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| Senator Gershom Bassey |
The Senator representing the Cross River State Southern Senatorial District, Senator Gershom Bassey has given more insight into the purpose of the #ENDSARS Bill.
The proposed legislation was titled, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act” and was sponsored by Senator Gershom Bassey.
The bill seeking to compensate victims of #EndSARS protests in Nigeria passed its second reading by the Senate on Wednesday.
The Senator revealed that the bill is towards amending the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) act to include a provision for creating an #ENDSARS fund. He stated that the idea of the #ENDSARS fund will be funded partly from the Sovereign Wealth Fund, budgets and donations. Adding that claims from victims of the #ENDSARS private citizens or government can tap into it.
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The distinguished Senator further stressed that all forms of #ENDSARS vandalization claim like the cases of Tinapa and Conference Centre vandalization in Calabar will be funded by the Act provided the claims are verified.
He said, “We have the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the bill is towards amending the NEMA act to include a provision for creating an #ENDSARS fund. And the #ENDSARS Fund is going to be a fund that the government creates as a law and part of the Act. The idea is that the #ENDSARS front which will be funded partly from the Sovereign Wealth fund, from budgets, from donations and so on will be a substantial fund from where claims from victims of the #ENDSARS whether it be, well mostly private citizens but I’m sure government can also tap into it. Especially in the case of Calabar, Cross River State where places like Tinapa, Conference Centre were affected by the #ENDSARS. There is a fund where all those types of situations can approach the fund, provided the claims have been verified.”
Speaking on verification of claim, the distinguished Senator, revealed that the Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade had already done a verification of the #ENDSARS vandalisation claims and letter sent to the President and verified.
However, Gershom Bassey pointed out that the only setback of the money is that as at two years ago when the verification of claims was done, Naira was stronger than it is today. Adding that the fund can hopefully pay if funded.
"In the case of Cross River State, our Governor had already done a verification of the claims and he had sent a letter to the President. So, in the case of Cross River State, all the claims have been verified. The only issue is the value of the money because as at the time when those claims were verified two years ago, Naira was stronger than it is today. But, if you put the devaluation of the Naira to one side, you will find that in the case of cross river state, all the claims have been verified. And so, it’s just a question of if the fund is settled, we now simply approach the fund and the fund can now hopefully pay." He said.
He also stated that the #ENDSARS bill will be funded annually from exactly three Percent (3%) of the Sovereign Wealth Fund at the President's discretion. Also, emphasized that there will be no time frame as part of the law that sets up NEMA will fund the bill. Adding that it will go in perpetuity until that law is reviewed. And stressed that the bill is primarily to address victims of #ENDSARS.
“It will be funded annually from the budget at the President's discretion. To be funded from a percentage from sovereign wealth fund, exact 3% and so we expect there’ll be sufficient money over time to address all of these issues.”
“No, there will be no time frame, because it is now law. Part of the law that now sets up NEMA will include a fund, it will go in perpetuity until that law is reviewed.
The law is saying that it is specifically for ENDSARS, but we recognize that if it finishes paying all #ENDSARS depts then that fund will continue and can address other issues but the focus and the primary issues are the victims of #ENDSARS.
“In some jurisdictions, the governors had set up a judicial panel of enquiries which have made recommendations and so on. It is those recommendations we are talking about, a lot of the judicial panel talked about injuries and they are part of the claims which have been sent to the government, and the police and those issues have been included in the reports of the judicial panel and we are talking about the implementations.”
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Call for Independent Candidates:
The Senator also responding to issues of independent candidates which was presented to the President, stated that the electoral act provides guides for intended independent candidates.
He said, “the electoral act provides that the independent candidate has to meet the same threshold as the political party. Offices, presence in every local government, in every ward. You can’t just wake up and say you are an independent candidate without meeting the same thresh hold as the political parties.”
Tussle for leadership of the 10th National Assembly:
While speaking on the tussle for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, Gershom Bassey has pitched his tent with Senator Godwin Akpabio, stating that he stands with the All Progressives Congress, APC on their choice of a leader from the South-South. He further stressed that the South-South deserves it and that Godswill Akpabio is the only ranking Senator that APC has in the South-South. Adding that, from Akpabio’s precedents, he has the capacity to lead the 10th Assembly.
He said, “My view is that Godswill Akpabio is a sound candidate and it’s only fair that he be given an opportunity especially since he is from the South-South, he is also from the micro zone which is Akwa Ibom - Cross River. I believe that the South-South deserve it and so stand with the APC on this. And in the South-South, he is the most qualified because he is the only ranking Senator that APC has in the South-South. And from his precedents he has the capacity so, I am in support of it.”
The Role Of Wike in Cross River State Gubernatorial Election
Reacting to the role of the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike in the outcome of the gubernatorial election in Cross River State, the distinguished Senator Gershom Bassey said that it was the conscious choice of the People’s Democratic Party in Cross River State irrespective of the negative influence from Wike.
He said that people like Jesus in the Bible will always be tempted, but just like Jesus, the choice to reject the temptation remains the choice of the one being tempted. According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Cross river state decided to go the wrong way and have seen the result, let them learn from it.
He said, “You see, we are taught in the Bible that even Jesus Christ was tempted and he rejected that temptation. People will always be tempted but it is unto us as individuals to decide right from wrong. And so, if you decide to go the wrong way, you cannot start blaming the person that tempted you. And unfortunately for us PDP in Cross River State, it was our conscious decision to go the wrong way and now we have seen the result of that choice. so, we should learn from it”
The Incoming Government of Prince Otu
Once again, Gersom Bassey reiterates that Prince Bassey Otu is an excellent choice for Cross River State and congratulates him for being the poster boy of the “Back To South” movement. He stressed that governance is serious business and so advised the incoming governor elect of Cross River State to surround himself with quality people and not sycophants. People from which he will get quality advice and people who can deliver in their different capacities.
He further encouraged Prince Otu to find a way to increase the state’s revenue which will help him solve a lot of problems. Adding that he thinks the incoming governor will do well because he has the temperament.
He said, “First of all, I think Prince Otu is an excellent choice for governor, I have already congratulated him and will always do. First of all, for winning the election and secondly being the poster boy for the "Back to South" movement which the entire Cross River State agreed on. This is a major achievement and I have to congratulate him. Going into governance is serious business, and I will advise him to surround himself with quality people who will not be sycophants. People who will give him quality advice and people who will deliver on various sub-bandit. So, if you are a commissioner for health, you should have the capacity to deliver health care, if you are a commissioner of works you should have the capacity. But Prince comes in at a time when Cross River State government doesn’t have a lot of money so I also encourage him that he finds a way to increase his revenue in Cross river state. If he can increase revenue, he would have solved a lot of problems. But I think he is going to do well he has the temperament and he is going to do well.
About division in PDP, the Atiku and Wike Factions:
“It's beyond Wike and Atiku now, it’s about the parliament; about the Senators and house of Reps members. Any issue in the parliament is about the parliamentary party. The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has enough strong leaders to guide the Parliamentary Party. You are going to have a very strong PDP in the Parliament.”
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