LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Fears over fresh violence at the House of Representatives heightened on Monday ahead of Tuesday’s (today) resumption of lawmakers after their forced four-week break since June 25.
The two factions of the majority All Progressives Congress in the House- Loyalists Group and Consolidation Group-have been locked in an unresolved leadership tussle since the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly on June 9.
The Loyalists Group is led by former House Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, while the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, leads the Consolidation Group.
But, a crack emerged in the Gbajabiamila’s faction on Saturday when three of its key mobilisers declared support for Dogara.
The three- Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Mr. Pally Iriase and Mr. Mohammed Monguno- had endorsed the sharing formula for the principal offices in the House as recommended by Dogara.
The speaker had proposed to zone the majority leader to the North-West and the deputy leader to the North-Central; chief whip to the South-South; and deputy whip to the South-East.
By the speaker’s proposal, Ado-Doguwa will now become the majority leader, while a lawmaker from Kogi State, Mr. Buba Jibrin, will become the deputy leader.
Mr. Pally Iriase from Edo State will become the chief whip, while the position of the deputy whip goes to the South-East and to be occupied by Mr. Chike Okafor.
This formula, which is expected to be announced on the floor of the House today, negates the initial proposal by the leadership of the APC that would have seen Gbajabiamila (South-West) named as the majority leader.
The other members of the Loyalists Group on Monday vowed to fight on as the House reconvenes today thus heightening fears of a replay of the June 25 fracas on the floor of the House.
The spokesman of the group, Mr. Nasiru Zangon-Daura, warned that an alleged plot by the Dogara group to stop some of its members from entering the chamber today would be resisted.
He said, “We strongly warn Speaker Dogara that we will not take any breach of our members’ privileges lightly and we will hold you, Speaker Dogara, personally responsible.
“Honour is earned through honourable actions. A word is enough for the wise.”
But, the House dismissed the group’s threat on Monday. It also denied the existence of the alleged plot.
The House Adhoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, in a statement by one its members, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, said, “It is the right and freedom of every member to attend plenary, committee meetings and even access their offices without any hindrance.
“There was never a time the leadership considered blocking members from the National Assembly.
“The allegations can best be described as baseless, unfounded and the figment of their imagination.”
In a separate reaction, the House Adhoc Committee on Code of Conduct advised members resuming today to conduct themselves in orderly manner, else the committee would apply relevant rules to regulate the lawmakers’ behaviour.
“The House will deal decisively with any member who violates the rules, disrupts plenary, or is found wanting of misconduct and other sundry offences.”
Credit: Punch (Nigeria)
