"Stop making false and unguarded statements," Senate tells minister

The Senate has cautioned the minister of transport, Rotimi Amaechi against making

Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi stated this while reacting to Amechi's recent comment that the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan and Ibadan-Ilorin-Minna-Kano rail lines were being delayed by the refusal of the National Assembly to sign the loan request by the federal government.

In a statement on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, Sabi noted that Amaechi's statement shows he was not in tune with the position of the government.

The Senate, therefore, called on the minister to withdraw his statement against the legislature.

The statement reads in parts.

“As at today, the only request for approval from the Executive for loan was the one dated January 27, 2017, and signed by acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo seeking a 'resolution of the National Assembly For the Issuance of USD 1 Billion Eurobond In the International Capital Market For The Funding of the 2016 Budget Deficit' and we immediately granted the approval.

“Also, in the letter quoted above, the government mentioned the two rail lines cited by the minister as part of the projects for which the Eurobond will be utilised. So, we cannot understand what the grouse of Mr Amaechi is.

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“We view that statement based on false and misinformed premise strongly as a mere attempt to incite the people against the National Assembly.

“The Minister should, therefore, withdraw that statement. Furthermore, the National Assembly will take up the matter with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

“As a former Speaker of a state House of Assembly, we believe that a minister like Amaechi should always check his facts and refrain from making unguarded and inciting remarks against the legislature.

“We do not expect such statements from a Minister in the present government”, the statement said.

Sabi maintained that what the country needed now was for all arms of government to work together to create the synergy necessary to take Nigeria out of the present economic crisis.