Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha stated yesterday that the House is fighting oil cabals and will not be deterred by any amount of distractions.
Ihedioha stressed that “would remain focused in spite of the plot orchestrated by some of the people affected by the Oil subsidy Report to distract the House from its legislative duties and oversight functions.”
He noted that the N422bn uncovered recently by a committee set up by the Federal Government as over payment of fuel subsidy to Oil Marketers was a tacit reaffirmation of the report of the House on oil subsidy.
The Deputy Speaker spoke yesterday when the Human Rights Writers Association awarded him the most friendly human rights politician in the country in his office.
He notes: “the House has continued to remain focused on its legislative duties and pursuit of good governance for the benefit of the citizens of Nigeria in spite of the efforts of some people to distract us. We will not be deterred”.
He stated that the House was not surprised with the unfolding skirmishes, noting; “when you take on a cabal as the House did in investigating the oil subsidy fraud you should be ready to witness the kind of situation the House is currently facing.”
He believes strongly that the House would survive the skirmishes and triumph since the oil subsidy report was purely in public interest and aimed at instituting good governance.
He expressed satisfaction over the support the House has enjoyed from the civil society groups and many Nigerians since the matter commenced.
Chairman of the Human Rights Writers Association, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko noted that the battle against the House was a subterranean move to kill the oil subsidy report. According to him, Nigerians would not accept anything short of prosecuting those indicted in the report.
“Allegations of bribery should not take away the essence and substance of the oil subsidy report. The oil thieves must be made to face the full weight of the law”, he states.