You are a Liar - Senate to Amaechi

Remember that the Minister of Transport, Mr Rotimi Amaechi during a town hall meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara state said that the delay experienced in the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan and Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna -Kano rail lines were caused by the National Assembly since it refused to sign the loan request by the Federal Government.

The Senate on Wednesday responded to this claim by telling the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi to immediately withdraw

his comment pertaining the matter.

The Senate’s spokesman, Sen. Aliyu Sabi in a statement, said the senate is not delaying any construction and that the minister told a lie.

The Senate spokesman Aliyu Sabi emphasized that the statement was false and a misrepresentation of facts.

He said that the statement showed that the Minister as not in tune with the position of the government in which he is serving.

“As at today, the only request for approval from the Executive for loan was the one dated January 27, 2017 and signed by Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo seeking a “resolution of the National Assembly For the Issuance of USD 1 Billion EuroBond In the International Capital Market For The Funding of the 2016 Budget Deficit” and we immediately granted the approval.

“Also, in the letter quoted above, the Government mentioned the two rail lines cited by the minister as part of the projects for which the EuroBond will be utilised. So, we cannot understand what the grouse of Mr Amaechi is.

“We view that statement based on false and misinformed premise strongly as a mere attempt to incite the people against the National Assembly.

“The Minister should therefore withdraw that statement. Furthermore, the National Assembly will take up the matter with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

He said, “As a former Speaker of a state House of Assembly, we believe that a minister like Amaechi should always check his facts and refrain from making unguarded and inciting remarks against the legislature.”

Sabi said that what Nigeria needed now was for all arms of government to work together to create the synergy necessary to take Nigeria out of the present economic crisis.

He said that such comment is calculated effort to infuriate one arm of government or stimulate malice within the arm of the government and that will do no good.

“We do not expect such statements from a Minister in the present government”, he concluded