MINISTER of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said that his disagreement with the National Assembly must not be misconstrued as having a fight with the legislators.
Speaking with State House correspondents after attending the Quarterly Presidential Business Forum held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Tuesday, he said he has no problem with members of the National Assembly as individuals.
He stated that if he had been misunderstood, his intention was not to quarrel with the lawmakers.
According to him, “There is no problem between me as an individual and the National Assembly.”
“And let me make that very clear, many of the senators and honourable members are my personal friends, and so you don’t fight your friends.”
“But we have a disagreement. And the context of that disagreement.”
“You will remember when President Muhammadu Buhari launched the economic recovery and growth plan, he had enormous support from the leadership of the National Assembly.”
“So, it means that we all agree there is a problem. There is also disagreement which I don’t think should make us disagreeable about the best way to implement that plan and I think that is all there is to it.”
“It is perhaps possible that in the heat of the moment while trying to canvass different positions we are misconstrued as fighting but I am not fighting anybody.”
“We have a disagreement. It shouldn’t make us disagreeable. So my responsibility is to continue to engage.”
“Also, even if I wasn’t a minister, I am a citizen also. So, the parliamentarians are also representing me.”
“So, these are the issues and if I have been misunderstood, my intention was not to quarrel with anybody but to see a better Nigeria which I believe they also want to see.”
Fashola disagreed that his perceived feud with the National Assembly could now delay the presentation of budget virement as well as the 2018 budget to National Assembly, saying that the principal officers of the National Assembly were as committed to the interest of Nigeria as the Executive.
He added: “Again, I say the words that we use portends potentially redirects our attention from what the real issue is. I don’t think a feud is the right word to use.”
“A disagreement yes, a very healthy disagreement. Don’t forget we are not disagreeing on who should head what, who should take what share of the National cake, but we are disagreeing on how to develop Nigeria. And for me that is a very healthy development of our democracy.”
“I’m sure with the leadership of the National Assembly – Senate President, speaker of the House of Representatives, the principal officers and the Acting President, we will resolve this in the ultimate interest of the Nigerian people.”
The minister had recently engaged in a public spat with members of the National Assembly over their alleged tinkering with budget provisions for projects under his ministry.
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