‘I will encourage us to talk less to the Press on ways that will give a wrong impression’ – Senate scolds Abaribe

Members of the Senate have criticized the member representing Abia-South Senatorial District, Enyinnaya Abaribe, over an interview he granted Channels Television on Tuesday.

During the interview, Abaribe had alleged that the All Progressives Congress’ senators conspired to shortchange the host communities when the Senate passed the Petroleum Industry Bill.

However, reacting on Wednesday at plenary, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said members of the Ninth Senate did not vote along party lines.

“When the Senate takes a decision, we should inform the public correctly because it is our duty to give the correct information to the public.”

“I will encourage us to talk less to the Press on ways that will give the Press a wrong impression. We should concentrate more on talking to our colleagues in the Senate.

“I would have loved to give the Minority Leader an opportunity to speak, but this is a matter of privilege. I hope all of you have learnt a lesson or two from this.

“There is no point giving wrong information because we never vote along party lines,” Lawan said.

On his part, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, faulted the interview granted by the Minority Leader on Tuesday.

Omo-Agege claimed under a point of order that Abaribe, in the interview, alleged that APC senators conspired to shortchange the host communities when the Senate passed the PIB.

He said that there was no time the APC senators conspired to reduce the five per cent equity share approved for the host communities in the joint committee’s report to three per cent.