Drama in the Senate over Oshiomhole’s ‘Looting Remark’

The former governor of Edo State supported the Senate’s collective integrity.

On Tuesday morning during plenary session, a lawmaker representing Ogun West Senatorial District in the 10th National Assembly (NASS), Solomon Adeola, accused his colleague from Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, of alleging on live television that Senators in the 9th NASS looted their offices, carting away office furniture and equipment.

Adeola claimed Oshiomhole violated the privileges of his position and requested that he apologise publicly to the 10th Senate.

Adeola noted that the practise requires parliamentarians to sign for every item in their offices before they are carried out at the end of each Assembly, and that no Senators stole their offices during the 9th Assembly.

He demanded that Oshiomhole, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), explain why he made these charges on live television without seeking confirmation.

The Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, attempted to intervene, urging that the topic be handled behind closed doors, but the majority of lawmakers refused.

To defuse the tension in the chamber, Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau intervened, explaining that all items in Senators’ offices depreciate by 25% every four years, and the tradition is to give lawmakers the right to offer to purchase those items, and if accepted, the lawmaker will either pay outright for the items or the funds are deducted from their severance gratuity.

Following that, the man in the centre of the storm, Oshiomhole, took the floor and expressed his admiration for the National Assembly.

The former Edo State governor explained that while he did appear on a renowned national television network, he supported the Senate’s collective integrity.

He highlighted that he never said Senators robbed their offices, but rather that the offices were vandalised, prompting Senators to supply the basic needs of their offices by purchasing some furnishings.

He did, however, apologise to his coworkers, whom he claims were hurt by his remarks.