Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senator representing Abia-South Senatorial District on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Senate, has received criticism from the leadership of the Senate over an interview he granted Channels Television.
Abaribe who is the Senate Minority Leader had alleged in the interview that the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) senators conspired to shortchange the host communities when the Senate passed the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, while speaking at the Wednesday Plenary, under a point of order that Abaribe, faulted Abaribe’s interview. According to him, there was never a 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
Ahmad Lawan, the Senate President, while reacting to the point of order said that members of the Senate did not vote along party lines. While indirectly berating Abaribe, he said: “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”
