Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, on Sunday, blamed the executive arm of government of failing to curb the wide spread corruption in the country.
Ihedioha made the accusation in Benin, the Edo State capital, when he led other members of the House to condole with the House Minority Whip, Mr Samson Osagie, over the demise of his father.
The deputy speaker, who was responding to questions from newsmen, said that the seventh Assembly had done its best to expose corruption in the country.
“It is unfair for anybody to indicate that the assembly did nothing about corruption.
“First, the leadership of the House and the entire 7th assembly discharged itself as a House that leads by example throughout.
“We led the House transparently and we kept our books open for any group or individual to appreciate how we ran the affairs of the house.
“That is why, in the 7th assembly, there are no banana peels.
“We also did everything that we could to expose corrupt practices by any branch of government and by any member of the society.
“We have done all we need to do and we have asked the executive to do its own part.
“If the executive failed to do its own part, that is not the responsibility of the house and it is not an indictment on the legislature.
“We have exposed corruption where necessary.’’
Ihedioha disclosed that the House had completed work on the Petroleum Industry Bill and would table it for passage this week.
“We have slated it for passage and we have mentioned it and we said we have to accomplish it before the end of this 7th assembly.
“As we speak, copies of the bill for consideration have been distributed to all members of the house to enable them to study it so that they can make informed input.
“So, come this week, we invite all Nigerians to join us as we take clause by clause consideration of the bill.
“We believe that its passage will do the Nigeria economy and the petroleum industry a lot of good,’’ he said.
