Senator Neda Imasuen, a member of the Labour Party (LP) in the Senate, has come to the defense of LP lawmakers amid criticism for not opposing the National Assembly’s plan to procure Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) reportedly valued at N160 million each for legislators.
Imasuen, who serves as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, pointed out that the number of LP lawmakers in the National Assembly is insufficient to block the purchase of luxury vehicles.
The decision by National Assembly members to acquire SUVs, especially during a period of economic hardship, has sparked public outcry in the country.
It would be recalled that Julius Abure, the National Chairman of the LP, had called on LP lawmakers in the National Assembly not to participate in what he termed profligate and insensitive spending that does not align with the party’s pro-people ideology.
However, in a conversation with journalists in Benin over the weekend, Senator Imasuen, who represents Edo Central in the Senate, explained that the LP lawmakers in the Senate number only eight, making it impossible for them to influence the majority of lawmakers to reverse the plan to purchase luxury vehicles.
He stated, “I want to say that I have not received any vehicle and none has been offered to me. However, we are in a democracy, where the majority will have their way and the minority will have their say.
“We can only say what we believe is the right thing to do in the parliament; we are just eight senators, among 109 senators. So, those who have zeroed in on Labour Party senators, I think it is very unfair.
“Assuming 109 vehicles are given to senators and eight rejected them, can you please tell me what significance that will be to the budget or the overall image of the National Assembly?
“What I can say is that the LP is not the proponent of this, and we have made some inquiries, and these seem to be the practice every four years.
“What people don’t know is that senators are offered the right of first refusal after their tenure. If they don’t buy the vehicle, it goes back to the Senate.
“It is supposed to be a working vehicle for senators. If we were to vote on it today, the eight Labour Party senators would vote against it, but it doesn’t stop it because the 101 senators will vote yes. Even if we reject it, who takes it, are they going to return it to the manufacturers?”
