Abeokuta & Ismail Mudashir — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo stoutly defended his letter to the National Assembly yesterday, declaring as a statesman.
“I will continue to say my mind on the state of the nation,” he said.
Obasanjo who spoke with Daily Trust after being informed that his letter had been leaked through the social media, said there was no hard feelings in the content of the four-page letter.
Characteristic of the former president, he asked the reporter thus: “So, the letter is in social media and you have read it? I will continue to be statesman. I will continue to say my mind on the state of the nation,” he retorted.
The former president had in the letter dated January 13, accused members of the National Assembly of fixing and earning salaries and allowances not approved by Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The letter was addressed to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara but was received at Senate registry on the 18.
The letter read in parts: “I have reflected and expressed, outspokenly at times, my views on the practice in the National Assembly which detracts from distinguishness and honourability because it is shrouded in opaqueness and absolute lack of transparency and could not be regarded as normal, good and decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary. I am, of course, referring to the issue of budgets and finances of the National Assembly.
“The purpose of election into the Legislative Assembly particularly at the national level is to give service to the nation and not for the personal service and interest of members at the expense of the nation which seemed to have been the mentality, psychology, mindset and practice within the National Assembly since the beginning of this present democratic dispensation. Where is patriotism? Where is commitment? Where is service?” he asked.
According to him, by the Constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission is charged with fixing emoluments of the three arms of government but by different “disingenuous ways and devices” the legislature had overturned the recommendation of the Commission and hiked for themselves that which they are unwilling to spell out in detail, though they would want to defend it by force of arm if necessary.
He challenged the National Assembly to have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015.
When contacted, Saraki through his media aide, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu said he would formally respond to the former president.
“The Senate President has acknowledged that he has received the letter and he will formally communicate to the former president,” he said in a phone interview.
