On the 13th of April this year, the news Agency Sahara reporters leaked the phone numbers of Nigerian Senators online.
It has been gathered according to The Punch that Nigerians have gone ahead to call these numbers and tongue lash the Senators who own them, accusing them of poor performance and corruption.
They have also sent a barrage of text messages.
The Senate had attempted to amend the laws establishing the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the Code of Conduct Bureau, a development that drew the ire of the Nigerians before the upper chamber of the National Assembly dropped the bill after passing the second reading.
Criticisms are also trailing a proposed Grazing Bill seeking to establish ranches across the country to stem criminal activities of nomadic Fulani herdsmen.
The Senate had denied that such a bill exists.
Constituents have however besieged the various social media platforms to express their disappointment over the alleged cold responses they got from their representatives.
According to the Punch, Portia Emilia Anthony, in a post on her Facebook page, accused former Governor of Abia State, Theodor Orji, who is now representing Abia-Central Senatorial District, of shouting at her on the phone.
She said, “I just got off the phone with a senator shouting down the phone that I am insulting him with the text I sent to him; that I have no right to tell him to vote against the Grazing Bill.
“The man is so angry and agitated, saying I should go and contest and become a senator. Can you imagine the attitude of our so-called representatives? I told him I am not interested as I don’t want to be corrupt. The man went berserk on the phone. I dropped the phone on him.
“Asking me if I know who he is, I told him that he’s a Nigerian and nothing else. Yet, another (senator) has replied and politely assured me that it won’t happen.”
“Can you believe that it was Theodore Orji of Abia state that called and shouted at me for asking him not to allow the Grazing Bill to go through? Please, let’s deal with him. He’s on 07082800***, the man is simply pathetic. #ShareAndShout.”
The former Governor was swift in response, writing on his Facebook page “Attention! Please, disregard this campaign of calumny and falsehood manufactured and being shared by one Portia Emilia Anthony, alleging that I am in support of the Grazing Bill.
“I spoke with this lady from Cross River on the phone and even though she was very rude and disrespectful, I made it clear to her that I am not in support of the said Grazing Bill.
“Please, the general public, especially those from Abia Central—Abians, Igbos and other well-meaning Nigerians — should disregard and condemn this malicious campaign of calumny.”
When a constituent reached out to Sen. Abiodun Olujimi of Ekiti South, this was the text message he received back.
The Senators were feeling the heat and the shared some of the text messages they received from constituents with Sahara Reporters.
See some below
According to the Punch, a Babatunde Opeyemi said should the lawmakers change their telephone lines, the new ones should be provided for the public.
He said, “Our senators have activated vexing mode. In case they change their numbers, please get it for us. Dino Melaye, Stella Oduah, (Godswill) Akpabio, (Ajayi) Boroffice, all of you senators should await my call at the right time!
“I don’t know why Nigerian senators should be angry when their people call them! You represent us and can’t talk to us.”
To stem the tide, a lot of the senators who’ve had their numbers leaked have either changed phone numbers or had themselves disconnected.
Those whose numbers remained active either didn’t pick their calls or cut them soon after.
Although it seems that Sen. Kabir Garba Marafa isn’t worried about anything as he replied a text message sent to his phone by the Punch.
He said “Not at all! I have been with this number since the inception of GSM in Nigeria. It was on my bill boards during my campaigns in both 2011 and 2015. It is the number known to my friends, constituents and business partners. So, to me, it is normal!”
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