Alleged $10 Million Bribe for NERC Confirmation: Nigerian Senate, Barau Jibrin to Sue Gawuna/Garo Campaign Team for Defamation

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TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY ALL TINUBU/BARAU SUPPORT GROUPS COALITION ON ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, DISTINGUISHED SENATOR BARAU I. JIBRIN, CFR BY THE DEFUNCT GAWUNA CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION ON THE CONFIRMATION OF THE NERC CHAIRMAN-DESIGNATE ABDULLAHI GARBA RAMAT.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press

We, the members of the Tinubu/Barau Support Groups Coalition, organise this press conference in response to the false, malicious, and politically motivated allegations made against the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, CFR, by the defunct Gawuna Campaign Organisation on the confirmation of Abdullahi Garba Ramat as Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

They organised the press conference solely to tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the Deputy President of the Senate and portray him in a bad light in the face of the good people of Kano State, who are solidly behind him.

The press conference, jointly addressed by Hon. Muhammadu Badaru Umar and Alwan Hassan, was filled with lies, mischief, misinformation, and fabrication by the leadership of the Gawuna Campaign Organisation, who by virtue of their membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) should team up with the Deputy President of the Senate to restore the glorious days of our party in Kano.

As Nigerians, we are all aware that, in line with our country’s constitution, it is the prerogative of the President to appoint whomever he wants to hold any public office in the country, including that of NERC.

Following the nomination of Engineer Ramat, His Excellency, the Deputy President of the Senate, has lobbied his colleagues to ensure the successful screening and confirmation of the nominee. The nominee can attest to this fact, as he’s been involved in the process.

It is, therefore, mischievous and laughable for anyone to suggest that Senator Barau is scheming to subvert the confirmation. The confirmation process route has not been completed. The screening has been carried out by the Senate Committee on Power under the Chairmanship of Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe. The report is expected to be presented on the Senate floor soon.

Regarding the allegations that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, and Senator Barau were bribed $10 million to subvert Ramat’s confirmation, we have instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against these alleged agents of mischief and lies.

We call on well-meaning Nigerians, especially the people of Kano, to disregard these lies and see them for what they truly are — an attempt by frustrated political actors to discredit a man whose commitment to good governance and national development is evident to all.

It is common knowledge that Senator Barau has supported and been instrumental in the appointment of many Kano indigenes to federal positions. He has, on numerous occasions, intervened and stood firmly in support of political appointees from Kano.
He also sponsored the bill establishing the North-West Development Commission, facilitated the appointment of its MD/CEO, and supported the inclusion of board members in all the newly created development commissions.
So far, Senator Barau has secured employment for a considerable number of Kano State indigenes.

Therefore, it is crucial to separate him from this fabricated lie and malicious statement by the Gawuna group.

Distinguished Senator Barau remains a beacon of unity, integrity, and progress in Nigeria’s political landscape. No amount of blackmail or propaganda can distract him from his constitutional responsibilities or his mission to advance the welfare of the people of Kano North and the Nigerian nation at large.