Senate replies Jega: Name names or shut up

The Senate yesterday fi red back at the immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, over his allegation that some members of the National Assembly were notorious bribe-seekers, asking him to “name names or shut up.” Specifically, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the allegation from the former INEC boss was an embarrassment to the National Assembly.
Jega had, on Monday in Abuja, while delivering a Democracy Day lecture, alleged that the federal lawmakers were notorious for seeking bribes to carry out their constitutional duties.
But Saraki, in his reaction to the allegation, earlier pointed at by Isah Misau (APC, Bauchi Central) through a point of order, said he was at the programme together with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, when Jega made the “blanket embarrassing statement despite the efforts of the National Assembly in joining other arms of government to fight corruption in the country.” “I was at the programme, myself and the Speaker and we were highly embarrassed by this kind of comment.
All of us are committed to the fight against corruption.
But I believe it (such statement) doesn’t help the fight against corruption, it is a slight to the integrity of some of us, where such a statement is made.” Saraki, therefore, challenged Jega to expose those lawmakers “he knows” were involved in corrupt practices withevidence or stop making such blanket statements.
“If he (Jega) has those kinds of evidences, he should bring it forward, because to say that, is to suggest that every member of the National Assembly is part of this, or even those who are not part of this are condoning this action which is far from the truth.
“I think what the Professor, who is respected, should do is to come out and mention those members he is aware of.
If he can’t come out and name them, he should not make such blanket statements again,” he said.
Misau, had, in drawing the attention of the Senate to the allegation, described it as weighty and damaging to the integrity of the nation’s apex legislature.
“I feel that the statement is very weighty because that programme (Democracy Day lecture) was televised live.
The thing they need to understand is that these live programmes are watched around the world.
And at the time he made that statement, I am a member of ECOWAS Parliament.
“After the lecture, I went to the parliament and the question most of the parliamentarians were asking me is that whether what the Professor said, is true or not.
I find it difficult to explain to them and I feel that not only Professor Jega, but anybody that would make statements concerning the credibility of this senate and its (committees) chairmen should be bold enough to mention the committee chairmen, especially when it is about fighting corruption in Nigeria.
“If we really want to fight corruption and want to help the government, he would not be making such statements without mentioning the committee chairmen and those who gave him that sort of information.
I felt embarrassed.
We need the Professor to throw more light on what he said.”

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