With so much now at stake, including the loss of power, prestige, influence and respectability, President Olusegun Obasanjo may have started to spend like a drunken sailor in a Chinese bar, with reports that he is now ready to bribe national legislators by as much as N150 million (over $1 million) each to save a failing bid to stay in power.
The leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] in the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, discloses a fresh offer of N150 million to some lawmakers opposed to President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure elongation.
Tambuwal, told Sunday Punch in Abuja, that at least five lawmakers opposed to the third term agenda were approached with the offer on Friday.
He warned those involved in the act to desist from what he described as a shameful ploy to break the ranks of opposition in the lower legislature.
“No less than five anti-third term members in the House of Representatives have confided in me that different individuals that are associated with the government have approached them and made offers of N100 to N150 million, depending on the individual, to change their minds and support third term.
“We have been contending with these people and we know them. If they continue, we will not only mention names, but we will allow our people to go and collect the money.
“If our people collect the money, we will lay it on the table of the House for us to further establish the fact that so much money is being offered. We wish to warn them against further attempt to bribe our members to support their evil campaign.”
Despite official denials, some lawmakers had also, two weeks ago alleged the offer of N50 million bribe to some senators promoting the agenda and N40 million to some of the House of Representatives members that belonged to the group.
The N50 million largesse to the senators was said to be part payment of N70 million promised each senators belonging to the camp.
The ANPP leader noted that the pro-third term group were becoming so desperate because of their apparent failure to clinch the two-third majority required to sustain tenure elongation in the amended constitution.
He said with what had happened on the floor of the Senate, it was obvious that the plot has failed, adding that top government functionaries were desperate to get the plot through in the House.
On the alleged threat to the lives of members opposed to the third term bid, Tambuwal said a letter would on Monday be dispatched to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, and other security outfits on the matter.
“I want Nigerians to continue praying for the 2007 Movement and by the grace of God, they should also know that the third term plot for Obasanjo has failed and that our country would be better for it.”
But the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said the allegation was baseless.
Kayode, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, argued that if members of the National Assembly have any case of wrongdoing by government officials, they should produce evidence to substantiate such claim.
“If anybody has a case of wrongdoing by any government official, the person should supply the evidence. I want to say that this is allegation is baseless,” he said.
