The House of Representatives has described former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comments on the National Assembly as both unfortunate and regrettable but would not join issues with him.
The former president had while speaking as Chairman of the public presentation of “The Story Of My Two Worlds; Challenges, Experiences And Achievements”, written by Justice Mustapha Akanbi (retd), the pioneer chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, in Abuja on Wednesday, taken a swipe at the legislative arm of government calling the National Assembly an assembly of thieves and looters.
Mr. Obasanjo was widely reported to have said among others: “Apart from shrouding the remunerations of the National Assembly in opaqueness and without transparency, they (lawmakers) indulge in extorting money from departments, contractors and ministries in two ways”.
Responding to the scathing remark by the ex-president, Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Mohammed Zakari, said: “The House of Representatives will not join issues with Obasanjo”.
“Obasanjo is our father, so if he decides to call his children thieves, I guess he is a father of thieves. As Africans, we respect our elders. We respect his age, his office and his role as an elder statesman”, the House spokesman added.
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