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Iyabo Obasanjo |
The Action Congress (AC) has said the Senate owes Nigerians an apology
over its mis-handling of the Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello’s disappearance saga,
saying it was wrong for the upper legislative chamber to have treated the
errant Senator with kid gloves over her shameful act.
``Iyabo went underground for several weeks to evade the law, re-surfaces
when all the deals have been packaged to give her a soft landing and
returns to the warm embrace of her colleagues in the Senate, without as
much as a whimper from the Senators. This is shameful,’’ the party
said in a statement issued in Abuja Sunday by its National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
``The message from the Senate is simple: There are two sets of laws, one
for legislators and one for others. Or how else does one interpret the
fact that Iyabo was not censured by her colleagues for trashing the law
when she eventually showed up?
``This woman spent only two nights in police custody, when even the former
Ministers being tried with her over the 300 million naira scam, were
subjected to a longer period of incarceration. Then the Senate decided to
rub salt to the wounds of Nigerians by pampering her on return, This is
unacceptable,‘’ AC said.
The party said every indication points to the fact that the Senators were
not aware or chose to ignore the enormous responsibility placed on their
shoulders by Nigerians.
``Each of the Senators of the Federal Republic serves at least 1 million
Nigerians. They are supposed to be models in adherence to due process and
observance of rule of law. What do we have instead? A group of people who
have refused to lead by example, a group of people who are more interested
in feathering their own nests, whose perks - in the face of untold
sufferings across the land - bother on obscenity!
``Nigerians demand an unreserved apology from Iyabo and the entire Senate.
We are grossly disappointed that the Senate failed to cash in on Iyabo‘s
deviant behaviour to show how responsible it is.
``In other climes, a Senator who has put herself, her family, her
constituents and the entire Senate in shame would have bowed out as a mark
of penitence and regret for her actions.
``Instead, Iyabo saunters into the Senate chambers to say she has never
and will never do anything to put the Senate in shame!!! And then she
steps out to receive bear hugs from apparently concurring Senators who
must have been intimidated by her pedigree as the daughter of a former
President. How laughable!’’ AC added.
Alhaji Lai Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary
Action Congress
Abuja
25 May 2008