By Babs Oyetoro

The senator representing Abia-South Senatorial District on the platform of People Democratic Party in the National Assembly, Enyinnaya Abaribe has come under criticism over an interview he granted Channels Television.

The Senate Minority Leader had in the interview alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators conspired to short-change the host communities in the oil-producing areas when the Senate passed the Petroleum Industry Bill.

Irked by the fact that Senator Abaribe did not situate what transpired during the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill in a proper perspective before the public, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege faulted the Minority Leader during plenary on Tuesday.

Omo-Agege claimed under a point of order that Abaribe, in the interview, alleged that APC senators conspired to short-change the host communities when the Senate passed the PIB.

He said that there was no time the APC senators conspired to reduce the five percent equity share approved for the host communities in the joint committee’s report to three percent

Reacting, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said members of the Ninth Senate did not vote along party lines.

“When the Senate takes a decision, we should inform the public correctly because we must give the correct information to the public.

“I will encourage us to talk less to the Press on ways that will give the Press a wrong impression. We should concentrate more on talking to our colleagues in the Senate.

“I would have loved to allow the Minority Leader to speak but this is a matter of privilege. I hope all of you have learned a lesson or two from this.

Nigeria records 297 new COVID-19 infections

“There is no point giving wrong information because we never voted along party lines,” he said.

The controversy surrounding the five percent operating expenditure for host communities in the Act still lingers.