President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has denied claims that senators received $30,000 each to secure their support and the Red Chamber’s approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state of emergency proclamation in Rivers State.
Tribune Online reports that the Senate, through a voice vote on Thursday, gave legislative approval to the emergency rule proclamation.
Speaking through his special adviser on media and publicity, Honourable Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio stated that his session with lawmakers, on the eve of the Senate sitting to decide the approval of Tinubu’s suspension of Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara, was an Iftar (breaking of fast) and not a meeting to distribute dollars.
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“That, there has never existed any reason to share any money in such a solemn meeting and no money in any currency was shared,” he stated.
He attributed the speculation to those he called “the merchants of blackmail enterprise to add flavour to their subsisting hate and malice campaign.”
The statement reads in part, “My attention has been drawn to a story in circulation credited to a Press Release I issued. For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state thus:
“That, I have not and never issued any Press Release in relation to the IFTAR (breaking of fast) hosted by His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio GCON
“That, it is true, a newspaper correspondent called me on the phone to confirm or disclaim to the rumour of sharing Dollars during the breaking of the fast.
“That it is true that I confirmed the IFTAR meeting and further asserted that the Distinguished Senate President has always hosted his colleagues of both religious faiths in every season of spiritual rebirth.
“That, there has never existed any reason to share any money in such a solemn meeting and no money in any currency was shared. I have vehemently denied this spurious rumour of sharing any money.
“The rumour in itself is peddled by the merchants of blackmail enterprise to add flavour to their subsisting hate and malice campaign.
“This is to correct every record and clarify every misinformation arising therefrom.”
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