office.
'We must be seen to be setting new ethical contract through anti-corruption reforms which will divest from Nigerians all activities that tend to tarnish the integrity of our political institutions.
'As the case stand, Iyabo, from her confession should not be shielded from being tried and if found wanting should be appropriately sanctioned in accordance with the law. The matter is not a personal matter. It is a crime alleged against one of the country's senators and pending the determination of the case, she should not be attending the senate as if nothing is wrong with the way of her involvement. Hence, she should be suspended," the statement read in parts.
The group also called on the authorities of the ICPC and EFCC to see the allegation against Iyabo as a litmus test of the avowed zero tolerance for corruption of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, pointing out that the confessions of the ex-president's daughter had shown that she was a culprit in the contract scam.
'They must move beyond mere expression of readiness to prosecute the former first daughter, they must be seen to be seriously committed to unraveling all the facts of the N3.5.billion contract scandal involving her and an Austrian firm.
'This present case is such that falls under the mandate of ICPC, EFCC as anti-graft institutions and it is only the diligent investigation of the case that can convince Nigerians that the organizations are focused on the job to help sanitize Nigeria and rid it of fraudsters and corrupt politicians", the statement added.