Wahala don happen for National Assembly as tempers fire during budget defence session o!
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senator Patrick Ndubueze nearly scatter ground for Wednesday as dem clash over who go talk when during the Ministry of Steel Development’s budget defence. Na as Ndubueze wan close the matter after almost four hours of gist, Akpoti-Uduaghan no gree make him carry gavel talk say she don talk finish. She talk say she still get serious matter wey she wan discuss.
Akpoti-Uduaghan no wan hear story as she shout, “No, please do not interrupt. I still have something to say, and I think you should respect me enough. Please don’t do that.” Ndubueze no carry her matter for head at all; he just gavel the matter away say, “No, you have spoken enough, and I have respected you enough.” This one na too much disrespect wey no go sit well for her body!
The Kogi Central lawmaker no gree allow am close the matter as she fire back, “I think you have disrespected me more than enough. You can’t do this to me.” As she dey vex, she talk say dem never meet with the minister enough. Na only God know when dem go ever meet again. Abeg, who no go vex?
Earlier for the session, wey involve budget for 2024 and planning for 2025, Akpoti-Uduaghan ask plenty questions about how Ministry dey handle Ajaokuta Steel Company matter. She talk say dem no give her copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), wey be like saying something fishy dey happen.
“If TPE was to bring the technical expertise, that means ProForce should have brought the finance. Please explain this to me,” she dey baffle for the minister wey dey present the budget. She also no hold back as she dey criticize how the ministry dey interact with her as Kogi Central representative. “I have met only three times since I enter Senate. Wetin be this na?” she dey vex.
As the minister dey try explain how budget waka go, he talk say dem don budget N24.143 billion for the ministry which involve personnel, overhead, and capital expenditure. Na serious matter be this o, but Akpoti-Uduaghan no dey satisfied.
She dey vex as she dey talk say the ministry dey recycle rhetoric without any tangible progress. “You have prepared this fantastic speech… we just meet, we talk to the media, and then every day we fold our arms and do nothing,” she dey shout to make dem hear her. Akpoti-Uduaghan don tire for the back and forth wey dey happen with the Ajaokuta issue since almost three years, she no fit relax again.
This drama no be small matter at all as the National Assembly dey hot with tension. People dey follow am closely as wetin go happen next go dey very interesting. Na only time go tell if this clash go bring any meaningful change for the ministry matter. As e be now, e be like say everybody dey wait for the next session to see wetin go happen!
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