ZHUL-QI’DA 25, 1429 A.H.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2008
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N2.3bn car deal: ‘No amount of threat can deter us’... Ogunewe
Rep. Independence Ogunewe (PDP-Imo) says no amount of threat, blackmail and intimidation will deter his group from its principled stance on transparency and accountability in the House of Representatives.
The group was accused of fueling the ongoing crisis in the House over the purchase of official cars for lawmakers.
Other members of the group are Kayode Amusan (PDP-Ogun), Festus Adegoke (PDP-Oyo), Gbenga Oduwaye (PDP-Ogun) and Ahwinahwi Solomon (PDP-Delta).
Ogunewe made the remark in a statement in Abuja in reaction to allegations that he was one of those trying to undermine the integrity of the leadership of the House.
He said he knew nothing about the allegations.
Ogunneye said he had never met one Umar Farouk, said to have recruited him or held meetings with him in his house privately or with any other his collegues.
``I never offered anybody, including Farouk, any money or inducement, for the purpose of smearing the Speaker or the entire House of Representatives, by way of press interviews or circulation of leaflets, as claimed by him,'' he said.
Ogunewe said the allegations weredesigned to undermine and pull down some members of the House.
He recalled that prior to the public testimony of Farouk on Nov. 13, he had received several text messages, threatening him to stop his campaign for the probe of the car deal.
``It appears that there are desperate and wicked forces targetting any person who stands on the path of truth,'' he said.
Ogunewe, who is also the Committee Chairman on Cooperation and Integration in Africa , said the allegations were diversionary, aimed at playing down the issues of transparency and accountability in the purchase of the vehicles.
