JUMBO PAY: MARK HITS BACK AT SANUSI

Senate President, Senator David Mark, yesterday, described as laughable the allegation by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Governor, Lamido Sanusi, that the salaries and allowances of members of the National Assembly were draining the purse of the nation, saying  the Central Bank itself has received N300 billion as overhead so far.

Mark who also reacted to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, as the Northern consensus candidate, shortly after he paid a condolence visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole at Government House, Benin City, dismissed the decision of the Mallam Adamu Ciroma committee, insisting that “the only consensus candidate we have is President Goodluck Jonathan.”

Mark who urged Nigerians to cross-check facts before pointing accusing fingers at the National Assembly as regards jumbo pay, said: “The Central Bank said that our overhead which is N150 billion equates to 25 per cent. The Central Bank itself has got an overhead of N300 billion, what does that equate to by simple arithmetic. It equates to 50 per cent. So people are not discussing on facts, they must discuss on facts.”

Stressing the need for medical practitioners to find solution to the devastating nature of breast cancer in the country, Mark said: “I think first of all it does not require legislation any way. Executive can always establish a hospital, whether a specialised hospital or a general hospital. And the individuals also can establish their hospital. So, it really does not need any form of legislation for us to establish that type of hospital.

“And I think that the management of cancer everywhere in the world has become the major concern of most governments and individuals in the medical practice. I believe that this is perhaps an opportunity for us in this country to begin to look at those specialised areas.”

On the death of Mrs Oshiomhole, the Senate President said : “Like every other person that has come to condole with Adams Oshiomhole, I feel with deep sorrow, I feel for him and the family. But the only consolation is that when you come to this life you must go back. So when you are brought to this earth, you must go back to mother earth, there is time for every thing.

“Her time is up, so we have consolation in the fact that she has done what God sent her to do on earth, she has done extreme well. So I console with His Excellency and the people of Edo State and Nigerians in general, especially the Nigerian Labour Congress where he was President before now.”

Meanwhile sympathizers have continued to besiege the Edo state Government House to commiserate with Governor Adams Oshiomhole on the shocking death of his wife, Clara. Former Governor of old Bendel State, Brig.Gen.Tunde Ogbeha (rtd), the leadership of the Benin National Congress (BNC), the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) Nation wide,member of House of Representatives, Mr Patrick Obahiagbon, Oba of Ugboshi_ele, in Akoko Edo Local Government Council, Oba Timothy Oyeoba the Otodo 111 and other dignataries.