2013 Budget Face-off: Okupe on his own – Jonathan’s aide

Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe

The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, on Wednesday said her colleagues who made disparaging comments about the legislature acted on their own.

Emodi explained that comments made by  Presidential Special Adviser (Political), Alhaji Ahmed Gulak,  and   Special Assistant to the President (Media), Dr. Doyin Okupe, did not represent the thinking of Jonathan.

She said this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Emodi  said  it was imperative to put the records straight in view of recent developments which tend to portray a crisis of confidence between the executive and the legislature, “especially as it relates to some statements credited to some ministers and presidential aides.”

Emodi said, “Let me state categorically that the alleged statements neither reflect the views of the President, His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on the National Assembly nor the enormous respect he has for the institution.

“In other words, those to whom the statements were credited were on their own and never spoke the mind of Mr. President.

“The legislature remains the central link in the presidential system and Mr. President has by his leadership principles predicated on the rule of law and his personal political temperament as a listening President and one never averse to constructive criticism, ensured that both arms of Government work together for common good.”

Members of the National Assembly had recently lambasted Jonathan’s aides for disrespecting them with the Senate spokesman Eyinnaya Abaribe, on Tuesday saying the legislature had no time to engage “lowly” Presidential aides.

But Emodi noted that her office which served as liaison between the President’s office and the National Assembly had enjoyed the support and encouragement of both the President and the National Assembly.

The President’s assembly aide stressed that over time, any grey areas had always been sorted out cordially through dialogue inspired by mutual institutional and individual respect without resorting to the press, adding that, Jonathan had exhibited maturity in uncommon measures.

While calling for restraint and maturity in handling all matters relating to the relationship between the two arms of government, she reassured members of the National Assembly and the public of continued cordial working relationship between the executive and the National Assembly.