The lingering crisis in the House of Representatives took a new dimension Tuesday as Femi Gbajabiamila, House Leader, petitioned the leadership of All Progressive Congress (APC) over alleged highhandedness of Speaker Yakubu Dogara in the selection of chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 97 standing committees.
Two aggrieved APC members – Garba Datti (APC-Kaduna) as chairman, House Committee on Solid Mineral, and Sunday Adepoju (APC-Oyo) have officially rejected the offers.
Of the 97 standing committees, APC got 49, PDP got 46, SDP got one, while APGA got one.
Meanwhile, the speaker at a closed-door meeting held after Tuesday plenary session with 194 members (chairmen and deputy chairmen of the standing committees), solicited for their unflinching support, with the view to douse the tension.
Dogara’s plea was aimed at dousing the tension in the House with aggrieved members of APC, who are in the majority, grumbling about the lopsided nature of the appointments in favour of the PDP and members of the Consolidation Group, who supported Dogara’s emergence as the speaker.
Gbajabiamila stated this in a 3-page letter dated October 20, 2015, obtained by BusinessDay, sent to Speaker Yakubu Dogara and John Oyegun, national chairman of APC.
The House Leader, who accused Dogara of high-handedness, alleged that the selection of the chairmen and deputy chairmen of the standing committees was in breach of the provisions of Order 7 Rule 10 of the House Standing Order.
“l did this because of the incessant rumour that some had been composed. On such occasions, you assured me that nothing had been done. From all indications however, it appears that an announcement of chairmen and deputy chairmen is imminent and such may be done this week.
“Hon. Speaker, I acknowledge your right and prerogative to determine the leadership of the House Committees and I intend to work with you after such determination has been made. I intend and have stated on many occasions privately and publicly to work with you for the progress of the House.
“However, l am constrained at this point to ask that due consideration is given to the provisions of our House Rules, Order 7, Rule 7, paragraph (a) of the House rules which states that the speaker shall in consultation with principal officers appoint the chairmen and deputy chairmen from among the members on the committee.
“In light of the foregoing provisions of our Rules and in line with parliamentary tradition world over, undermining the office of the Leader or any other principal officer would not strengthen the legislature or our democracy.
“The situation where any principal officer whether from the majority or minority party only knows of the appointment referred to above upon announcement on the floor will not augur well for the progress of this House.
“I have taken the liberty to write to you on this matter for record purposes and in the hope that every principal office in the House would be given its due as enshrined in our House Rules,” Gbajabiamila stated.
In a swift reaction to the House Leader’s petition, Dogara’s office released two memos showing that the leadership of the House comprising all principal officers at a scheduled meeting jointly did the appointment of committee heads.
Attached to the memos are: Letter of invitation sent to all nine the principal officers (including Gbajabiamia) dated October 21, 2015 and signed by the Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon. Jerry Manwe as well as ‘List of attendance containing all nine principal officers dated October 22, issued after the meeting.
The principal officers, were to consult on appointment of committee heads on Thursday, October 22, 2015.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA
