A former commissioner for education in Bauchi state, Dr Aliyu Tilde, has stated that the comment by Senate President Godswill Akpabio can trigger a military takeover in Nigeria.
Tilde was reacting to Akpabio’s gaffe on Wednesday when he told senators they had been paid for their vacation.
“In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the clerk of the national assembly,” Akpabio stated.
When reminded by his colleagues that he was on national TV, Akpabio recanted and said:
“I withdraw that statement. In order to allow you to enjoy your holiday, the senate president has sent prayers to your mailboxes to assist you to go on a safe journey and return.”
The comment by the former Akwa Ibom state governor sparked outrage on social media,
Timi Frank, former deputy national publicity of the All Progressives Congress, also called for Akpabio’s resignation over the statement.
Dr Tilde warned that those in authority must cut down on the cost of governance, noting that Akpabio’s comment can infuriate soldiers and ordinary Nigerians.
His words:
”This is why there are coups in Africa. The politicians have turned democracy into private business.
”Imagine amidst the widespread hunger, people who are given N27 million monthly are still announcing to the public the disbursement of an allowance to “enjoy” their holiday!
”And if there is a coup tomorrow, the “international community” and their surrogate organizations will demand a return to the looting, sanction the country and even bombard it.
”But while it is on, World Bank and IMF have never questioned this recklessness nor made it a condition for any loan.
”No country applies any restraining order to tame the practice. No leader, at home or abroad, speaks against the practice.
”They have the right to “enjoy”; we have the right to “suffer”. I wish this president’s agenda of reducing the cost of governance would include this kind of waste.”