Kwara Assembly, ex-speaker, Atunwa in war of words over N35b bond approval

Date: 2021-02-04

The approval of N35b bond request from Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, by the State's House of Assembly, has triggered a war of words between the former Speaker of the House, Razak Atunwa and the 9th Assembly.

Barrister Atunwa had, following the approval of the proposed bond by the House of Assembly for the governor, issued a statement calling the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Debt Management Office, DMO, to put Kwara State on watchlist over the bond request.

He argued among other things, that the N35b bond request did not follow due process because there was no public hearing conducted by the House to scrutinize it.

Atunwa's statement observed that: "It is exceedingly alarming that the governor of Kwara state, in concert with his collaborators in the Kwara state House of Assembly, has embarked on a glaringly illegal scheme to borrow N35b without due authority or due process.

"The first time the Kwara public became aware of this proposed borrowing of humongous proportion was when the state House of Assembly passed a resolution approving the governor's request. This is most worrying indeed."

However, reacting to Atunwa's statement on Tuesday, the House of Assembly, in a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youth, Sports, Culture and Tourism, Hon Awolola Olumide Ayokunle, dismissed the former speaker's claim, saying "The process leading to the N35b request followed all due process and complied with all regulatory requirements."

He said, "His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, communicated the request for approval of the bond to Kwara state House of Assembly via a letter dated January 7th, 2021, duly signed by the Secretary to the state government, attached in compliance with extant laws.

"Between January 7, 2021, when the honorable House received the governor's request, and January 26, 2021, when the request was read on the floor, the House embarked on a series of consultative activities which informed its conviction that the bond would ultimately serve public interest.

"Consequently, the request was debated extensively on the floor of the House on 26th January, 2021. After rigorous scrutiny, the House was convinced that the bond, if secured, will serve public interest and address the overwhelming infrastructural deficit in the state.'

Ayokunle, asserted that the House was confident that from all available documents presented before it, the process conformed with all relevant lawful provisions.

"These, therefore, informed the resolution of the House, as required by law," he added.

The committee chairman said, "It is on record that the 8th Assembly, only called for public hearing on the request for approval on N20b bond by former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, scheduled for Friday, 18th December 2015, but was later cancelled."

Ayokunle, also reminded Atunwa that in 2008, while he was a member of the state executive council, through a letter dated September 8th, 2008, the then state executive council, requested approval of Kwara state House of Assembly to raise N45b bond and same was approved by the sixth Assembly through a motion on September 11,2008, without debate on the floor of the House, nor any public hearing.

"It is worthy of note, that at no time in the history of the legislature in Kwara state was a public hearing held over such a request, not even for the grossly misappropriated N17b bond secured by former governor Bukola Saraki," he further claimed.

The committee chairman disclosed that on January 3rd, 2012, governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, requested Hon Atunwa-led 7th Assembly's resolution in support of a N10b credit facility from Guaranty Trust bank PLC, without reference to any specific project. The request was speedily approved through an undisputed motion by the House.

He said "We are, therefore, marveled at the moral justification a former speaker under whose watch a loan of N10b was approved without debate has to fault a thoroughly debated resolution of the 9th Kwara Assembly."

Ayokunle said while the House members are open to constructive criticisms from the opposition and Kwarans of good conscience, "we urge Hon Atunwa and stakeholders alike to ensure future comments and submissions on state matters are guided by the truth and unabashed patriotism."

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Adisa Logun     Danhawa     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Olaiya Zuberu     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Boko Haram     Yusuf Abubakar     Abraham Ojo     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     LAK Jimoh     Ilorin Curfew     Valsolar     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Afonja Descendants Union     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Dauda Adeniran Adeshola     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Suleman Abubakar     Shuaib Abdulkadir     Mohammed Jimoh Faworaja     Isin     Ilota     Ile Arugbo     Tunde Oyawoye     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Akume     Ramat Oganija     Chief Imam Of Offa     Ayo Adeyemi     Amusement Park     AGILE Programme     Hakeem Idris     Taofeek Ibraheem     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Abubakar Lah     Mohammed Katsina Ahmed     Kwara University Of Education     LABTOP     Sanitation Exercise     Ilorin Emirate     Bashir Adigun     Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf     Kolawole Akande     Eghe Igbinehin     Nigeria Customs Service     Moshood Mustapha     Adijat Adebiyi     Nupe     Olabanji Orilonishe     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     NaAllah     Femi Ogunsola     Tafidan Kaiama     Maigida Soludero Transit     Aminat Omodara     Aiyedun     Yakub Lai Gobir     Iyiola Oyedepo     Vasolar Consultoria     Abdulraheem Yusuf     Usman Rifun     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Madawaki     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Maigidasanma     AGM Professional Services     Bashiru Makama     Kisra     Apado     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     JAAC     Erubu     Temi Kolawole    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Taiwo Joseph     Abubakar Baba     Jide Oyinloye     Elelu     IHS Towers     Saidu Isa     Vasolar Consultoria     Adesoye College     Sarakite     Olatunde Jare     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Centre For Digital Economy     Yomi Adeboye     Hassanat Bello     KWACOBPA     JUSUN     Amuda Aluko     Tanke Flyover Bridge     Facebook     AbdulRahman Saad     Ajia-Bako     Henry Olaosebikan     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Tuesday Assayomo     Bola Tinubu     Hassan A. Saliu     Ramat Oganija     Balikis Jawondo     Voices Of Tomorrow     Yakubu Danladi     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     Hussein Oloyede     Yahaya Seriki     Roheemat Hammed     Hamidu Olowo     Offa     Olusin Of Ijara Isin     Abdulkareem Alabi     Theophilus Oyebiyi     Muhammadu Buhari     Suleiman Alege Kuranga     Agbarere     Dumagi     Olaiya Lawal     Valsolar Consultoria     Segun Ogunsola     Olabimpe Olani     Aliyu Olatunji Ajanaku     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Oko-Erin     Aso Ofi     KW-GIS     Aliyu Kora-Sabi     Bond     Shettima     Arik     Tunde Kazeem     Kwara South     Kale Ayo     Kunle Suleiman     Monthly Sanitation     FOMWAN     Joana Nnazua Kolo     2017 Budget     Sheikh Ariyibi     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Salihu Jibril Garbi     Idowu Laro     Sheriff Shagaya     Kwara State Pension Board     Maryam Ado Bayero     John Olajide Adedipe     HYPPADEC     Samari     Imam Gambari     Sun Qing Rong