Stanley Nkwazema and Ndubuisi Ugah in Lagos
24 September 2007
Abuja — Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Patricia Etteh, has alleged that some members of the House have embarked on a campaign of calumny against her over her academic qualifications.
Etteh said some members had started peddling rumour that she submitted forged certificates of her educational qualifications.
Debunking the rumour that she falsified her certificates, the speaker said: "I have never pretended to be what I am not. I did not present certificates that I do not own and my qualifications and resume are public documents. I attended First Baptist Primary School, Surulere, Ilorin, as against the one circulated to score cheap political points. They are pathological liars and are out to mislead Nigerians.
"Every Nigerian knows that I attended Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire in Osun State and that I am a professional beautician. I have a Diploma in Law and my B.Sc Political Science degree from the University of Abuja is in view. "This new gimmick is an old overused one that was also employed to attempt to remove my predecessor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari. It did not work then and it would not work now".
She said "My certificates are available for all to see. I have nothing to hide and I seek the collective protection of Nigerians from this group of men and women who would stop at nothing to pull me down, because they think the new members of the House do not deserve committee chairmanship.
"This country belongs to us all. I am being persecuted for having humble beginnings. Is it a sin to want to rise above poverty, work hard and be determined to have a first degree at age 54? I have struggled hard to come this far and if I have fake or forged documents, would I have been allowed to contest in Alliance for Democracy? Would I have enjoyed the support of the likes of our respected late leader, Chief Bola Ige?
"Once again, I seek the collective protection of Nigerians, so that this House can deliver the dividends of democracy to the people who queued under the sun to vote for us. They should leave me alone to do the job I was elected to do."
In a statement issued yesterday by her Special Adviser on Media, Mrs Funke Egbemode, Etteh said it was "pertinent to quickly clear the air before they start another orgy of lies, rumours and character assassination."
Etteh further said: "It is obvious that those who started the contract scam stories have run out of ideas and in their desperation, are grabbing at straws like drowning men. Because the committees which they thought belonged to them by right have been inaugurated and commenced work, their loss has finally hit them right in between the eyes.
"They tried every trick in the book, but the truth of the renovation and upgrading contract has come out. Even their name -calling and resort to physical violence on national television could not save them from disgrace."
Etteh said "it is now obvious that the mudslinging all along is about personal interests, not one borne out of genuine desire to protect tax payers' funds or fight corruption.
"If these enemies of democracy are allowed to continue to stall the legislative duties of the House because they did not get committee chairs they want, Nigerians will lose more. It is time to stop them in their tracks."
Also, following the astonishing revelations at the public hearing on the N629 million controversial contract, management of the National Assembly has turned its searchlight on its staff.
In a recent circular, NAS/30/vol1/t, the management accused some of its staff of "planting stories" to "maliciously" tarnish the " hard earned reputations and images of some public office holders for no discernible cause."
Meanwhile, facts emerged yesterday as to how the Speaker opposed the idea of giving advance payment to contractors awarded the controversial N529 million contract for the renovation of her official residence and that of her deputy, Babangida Nguroje.
State Co Nigeria Limited which was awarded the N238 million contract for the renovation of Etteh's official residence was paid the sum of N59.7 million, guaranteed by a bond for a value of N181,000 million from Fidelity Bank Plc.
THISDAY learnt that at a meeting of the Body of Principal Officers of the House held on July 12, 2007 on the contract, the Speaker initially opposed the advance payment and sought clarification from the Director of Legal Services of the National Assembly as to the propriety of the procedure.
Etteh sought clarification on the issue after the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Nasir Arab, told the Body of the Principal Officers that State Co would be paid 25 per cent of the contract sum on commencement of the job while additional payment shall be effected upon certification of stage of execution by the Department of Estate and Works.
According to the minutes of the meeting, "at this juncture, the Chairman sought clarification from the Director of Legal Services as to the propriety or otherwise of the procedure being adopted especially in respect of advance payment, etc, to which he answered in the affirmative."
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