The Association of Parliamentary Writers APW has asked spin
doctors not to pass the blame on the alleged forgery of Senate standing rules
to the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly Ben Efeturi. Efeturi and President
of the Senate Bukola Saraki, his Deputy
Ike Ekweremadu, the outgoing Clerk of the National Assembly Salisu Maikasuwa
are on trial for alleged forgery of Senate standing rules.
The Association in a press release made available to newsmen
in Abuja and signed by its National scribe Barr. Kingsley Frank said trying to
shift the bulk of the whole forgery saga on the Deputy clerk is a wrong move
that is aimed at deceiving the Nigerian public and placing Efeturi in bad light
as well as branding him as the brain behind the so called forgery.
APW said Efeturi as a public servant does not have anything
to gain whatsoever in forging standing rules of the Senate. “As a public
servant what does he stand to gain by forging standing rules of the Senate? He
has made his statements to the police and has also issued press statements to
define his role in the emergence of the present leadership of the Senate which
he said was done with the best of intentions. Why then are mischief makers
trying to paint him in ugly light by passing the blame to him in the issue of
the alleged forgery?”
The association queried why the blame should be on Efeturi
when he has a superior. “Why should the Clerk be seen to abdicate his
responsibilities as a Clerk to the National Assembly in this circumstance?” As
much as we have utmost regard for the outgoing Clerk we believe that trying to
shift the bulk of the ongoing trial to Mr. Benedict Efeturi in our own humble
submission amounts to cowardice if not outright mischief on the part of those
doing so. We are also urging all the parties not to allow themselves to fall
for the tactics of the executive which is aimed at using divide and rule to
break their ranks” the statement added.
The association also asked the Executive arm of government
to as a matter of national interest withdraw the litigation against the
leadership of the senate stressing that it will only create more distraction
for the present administration. It said the distractions against the
legislative arm of government since its inauguration last June has cost the
nation a lot in terms of service delivery. “We cannot continue with such
distractions which in our honest view is, not leading the country to anywhere.
The Senate is an independent institution and must be respected for its
independence. We do hope that this recent case against its leadership will not
be a ploy to cause disaffection within its ranks” The statement added.
