Akpabio dismisses Abbo’s fresh allegations as baseless
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), has disclosed that the red chamber is looking into all issues of public concern relating to the Tax Reform Bills 2024, assuring that they will be considered after the Eid-el-Fitr and Easter holidays.
This was as the Office of the President of the Senate dismissed fresh allegations on the number one lawmaker in the country by former lawmaker, Sen Elisha Abbo, describing them as baseless and malicious.
Bamidele equally revealed that the review of the Constitution was still on course, saying the process would lead to a more efficient and responsive governance system when concluded.
He made these revelations in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, yesterday, during an empowerment programme that benefited no fewer than 5,000 of his constituents across five local councils in Ekiti Central.
During the programme, Bamidele extensively reflected on diverse legislative initiatives the 10th Senate had promoted since its inauguration on June 13, 2023 to sustain the country’s democracy and stability its economy.
Persuaded by the urgent need to strengthen the economy, Bamidele observed that the upper chamber had focused mainly on the development of legal frameworks “to stabilise the fiscal and monetary spaces, prioritise security, address consumer price inflation and create more functional governance structures.”
Specifically, the Senate Leader pointed out prominent roles he had played in the formulation and prioritisation of several significant legislative initiatives, which, according to him, included the introduction of the Tax Reform Bills 2024.
At the programme, Bamidele empowered no fewer than 5,000 constituents with one Caterpillar tractor, 10 diesel engine tractors, 536 sewing machines, 303 chest freezers, while 1,900 received a grant of N100,000 each to boost their businesses.
Other beneficiaries got 180 motorcycles, 165 tricycles and 20 mini buses to ease transportation within the senatorial district.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji said Ekiti was benefitting from the request of President Bola Tinubu that the state should allow Bamidele to serve at the federal level.
ABBO, who was removed from the Senate following a judicial ruling, accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of orchestrating his removal.
However, Akpabio’s media aide, Eseme Eyiboh, in a statement, yesterday, refuted the claims, emphasising that the Senate President was not involved in the legal process that led to Abbo’s ouster.
The former Adamawa North senator also accused Akpabio of putting suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, in grave danger by withdrawing her security details.
Abbo claimed the suspension was not only politically-motivated but also deliberately designed to expose her to harm.
Speaking on Arise News PrimeTime show, Abbo stated: “He sat like an emperor and ordered her suspension, stopped her salary, barred her from the National Assembly, and even instructed the Inspector-General of Police not to provide her with security. In another way, he exposed her to be killed.”
Abbo questioned why Natasha was punished so severely while Akpabio himself had clashed with former Senate President Bukola Saraki in the 8th Assembly without facing suspension.
However, Eyiboh stated, “It is sad and regrettable that despite publicly retracting a similar allegation in 2023, Abbo has returned to the same baseless claims he previously renounced.”
