Group asks House of Assembly leaders to resign

chika ebuzor

July 24, 2016 11:39 AM

The Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom has also exonerated the lawmakers of any wrongdoing.

Benue state House of Assembly

The crisis rocking the Benue state House of Assembly, as a result of the vehicle purchase scam, is yet to end.

The state Government had reportedly approved the sum of N750m for the lawmakers to purchase Jeeps, but they decided to share the money because the price of the vehicles had gone up.

The lawmakers were then given N10m each to purchase vehicles, but some of their colleagues felt that the leadership cheated them, and reportedly called in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to sort out the matter.

As result of the confusion in the state legislature, a group under the aegis of Concerned Benue Youth for Good Governance, (CBYGG) has called on the lawmakers allegedly involved in the vehicle purchase scam to resign.

The Daily Sun reports that the Secretary of the group, Casmir Ode, said “We are saddened because this development and allegations, though yet to be proven, have not only ridiculed the integrity of the House ,it has made a mockery of the anti corruption stance of the Samuel Ortom led administration. As if that is not enough, the business of legislation has remained dormant since this scandal broke out and some bills before the House that are very important and critical to this administration have remained stagnated.

“It is therefore our considered opinion that in view of the implication of this saga and the fact that a ridiculous picture of the House has been painted to Nigerians and the outside world as a result of the ongoing probe, the leadership of the House should honourably resign in order to save the House from further mockery.

“We also recommend a recall of any member found liable at the end of the EFCC probe so that the House can be cleansed and repositioned for service delivery.”

Reports also say the Benue Governor, Samuel Ortom has also exonerated the lawmakers of any wrongdoing.

A pressure group, Benue Youth Alliance (BYA) also called for the resignation of the Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. James Okefe.

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chika ebuzor