By  Emman Ovuakporie

ABUJA—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives, yesterday, differed on whether the House should constitute an investigative enquiry into allegations levelled against the Federal Government by the Alhaji Kawu Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that due to massive looting of the treasury, government was unable to allocate funds to states.

Some of the lawmakers who spoke to Vanguard had argued that it was appropriate to summon the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to shed more light on the allegations.

Others pointed accusing fingers at Baraje for being diversionary as he had in the past held various positions in PDP and never raised an eyebrow then, wondering why now?

Chairman House Committee on Finance, Abdulmunin Jibrin, representing Kano PDP, told Vanguard: “We will formally invite her to explain all she knows about the weighty allegations. Our committee would like to hear from her directly, then after that all other necessary actions that require immediate legislative duties would follow.“
Also, Chairman House Committee on Corruption and Ethics, Abiodun Faleke, APC, representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in Lagos said: “I strongly believe the House should address and condemn the way our economy has been mismanaged.

” I think this is the first time we hear of inability to meet monthly allocations not due to low crude oil prices but due to massive stealing of oil and money and the lack of government’s ability to manage the
ituation.“

Speaking also in the same vein, Minority Whip of the House, Samson Osagie, APC representing Orhionwhon/Ohuede Federal Constituency in Edo State, said: “For us in the House of Representatives, this act of illegality can be a source for the impeachment of the President.

“I am saying that it is only in this administration that state governments are being owed up to three months of their statutory allocations, thereby leading to the collapse of the economy of most of these states.

” We consider this as an aberration by the Presidency in order to make these governors ply to their whims and caprices ahead of the 2015 elections and to weaken the states structures.

“We in the National Assembly would not accept that because other than that, there is no other reason that can be adduced for the non-release of funds because revenue targets have been met and overshot in both oil and non-oil generating sectors of our economy.

”The Minister of Finance has also assured recently that the economy is strong and buoyant. So one, therefore, wonders why state governments should not get their allocations as at when due.

“As at July, about N1.05 trillion was generated and we know this as a fact from available field reports from our committees on oversight.

So why should there be any reason for states that are and legally entitled to these monies from the federation account not get their dues?

“For me, in the absence of any other valid reason, that is a political tool to weaken states governors to make them pliable for the Presidency’s ambition for 2015.

When asked whether it made sense for President Jonathan to withhold monies due to states in the South-East and South-South geo-political zones that are pre-disposed to supporting his re-election bid. Osagie said: “Well, I told you that this is a PDP government and anything can happen; it can choose to support those government through the back door and it is not beyond them because they have been doing it.”