Senator Ahmed Lawan, the Senate President, has urged his fellow senators to speak less to the media and prevent creating a wrong impression of the Senate’s actions and decisions.
Lawan made the call following a motion on privilege moved by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, the Deputy Senate President, during plenary on Wednesday.
Omo-Agege during plenary claimed that Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate Minority Leader, had in a television interview on Tuesday stated it was the All Progressives Congress (APC) members of the Senate that voted to give three per cent to host communities instead of five per cent in the recently enacted Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
According to the Deputy Senate President, Abaribe’s statement is false.
He said: “Most specifically, he made a remark that prior to the consideration of the bill, there was an agreement of the entire senate that the host communities will be given five per cent.
“And notwithstanding that agreement, the APC, as a party, took a party decision to reduce the five per cent for the host communities to three per cent.”
Responding to Omo-Agege’s comment, Lawan said Abaribe, who was absent during plenary, and all senators have the responsibility to inform the public accurately on what happens in the red chamber.
The Senate President subsequently said it is best for the federal lawmakers to communicate their misgivings more to their colleagues more than speaking to the press about it.
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.”
