By Uche Amunike
The Nigerian Senate has described comments made by Labour Party chieftain, Professor Pat Utomi, to the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, concerning the decision of the red chambers to stop the planned increase of electricity tariffs, which will only end up increasing the suffering of the masses.
Speaking through a statement released by the Senate Spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, Sunday in Abuja, he stated that the Senate was shocked at the deceptive misconception spoken by some political surrealists who are fond of leaving the reasons of their troubles to look for seek unwarranted scape goats.
Recall that on Tuesday, July 25th, Senator Akintunde Abiodun passed a motion to put an end to the planned electricity tariff hike.
An additional plea was made by Senator Cyril of APC (Ekiti North) who moved another plea, saying ‘Let the People Breathe’. Shortly after, a video clip of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, laughing while passing the prayers, ‘Let the Poor Breathe’ went viral, leaving in its wake, numerous tweeps that interpreted him as mocking the poor.
One of the people who passed comments about the lawmakers was Professor Pat Utomi, who stated that he was traumatized that the poor was being mocked by the senators.
His words: ‘I am traumatised by this mocking of the poor by our Senate. In a decent society, we should have had resignations by now to mock the poor is to mock God. I know where Godswill Akpabio was before Obong Victor Attah gave a hand. Better an honest poor than a rich thief politician.’
In response to the social media comment, Adaramodu noted that claiming that the Senate President was mocking the Nigerian citizenry with the phrase ‘Let the Poor Breathe’ simply meant dressing mischief in an undesirable garment, stating that the assaults being thrown to Akpabio was unnecessary.
Hear him: ‘The Senate is an assembly of Distinguished men and women, who are sent by the Nigerian public to the Hallowed Chamber to represent their interests. The public-interest motion to halt an increase in the electricity tariff for Nigerians is one of such instances that tests the Senatorial responsiveness of Distinguished members of the 10th Senate.’
‘With the fire of the fuel subsidy removal still smouldering, the Senate opined that any increase in electricity tariff would be suffocating and that whoever is desirous of doing so should allow the poor; all Nigerians to breathe’, he added.
He asserted that the Senate President gave a stern warning that any moves made to increase the electricity tariff will not favor the masses and expressed his disapproval that even though Godswill Akpabio has shown an open display of sensitivity and patriotism in the country, certain politicians still felt the need to paint a bad picture of him.
He further averred: ‘The Senate didn’t and would not mock the masses, without who, there would be no Nigerian Senate. Digging into extreme partisanship to impugn on the image of the Senate and particularly the personality of the Senate President, is quite unfortunate and an exhibition of political superficialism, irreverent and opprobrious outburst.’
He maintained that Akpabio had passed a lot of life support resolutions in his little time in office as Senate President, including refusing to increase electricity tariff, which has been misinterpreted. He advised political rolling stones not to play politics with the lives of Nigerians and allow the lawmakers to join hands with other arms of government to deliver Nigeria from economic decline and make life better for everyone.
