By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Godiya Akwashiki has reacted to the statement credited to President Muhammadu Buhari over alleged N1trillion constituency funds, saying it is possible that the President has been quoted out of context by the press.
Federal lawmaker representing Nasarawa north senatorial district at the red chamber, who said that press can be funny sometimes, stated this while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
Recall that President Buhari was quoted as saying that N1trillion has been allocated for constituency projects in the last 10 years with little or nothing to show for it.
In the words of the Senate spokesperson, “press can be funny sometimes, it is possible President Buhari was misquoted by the press, he said.
He said that the President is yet to write to the National Assembly that this happened, he therefore called for patience until the President’s letter comes.
“Quote me, the press can be funny sometimes. May be what we are reading is not the way Mr. President said it, and he has not written to National Assembly to say this or that. So, there is no cause for alarm or for anybody to disturb himself” Akwashiki said.
Speaking on the bill for an Act to make provisions for the protection from internet falsehood and manipulations 2019, otherwise called the social media regulation bill which passed second reading Wednesday, the Senate Spokesman emphasised that there was no cause for alarm.
“The Bill is just to regulate the activities of social media, people that are interested in posting things and to make sure you don’t post things that will harm your neighbour, it is not targeted at New Media.
“Even if it is targeted at New Media, you have the opportunity to speak for or against it during public hearing” he added.
Akwashiki also listed some of the bills that have passed first and second reading in the last one week in the Senate.
The bills include, Federal Medical Centre Rigasa, Kaduna state bill 2019 (SB 163), Electoral Act Cap EC LFN 2004 Amendment Bill, 2019 (SB 176), Whistle blower and witness protection bill 2019 (SB 125) among others
