President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua yesterday held a crucial meeting with State Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senate President, Senator David Mark, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh and theparty�s National Chairman, Dr. Ahmadu in a bid to ensure a hitch-free joint session scheduled for today.
The House of Representatives has been embroiled in acrisis over the award of N529 million contracts for the renovations of the residences of the Speaker, Mrs. Olubunmi Etteh and her deputy, Babangida Nguroje.
Even as the Idoko panel report, which had found Etteh culpable is awaiting deliberation tomorrow, a section of the House had threatened to boycott today�s joint session to be addressed by the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh.
THISDAY gathered last night that to avert any form of�embarrassment,� to the visiting Prime Minister, President Yar�Adua called the meeting to ensure that all obstacles to the smooth session is removed.
Presidency sources told THISDAY that President Yar�Adua is canvassing the closing of ranks by the National Assembly at least for now to accord a warm reception to the Prime Minister of one of the world�s largest democracy.
The meeting resolved that if assurances of a smooth session are not guaranteed by the leadership of the National Assembly, it may be called off. However, Mark and Etteh assured the meeting that legislators are eager and willing to accord the visiting Prime Minister the highest respect deserving of his office.
Also following reports that he has resigned over the alleged indictment of the Idoko panel, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Babangida Sa�idu Nguroje, said he has no intention of resigning his position because it is uncalled for.
His denial came just as the Senate President, yesterday distanced himself from any renovation contracts in the National Assembly, saying he has not been involved in any since he stepped into the saddle on June 5 this year.
The Taraba-born lawmaker in a statement issued last night maintained �The said report is false and does not reflect the reality on ground because nothing like that exists, and if it does at all, it is only in the imagination of the writer of the speculation or of his sources�.
In the statement, signed by Mr Hammeed Bello, the Special Adviser on Media to Nguroje, he said the deputy speaker �has not committed any offence, neither has he been found guilty of any. He is therefore not under any form of pressure from any quarter to resign his appointment as was speculated. Nguroje accordingly urged members of the public to disregard the said report, which has no basis in fact.�
Meanwhile, Etteh has expressed confidence that the House would resume plenary on Tuesday without rancour. Etteh who enjoined her supporters in and outside the House to maintain absolute candour and respect for the rule of law however stated for the umpteeth time that she would not be rail roaded into stepping aside.
A press statement signed on her behalf by her MediaConsultant, Mr. Olumide Lawal stated that she �holdsmembers of opposition in the House in high esteem,very much against what her detractors would want topaint of her. She has continued to relate with themwith mutual respect, putting partisan politics atbay.�According to the statement �Most commentaries on thealleged scandal were frivolous and biased, since suchcommentators have not find it expedient to analyseobjectively, all issues appertaining to the contractaward under reference. Some are just commentingblindly, just because they should say something likeothers. No substance. Jaundiced views. Whereas, hereis Madam Speaker who has not �sat� on any amount ofmoney, since in anyway, she could not have done so,going by her track record. Such negative commentariesso far, were borne out of the fact, that they are notproperly weighted against the intention of a fewmembers of the House, who have one axe or the other togrind with Chief (Mrs.) Etteh, for their own interiormotives.�
Oct152007