Sources in the National Assembly have exposed how much ‘token’ was sent to each senator for them to enjoy their holiday.
Cross River Hub reports that Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, made news headlines on Wednesday after he mistakenly exposed on live television that the lawmakers would be getting a takeaway for their recess.
Akpabio revealed that a token had been sent to the lawmakers to enjoy their holiday, a comment that raised eyebrows at the Senate plenary.
Recall that the Red Chamber, on Monday, concluded the screening and confirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s ministerial nominees and thereafter adjourned the plenary to September 26.
Addressing his colleagues before the adjournment motion was moved, Akpabio said a token, what many interpreted to mean money, had been sent by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal, to the senators to enjoy their holidays.
However, the Senate President was quickly informed by some principal officers that he was on live television and speaking before reporters.
Upon realizing his mistake, Akpabio swiftly withdrew his statement and said prayers had been sent to their mailboxes to assist them in going on a safe journey and return.
How Much Tokens Each Senator Received To Enjoy Holiday
Sources that reportedly spoke with SaharaReporters, however, alleged that N2 million was sent to each of the senators for their recess.
The sources further alleged that a ministerial nominee had given Akpabio N1 billion to share with the lawmakers.
Senators Upset With Akpabio
It was gathered that the senators of the 10th National Assembly are already upset that Senate President Akpabio exposed that they will be getting a ‘token’ perceived as bribe money from the ministerial screening.
A source in the red chamber said the aggrieved senators are unhappy about the ridicule and embarrassment the former Akwa Ibom governor’s unguarded statement has brought to them.
SaharaReporters quoted the source as saying that the lawmakers described Akpabio’s action as blackmail to ensure they received the stick from their constituents for a “paltry sum” while he had pocketed the bulk of the alleged bribe money paid to them.
“Senators are upset with Senate President Akpabio for exposing the bribe money they get for ministerial screening. A paltry N2 million was sent to each of them. They are angry that now Nigerians know how they are bribed to allow ministerial nominees to take a bow and go,” the source said.
“The Senate President collected over N1 billion from the screened ministers and sent only N2 million to the account of each of 109 senators, totalling N218 million,” another source added.
According to the source, Akpabio didn’t disclose to the senators the source of the N2 million each sent to their accounts.
But what he did, according to them, was to blackmail the Senators on Monday night in an open live television cast that money had been sent to the accounts of Senators for holidays.
“Then the following morning, senators received only N2 million each in their accounts while the senate president pocketed hundreds of millions of naira.
“What a shame and highest treachery and blackmail by the Senate President. Senators are getting ready for a battle with him because this has pitched Senators against their constituents who never knew that they were given only N2 million each for the so-called ‘allowance for holidays/vacation,” the sources alleged.
