Tinubu Loans, Contracts Unpaid Funds: Moves To Intimidate Senator Kawu Sumaila By Akpabio Fail
From Muhammad Kabir, Kano
According to accounts of the meeting, tensions rose after Senator Kawu criticised the state of project execution across the country despite the National Assembly’s approval of substantial loans requested by President Bola Tinubu.
A Report according to Sahara Reporters, indicates that aheated confrontation reportedly broke out during a closed-door session of the Senate on Tuesday after Senator Kawu Sumaila representing the Kano South Senatorial District at the 10th Nigerian National Assembly clashed with the Senate leadership over comments concerning government contracts and committee appointments.
According to accounts of the meeting, tensions rose after Senator Kawu criticised the state of project execution across the country despite the National Assembly’s approval of substantial loans requested by President Bola Tinubu.
The senator was said to have told colleagues that many contractors had not been paid despite the approved loans, resulting in abandoned project sites.
Sources familiar with the proceedings claimed that Kawu warned that the situation could negatively affect the electoral prospects of lawmakers and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to the account, Kawu told senators that, “contractors were not paid despite huge loans that this Senate has approved for President Tinubu, yet the contractors were not paid and project sites abandoned by contractors.”
He reportedly added that many senators, particularly those of the APC, “cannot campaign effectively for their re-election and that of President Tinubu because of this.”
The remarks reportedly angered the Senate leadership, leading to an exchange during which the Senate Leader was said to have referenced an alleged agreement involving Kawu, the Senate leadership and President Tinubu before the senator’s defection to the APC.
According to the account, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele told senators that President Tinubu had facilitated a N90 billion ecological contract in Kano for Kawu and had also directed the Senate leadership, following the death of former Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, to hand over the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream to him.
“Kawu’s comments infuriated the Senate President and the Senate Leader, who then exposed the deal Senator Kawu had with the Senate leadership and President Tinubu before he defected to the APC. According to them, the arrangement led to the award of a N90 billion contract and Kawu’s appointment as Chairman of the Petroleum Downstream Committee,” a source in the Senate said.
However, Kawu reportedly rejected the comments and accused the leadership of attempting to intimidate him.
“The Senate Leader viewed Kawu’s remarks as a betrayal and a threat, but Kawu remained unyielding, insisting that he could not be blackmailed or intimidated into suppressing his views. He told them they could take back both the Petroleum Downstream Committee chairmanship and the contract,” the source added.
Witnesses claimed the senator responded angrily, declaring: “I cannot be blackmailed by them.”
He was further quoted as saying: “The Senate President and Senate Leader cannot blackmail me. They should take their chairmanship of the Downstream Committee and also take their N90 billion ecological contract instead of blackmailing me and trying to silence me because I spoke the mind of the majority of senators in the closed-door session.”
According to the account, Kawu maintained his position throughout the confrontation and insisted that he would not be intimidated for expressing his views.
He reportedly said that they should take their chairmanship of Petroleum Downstream and contract back, and that he cannot be blackmailed or intimidated from saying his mind and opinion.
The reported confrontation comes amid growing concerns over the implementation of government projects and the political implications of economic challenges ahead of future elections
