The lingering crisis in the House of Representatives was finally put to rest, as Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday conceded to the party’ dictate as he announced Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) as the Majority Leader.
Dogara who disclosed this after few minutes of consultation outside the chamber, announced Buba Jibrin as Deputy Majority Leader; Ado Doguwa as Chief Whip and Pally Iriase as Deputy Chief Whip.
For the opposition, Leo Ogor emerged as Minority Leader; Chukwuma Onyema as Deputy Minority Leader; Yakubu Garde as Minority Whip and Binta Bello as Deputy Minority Whip.
A few minutes after the announcement, the House was adjourned till another legislative day.
At a post-plenary briefing, Sani Zorro, chairman, Adhoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, observed that the crisis that transpired on the floor of the House “were merely transitory in nature.”
Zorro, who described the outcome of the appointment of the principal officers as a ‘triumph of internal democracy in the House’, explained that the resolution was based on ‘patriotism, constitutionalism, reason and rationality’.
He also assured Nigerians that henceforth, the legislative activities of the House would be conducted without rancour and would be free and peaceful.
Zorro applauded the intervention of President Buhari, observing that the President rose above board by not interfering in the activities of the House, nor succumbing to the “dictates of the dictators” despite the politicking surrounding the choice of principal officers.
