Posted by By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN & BASHIR UMAR, Abuja on
After about six hours of debate on the reports of the Senate ad hoc committee on Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), which saw at least 40 senators making their own contributions, the Senate on Tuesday resolved to set up a review committee, with a view to proposing a position to be taken on the matter by it.
After about six hours of debate on the reports of the Senate ad hoc committee on Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), which saw at least 40 senators making their own contributions, the Senate on Tuesday resolved to set up a review committee, with a view to proposing a position to be taken on the matter by it.
This is coming at a time Senator Victor Oyofo declared that contrary to insinuations from some quarters, the N10 billion allegedly used to fund third term was released in September, four months after the death of third term.
During the debate, which saw senators divided along the pro-Obasanjo and anti- Obasanjo lines, former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara called for the prosecution of President Olusegun Obasanjo and all members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for giving what he described as a "retroactive approval" to certain projects executed with funds from the PTDF but which are outside the mandate of the PTDF. He noted that retroactive approval, which was done after "chopping the money" was worse than anticipatory approval which one of their departed colleagues, the late Chuba Okadigbo paid dearly for.
This is, however, coming on the heels of calls from a few senators that the Senate should commence impeachment proceedings against both President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar for their culpability in the financial recklessness perpetrated at the PTDF.
Senator Idris Kuta is one of those who would have been happy seeing the Senate use its sledge hammer against the number one and number two citizens of the country. He was, however, quick to say: "If not because we don't want to destabilize this country, we could have impeached the two of them, but the time is not ripe for it now. We are also culpable because we committed bigger offence by not doing our job well and it is the electorate who will impeach us in April."
However, Senators Emmanuel Agboti and Farouk Bello believed strongly that timing should not be reason the Senate should close its eyes to its responsibility. Agboti said: "We talk of stability, but it does not stop EFCC from pursuing people around. We do not represent the Presidency, but the people of Nigeria. We must therefore, act in line with public opinion. The president and his deputy have acted ultra vires. We must take actions along this line."
Bello, on the other hand, said: "Until we received this report, I had high regards and respect for the chairman of the committee, but with this report, I have my reservations. We must do whatever needs to be done, irrespective of time."
Senator David Mark, who defended every action of President Obasanjo, said that Atiku would save the country a lot of agony by resigning honourably from his position as the vice president.
"No report is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ had 12 disciples, one was Judas.
The Senate set up a 13-member committee. Twelve sold out and only one was upright in the eyes of those upbraiding the report. From the report, a witness told us that Senator Olupitan was seen several times in Fasawe's house. Can that be said to mean that Olupitan no longer has integrity in this Senate? I think the dissenting views should be discarded as lacking in substance.
"The vice president is culpable in so many ways. The facts are there. We may not like them, but we can't throw them away. We will only be adding petrol to it, by trying to rubbish the facts as they were. From the reports, there are clear evidences to show that the vice president benefited personally from all the investments made with PTDF money under his supervision, but that of the president was done in national interest. I think the president should be given a pat on the back.
Having said that, here are some options for the Senate: one, note the report as presented; two, produce a white paper on it; three, adopt the report as presented and four, reject it and say we have nothing to do with it. But in choosing any of the options, we must be decisive and frank," he said.
Responding to the comments, Senator Ndoma-Egba said he owed no one any apology for turning in the report, saying that if given another chance and the same facts present themselves, he would turn in a similar report.
In the end, Senate Leader, Senator Dalhatu Tafida, moved a motion that the Senate sets up a review committee on the report. The minority leader, Senator Daniel Saror, seconded the motion, which was read from a prepared text, barely few seconds after the debate was concluded.
The Senate resolved to not only set up a committee to complete and fill up the gaps in the ad hoc committee report but also evaluate and assess the evidence, findings and recommendations of the ad hoc committee in the light of any new information and evidence, with a view to proposing resolutions to be adopted by the Senate.
Also, the Senate wants the committee to take account of views and comments of senators during the debate and to update and improve the work of the ad hoc committee in the light of new evidence or perspectives presented during the debate.
It would also want the committee to comprise seven senators, including the chairman and to report back in one week.
The debate was witnessed by the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa and Otunba Oyewole Fasawe, who came about two hours into debate and left after staying for barely five minutes.