By Dapo Akinrefon
SOUTH-WEST socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has berated members of the National Assembly over what it described as the “stupendous salaries and allowances” they have awarded themselves.

Afenifere also lampooned the political parties for betraying the trust and responsibility bestowed on them by Nigerians by not calling the National Assembly to order.

In a statement, its leader,  Chief Reuben Fasoranti said “our leading political parties being PDP, ANPP, ACN, APGA, DPP and Labour, all having seats in the National Assembly have betrayed the trust and responsibility incumbent upon those presenting the individuals for elective positions, by not condemning the outrageous looting of our collective wealth by administrative fiat by our self serving legislators.”

Fasoranti argued that “these political parties are so insensitive to the needs and aspiration of the populace, that they have not deemed it necessary to express the disgust and derision of the Nigerian people to the unbridled kleptomania of these 4th Republic rulers in the stupendous salary and allowances they have awarded themselves.”

He further argued that by this act both the leaders of the political parties and the legislators have proven themselves to be rulers indeed and not Leaders adding that “this official kleptomania must be arrested. The forthcoming election is an opportunity to effect a peaceful change in the polity by rejecting all the Parties currently represented in the National Assembly at the polls. Now is the time for change.”

The Afenifere boss, however, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to set up commission of enquiry to probe the financial activities of the National Assembly.

“We are calling for a Commission of enquiry by law enforcement agencies into the details of the expenses for which these allowances were expended on. Criminal liabilities will arise if public funds collected for specific expenses were misapplied. It is outrageous that these individuals are collecting N198million each as Senators, and N127 million annually each as members of the House of Representatives. Chief Fasoranti has challenged the Nigerian people to rise up and take their future in their own hands,” he said.