COVID-19: Senate refutes allegations of receiving money from Buhari, clears air on hoarding palliatives

Nigerian Senators on Monday claimed they never received any money or food items from President Muhammadu Buhari as COVID-19 palliatives.

Senator Ajibola Basiru, the Chairman Senate Committee on Media and publicity made the claims in response to allegations by the spokesman of Buhari’s 2019 Presidential Campaign Committee, Engr. Kailani Muhammad that lawmakers were hoarding palliatives.

Kilani was said to have accused the lawmakers and state governors of hoarding the COVID-19 palliatives meant for Nigerians.

However, Basiru described Kilani’s allegation as wicked lies deliberately aimed at misinforming Nigerians.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Remi Ibitola, Basiru cautioned against “deliberate falsehood to paint Federal Lawmakers in a bad light for whatever motive.”

He explained that lawmakers donated half of their salaries to cushion the COVID-19 crisis.

According to the statement: “The attention of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and publicity has been drawn to a publication credited to The Director, Media and Publicity of the Muhammadu Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign Committee, Engr. Kailani Muhammad alleging hoarding of palliatives meant for distribution to Nigerians by lawmakers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The allegations are either wicked lies or deliberate misinformation on the part of Engr Kailani.

“While not speaking for the Governors, I make bold to say that no Federal lawmaker and indeed, no Senator received any kobo from Mr President or any foodstuff or any material for that matter, talk of hoarding them.

“Rather at the Senate, we donated half of our salaries for the purpose of cushioning the effect of COVID 19.

“We legislators equally played our part by purchasing and distributing palliatives to people at our different constituencies. So it is quite unfortunate for Kilani Mohammed or anyone to castigate us in the public and saying what is not true”.