…Says N17bn bill not outrageous
SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, (THEWILL) – A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, on Monday threw his weight behind the ongoing National Conference, saying the Federal Government was responsive by convening the conference.
Chinda, who represents Obia/Okpor federal constituency of Rivers State, also defended the N17 billion budget for organising the conference, saying “the figure is not outrageous when you consider other frivolous things that money is spent on.”
The lawmaker said the conference has presented a good opportunity for Nigerians to discuss their way forward but warned that the unity of the country should not be discussed because to him, “our unity is sacrosanct and it should be considered a no-go-area.”
Chinda,who stated these while addressing the House of Representatives Press Corps, noted that since Nigerians have all along clamoured for a sovereign national conference that was not feasible, it was imperative for all well-meaning citizens to support the government and delegates to the talk shop for a better Nigeria.
According to him, “The only no-go-area in the conference, to me, should be Nigeria’s unity. It’s only when people talk about our unity that I think it shouldn’t be toiled with, but we can discuss any other important issue on our existence.
“In my opinion, we need to continue with the National Conference. It’s really a welcome idea to me. It shows that the government is responsive since Nigerians have been agitating for it. Let Nigerians air their views and agree on the way forward.”
Speaking on the N17 billion budgeted for delegates allowances , Chinda maintained that the benefits of the project were worth spending the money on. “The N17 billion isn’t too much. I’ve sat down and calculated the money for the 492 delegates and saw that it wasn’t much. The only thing is that let the purpose for which the money will be spent be achieved,” he said.
He stated that referendum has no place in the constitution therefore Nigerians should be given the mandate to decide on what affects them after which it would be taken to the National Assembly for further action.
On the issue of state police, Chinda dismissed the clamour arguing that state police is not the solution to the perennial violence and crisis across the country. He added that the will on the part of the government and people to rid the society of ills should be paramount.
“State police may not be the solution because some people would only use it to torment their perceived opponents,” he said.
Chinda, who is one of the lawmakers opposed to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, however denied that he was anti-Amaechi explaining that they only differ on issues. He declared that the All Progressives Congress (APC) only exists on paper in the state and would be disgraced at the poll in 2015.
“I don’t think that the APC exists in Rivers State. If I were in his (Amaechi’s) shoes, I would have resigned because PDP is still in charge of the seat of government in the state. Amaechi was elected on the platform of PDP, so Rivers is a PDP state and APC can never win governorship in Rivers,” he boasted.
SAINT MUGAGA, ABUJA
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