The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), on Tuesday, said he was misunderstood over his recent disagreement with members of the National Assembly on the projects introduced into his ministry’s budget.
He said his intention, which he believed was the same with that of the lawmakers, was to see a better Nigeria.
“If I have been misunderstood, my intention was not to quarrel with anybody but to see a better Nigeria which I believe they (the lawmakers) also want to see,” Fashola told State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister explained that there was no problem between him as an individual and the lawmakers, stating that many of the members of the National Assembly were his personal friends.
He, however, admitted that in the heat of the moment, while trying to canvass different positions, they could be misconstrued as fighting.
“I am not fighting anybody. We have a disagreement; it shouldn’t make us disagreeable. So, my responsibility is to continue to engage.
“Also, even if I wasn’t a minister, I am a citizen and the parliamentarians are also representing me,” he added.
He said since their disagreement was not about how to share the national cake but on how to develop the country, it could be described as a healthy development for democracy.
Fashola expressed the belief that with the commitment of the leadership of the National Assembly as well as that of acting President Yemi Osinbajo, the issue would be resolved in the interest of the people.
On the power situation in the country, the minister said the Federal Government was focusing on what he called incremental power.
As one of the incremental power initiatives, the minister explained that the Kukoba Power Sub-station was inaugurated on Monday to increase power supply to Abuja by 120MW.
END
Be the first to comment