Notwithstanding the uproar from the Nigerian public regarding the proposed N56 billion to be expended on the purchase of imported Toyota Sport Utility Vehicles for 469-member Nigeria’s parliament, a Labour Party senator, Neda Imasuen [LP, Edo Central] yesterday defended why he and his colleagues in his party will accept the cars.
Nigerians have been outraged by the expenditure.
LP boss, Julius Abure, demanded lawmakers from his party in the National Assembly side with the people and reject the cars, and LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi called the proposed purchase “the height of insensitivity” and suggested the money be redirected to primary health care for the people..
But Imasuen, Chair of the Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions committee of the senate said singling out the LP alone for criticism was unfair because the party had too few legislators to swing legislative votes and policies.
The plan by the National Assembly members to purchase SUVs, amid cost of living crisis generated uproar in the country.
Imasuen said, “I have not received any vehicle and none has been offered to me. However, we are in a democracy and where the majority will have their way and the minority will have their say.
“We can only say what we believe is the right thing to do in the parliament; we are just eight senators, amid 109 senators. So, those who have zeroed in on Labour Party senators. I think it is very unfair.
Imasuen argued further that, “Assuming 109 vehicles are given to senators and eight rejected, can you please tell me what significance that will be to the budget or the overall image of the National Assembly?
“What I can say is that the LP is not the proponent of this and we have made some inquiries and these seem to be the practice every four years.
“What people don’t know is that senators are offered the right of first refusal after their tenure. If they don’t buy the vehicle, it goes back to the Senate.
“It is supposed to be a working vehicle for senators. If we were to vote on it today, the eight Labour Party senators will vote against it but it doesn’t stop it because the 101 senators will vote yes. Even if we reject it, who takes it, are they going to return it to the manufacturers?”.
But many Nigerians who see LP as pro-poor party believe that rejection of the offer by LP lawmakers would be the right moral signaling to a corrupt system, set the right example. Many say at a minimum, the order should have been to any of locally made Nigerian brands, not only to communicate patriotism but boost the economy and jobs.
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