‘I rejected Obasanjo’s N50m third term bribe

Deputy Senate leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, took on former President Olusegun Obasanjo, over his sweeping statement that all members of the National Assembly were corrupt.

The former President was quoted to have dismissed members of the National Assembly as lacking in integrity.

Senator Na’Allah, in a statement, entitled “I am not corrupt and I have integrity”, dared Obasanjo to prove a single act of corrupt practice against him.

The Kebbi South lawmaker reminded Obasanjo that it is on record that he (Na’Allah) rejected his (Obasanjo’s) “N50 million as an inducement to subvert the Constitution and provide a constitutional framework for the third term ambition of President Obasanjo.”

Na’Allah insisted that he was prepared to vacate his seat as senator, if Obasanjo could prove a single record of corruption against him.

Na’ Allah said: “My attention has been drawn to a purported statement attributed to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in which it was alleged that he made a sweeping statement to the effect that there are no men of integrity in the National Assembly.

“I am respectfully taking exception to the statement, which I express the hope, is not true.

“To start with, it is not in my character to join issues with elder statemen, who have had the privilege of superintending over the affairs of our country.

“This exception has become necessary in view of the enormity of the alleged statement to my person and integrity.

“If former President Obasanjo can come out with one proven record of corruption against me as a person I promised to vacate my seat as a senator.

“For the records I was the only member from Kebbi State who did not find it worthy at that time of collecting the N50 million as an inducement to subvert the Constitution and provide a constitutional framework for the third term ambition of President Obasanjo.

“I find this statement, if it is true, to be reckless and terrifying. The implication of the statement is to say that over 170 million Nigerians have not elected a single person with integrity among the 469 members of the National Assembly’’.