A lawmaker representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Hon. Bello El-Rufai, has been cautioned to desist from misleading the general public by denying ever receiving the recently distributed official vehicles for members.
El-Rufai, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Banking Regulations, had appeared on a podcast programme of Channels Television presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, known as ‘MIC ON’; where he denied receiving the SUV.
The lawmaker also said some of his colleagues did not receive the much-criticized SUVs, even though he acknowledged that many of his other colleagues received them.
But in an internal memo leaked to this newspaper on Wednesday, the Deputy Spokesperson for the House, Hon. Philip Agbese, cautioned the Kaduna lawmaker not to “grandstand or pontificate on contentious matters in a way that would bring the image of the parliament to disrepute”.
The leaked memo revealed that “every Member of the 10th House of Representatives has received their vehicle”, even though it said, “these vehicles remain the property of the House of Representatives and are to aid Honourable Members in the discharge of their duties”.
The internal memo addressed to members of the House, which is titled, ‘Clarification on Vehicle Allocation’, reads as follows:
“Our attention has been drawn to a trending video excerpt from an interview, wherein one of our distinguished colleagues, Hon. Bello El-Rufai, claimed that some members, including himself, rejected their operational vehicles allocated to them.
“It has become necessary to state that, this is totally false and inaccurate. From our checks with the House Committee on House Services, every member of the 10th House of Representatives has received their vehicle.
“The House, therefore, cautions Hon. El-Rufai to desist from further misinforming the public or attempting to set his colleagues up for public ridicule. As a House, we are advised not to grandstand or pontificate on contentious matters in a way that would bring the image of the parliament to disrepute. Hence, the need for caution in public discourse, especially now that the 10th House of Representatives is earning the trust of Nigerians.
“We take this opportunity to clarify that all Honourable Members have had their vehicles duly allocated to them. These vehicles remain the property of the House of Representatives and are to aid Honourable Members in the discharge of their duties.
“We also wish to remind all Honourable Members that while you have the liberty to engage with the media and the public as you see fit, it is in the best interests of the House and all members to avoid causing disaffection and raising controversial matters.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
