AC tells Obasanjo-Bello to step down, calls for probe

Adewale Ajayi, Lagos - 24.12.2007

Action Congress (AC) has asked Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello to step down as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health because of the conflict of interest resulting from her business partnership with the firm, Vamed Engineering, with which she allegedly got a N27 billion contract to refurbish 17 teaching hospitals in the country.

The party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Obasanjo-Bello could not effectively carry out her oversight functions over the teaching hospitals, especially the refurbishment contract which seems to have been poorly executed.

AC added that information available to it showed that the Chief Medical Directors of the Teaching hospitals had complained about the quality of equipment supplied to the hospitals by Vamed, with many of the equipment said to be refurbished.

“In fact, we learnt that a particular CMD refused to install the machines supplied to his hospital because they have not been certified, and this caused a shouting match between him and Obasanjo-Bello,” the party alleged.

AC also said “ it is now clear why former President Olusegun Obasanjo pushed for her Senator-daughter to be made the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, in return for his support for David Mark to become Senate President.”

The party noted that with Obasanjo-Bello as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, which had oversight function over teaching hospitals in Nigeria, the issue of poor execution of the N27 billion contract by Vamed would be easily covered up.

“It is, therefore, clear that Obasanjo-Bello cannot continue to function in that capacity while the investigation into the N27 billion hospital refurbishment contract, which we have called for, is being carried out,” AC stated.

The party reiterated the call on the anti-corruption agencies and the National Assembly to probe the execution of the N27 billion contract, as well as establish the role Obasanjo-Bello played in the N3.5 billion power contract.