TheCable

Abubakar Adamu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member in the house of representatives, has faulted the perception that all lawmakers are corrupt.

He said contrary to this belief, he has never collected bribe as a public official.

He took a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari for accusing the national assembly of inserting questionable projects into the 2018 budget.

Demanding an apology from the president, Adamu challenged him to trace those who inserted the said projects rather than accusing the “whole lawmakers”.

The lawmaker said this on Tuesday while addressing journalists on the alleged failure of government ministries to approve contracts for his constituency projects.

“Mr. President said we inserted something into the budget. He should seek for forgiveness from me because I did not add a dime. I have a name I want to protect,” he said.

“I have been a public officer and none of my family members ever knew my office up till today at the national assembly, even as a commissioner.

“Mr. President can trace who and who inserted the said money. I did not insert anything, I have a name to protect. I have never been corrupt. I think everybody should know not all members of the national assembly are corrupt.”

Some Nigerians, including Attahiru Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), have at various times accused lawmakers of being corrupt and collecting bribes to carry out their duties legislative businesses.

But Adamu, who was a commissioner under Babangida Aliyu, former Niger state governor, said such accusations demoralise him.

“When I came, they told me to sign oath of secrecy. I can say it, it doesn’t matter. I signed oath of secrecy. Why did they allow me to sign oath of secrecy? Then there is hypocrisy in public service,” he said.

“I swear with the Almighty God that created me that I have never as a public officer received one dime as a gift from anybody, whether in the committee, in a particular agency.

“Today I want to tell Nigerians that I have cleared my name. I stand here to say anybody who will say he has ever dashed me money anywhere in this world should come.”

The lawmaker said as a politician, he has only “received gift of N200,000 each from two people, when I was contesting for house of representatives.”

“Apart from that, no human being has ever given me money either here in the house or outside,” he said.