House Speaker Official Residence Vandalized, Items Missing…or Stolen?
September 12th, 2007 | Published in Corruption, Entries on Old Grandiose Palor (Blogger), Nigeria | 5 Comments
The investigation of the controversial contract of the Speaker and deputy speaker of House of Rep. continues, excerpts:
Members of the committee probing the contract awarded to renovate the official residences of Speaker Patricia Etteh and Deputy Speaker Babangida Nguroje, were on Tuesday shocked at the extent of damage to the property…The committee expressed surprise that all the air conditioners, the fittings, and other items were removed to ensure the installation of new ones.
They were shocked when told that the bill of quantities for the electrical work was not prepared by the . At the residence of the Deputy Speaker opposite the Senate President’s Mansion, members of the panel expressed surprise that several items, including electrical fittings, air conditioners, and suspended ceilings were not in place; even though the building was commissioned on March 3, 2007 by former Speaker Aminu Bello Masari.
The question now is who removed these items? Is this a case of vandalism? Which agency is responsible for the upkeep and safekeeping of official quarters?
Also mentioned in news report:
Speaker’s cluster of houses, which includes the main building, power house, guest house, boys’ quarters, garage, reception, Aide-de-Camp’s house, and the mosque now being restructured to accommodate a church.
Should official residences (aside from the presidential villa) have churches and mosques???
September 12th, 2007 at 1:30 pm (#)
One or both of two things must have happened! Its either Masari took everything with him or Etteh destroyed everything in order to strengthen her case for renovation. How far can we as Nigerians go? You cn be sure we will go very far…especially when the millions in the public till is at stake. God help Nigeria!
September 12th, 2007 at 8:13 pm (#)
Okay, my mother was in the diplomatic corp and one thing they did was that as each officer left government owned premises, an accounting of items on the properties was done. That way, the government knew who took what and when.
It is a shame to see that such an accounting did not take place here. There should be some agency in charge of checking the Speaker’s house frequently to prevent theft and exactly the sort of juvenile destruction suggested by the excerpts shared.
There should be an investigation. But, with everything else going on, who knows? And, the speaker of the house does not need a mosque or church on government owned property. he/She can simply convert a room on the expansive property for spiritual properties, if they cannot go outside the premises to commune with others.
It is always one thing or the other….
September 13th, 2007 at 5:37 am (#)
Having seen, heard and read about even more highly placed governmental officials cum politicians behave low down irresponsibly, telling untruths like it meant nothing, lacking in integrity when it comes to chop and quench issues, i say ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN NIGERIA. So madam speaker, i cannot judge but the truth will prevail, for we are all clamouring for a NEW NIGERIA, and there are many ready to name and shame and follow the path of righteousness in Nigeria. We have to start from somewhere, dont we?
September 13th, 2007 at 2:11 pm (#)
Yes, I also thought the building of church/mosque was extremely strange for a private residence. Come on, who are we kidding here? Any means to make money and Nigerians will go for it. We have no shame. The funny thing is that even if all the “missing” items are replaced, it would still not amount to that ridiculous sum. This whole thing is such a big smelly mess!
September 26th, 2007 at 5:06 pm (#)
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