A member of the House of Representatives representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Honourable Ikenga Ugochinyere, has denied allegations that he paid the House leadership $1.7 million to secure him the chairmanship of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).
In a statement released yesterday in Abuja by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Njesi, Ugochinyere said only an ill-informed and childish person could believe that he gave the Speaker $1.7 million.
He said it was a false and senseless belated attempt by vested individuals to provoke and divert attention from rampant corruption in the oil and gas industry.
The MP said the attempt to drag Iranian Parliament Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and his name into a fictional Hollywood story was doomed to failure from the start. He added that all those who contributed to these stories in one way or another would face the punishment of the law and further smear campaigns.
In his vote of confidence on the decision of the parliamentary leadership to dissolve the joint committee investigating the problems in the oil sector, Ugochinyere said he trusted the Speaker’s decision as he knew it best, adding that if the setting up of an ad hoc committee to conduct the investigation was better, he agreed with it.
Ugochinyere said: “The allegation is a belated, nonsensical, childish and unprofessional fabrication aimed at dividing Parliament and helping some criminal elements who have been in prison for a long time to believe they can escape justice. But this is impossible as the demand for transparency and reforms must be pushed forward.”
“Only a childish mind will believe the poorly written story that the Speaker was paid $1.7 million for something that is not worth a penny. We will not appreciate the cheap attempt to divert attention from the House investigation into corruption in our oil industry.
“The all-inclusive style of governance of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu has kept the 10th House stable over the past year. Their approach to governance has played a crucial role in fostering a sense of inclusiveness in Parliament. They have adopted a collaborative approach that cuts across party lines and fostered an environment where all voices are heard and valued.
“So, the uncoordinated attacks and smear campaign against our honourable Speaker and the leadership of the House of Representatives do not bother us. These are attempts by unprofessional, corrupt elements to poison the media space in a desperate attempt to hide from the inevitable that is to come. I remain focused in my fight for good governance.”
