-Ikenga: Reps Can’t Be Intimidated
The Member, representing Ideato North/Ideato South federal constituency of Imo State, in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has described the allegation that he gave the Speaker, Hon Abass the sum of 1.7m dollars to secure the position of House Committee Chairman on Downstream Petroleum, as a false, childish and low quality smear campaign by a group of oil thieves who are scared of the Speaker and House Committee’s impeccable character, integrity and zero-tolerance for shady deals and transactions. Hence, the culprits are doing everything they can to slow their tempo, dim the brightness of their searchlights in a desperate attempt to cover their tracks.
Hon Ugochinyere, a renowned anti-corruption crusader and activist, in a statement issued in Abuja, the federal capital by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Njesi, said, “it is only an uninformed, gullible and shallow minded person that will believe such poorly concocted falsehood that has no iota of substance”.
“That I offered the sum of 1.7milion dollars and also issued a threat to the Honourable Speaker who is a good friend and close confidant held in very high esteem, alongside his deputy, Hon Benjamin Kalu by all members of the green chamber because of their outstanding leadership qualities, transparency and commitment to the ideals of democratic ethos, is a poly to divert attention from the long overdue need for efficiency and transparency in the oil sector. These, we all know, is responsible for the economic crisis and challenges in the land”.
“According to him, it’s a false and nonsensical belated attempt by individuals with vested interests in oil and gas who want to provoke and divert attention from endemic corruption in the oil and gas industry by attempting to smear the House and scare committed members away from asking the right questions. The whole noise and kindergarten manufactured fake stories will not stop the commitment to seek transparency and efficiency. Those who also want to build on the failed propaganda to divide the House and cause crisis by planting fake news should know that their plot have backfired and we know who they are now.
He said the attempt to drag the Speaker, the deputy speaker, distinguished members, and his name into a Hollywood fiction story is dead on arrival, and all those who aided the stories in one way or another will face the wrath of the law, including other smear campaigns which I will seek for damages for.
Expressing support for the decision of the House leadership to reconstitute the joint committee investigating challenges in the oil sector, Ugochinyere said he trusts the Speaker’s decision will help to get to the root of the rot with no escape route for those already scared even when the investigation has not started, adding that if setting up an ad-hoc committee to carry out the investigation is better then he agrees with him and will support the committee to excel 100 percent.
Ugochinyere said, “The allegation is a belated nonsensical, childish, and unprofessional fiction work aimed at creating division in the House to aid some criminal elements who are long overdue for prison to think they can escape justice, which is impossible as the demand for transparency and reform is a task that will be pushed.
“Only a childish mind will believe the poorly scripted work that Speaker was given 1.7m dollars for something that is not worth a penny. We will not dignify the cheap attempt to distract and divert attention from the House investigation of the corruption in our Oil industry.
“Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s all-inclusive administration style has kept the 10th House stable in the last year. Their approach to governance has played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of inclusivity within the parliament. They embraced a collaborative approach that transcends party lines, fostering an environment where all voices are not only heard but also valued.
“So we are not bothered by the disjointed attacks and smear campaign against our Hon. Speaker and the House leadership. These are efforts of unprofessional corrupt elements to pollute the media space in a desperate bid to seek cover from the inevitable that is coming. I remain focused in my fight for good governance.”
