The Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has
broken his silence over the budget padding scandal rocking the lower
chamber, following accusations of budget fraud made against Speaker
Yakubu Dogara and others by former appropriations committee chairman,
Abdulmumin Jibrin.
Mr. Gbajabiamila had remained silent since the House descended into a
crisis that has drawn the attention of anti-corruption agencies, and
sparked calls for the Speaker to step aside.
Mr. Gbajabiamila gave his position via emails sent to members of the
House on Monday. A lawmaker shared the message with a PREMIUM TIMES
reporter.
Mr. Gbajabiamila confirmed to this newspaper he disseminated the
message in which he asked not to be dragged into “an arena I tried very
hard to stay out of”.
Mr. Jibrin had last year withdrawn from the speakership race to back
Mr. Dogara who was then running a tight race against Mr. Gbajabiamila,
the then anointed candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
There were speculations last week that Mr. Jibrin had teamed up with Mr. Gbajabiamila to unseat the Speaker.
But Mr. Gbajabiamila, through his media aide, Wasiu Olanrewaju, told
PREMIUM TIMES he had no deal with Mr. Jibrin or any problem with Mr.
Dogara’s leadership.
He however called for investigation of the allegations, and cautioned against taking sides.
The Lagos lawmaker circulated emails to colleagues after some
unknown people sent text messages around suggesting he was part of a
group working discreetly to force a leadership change in the House.
The anonymous message was sent from phone number 08119106894.
It reads,”Plot to destabilize the leadership of the House of Reps has
taken a new dimension as the AGF working with Gbajabiamila, Jibrin
& SGF has (sic) drafted charges to arraign and detain principal
officers of the House so that the transparency group who recently met
with Tinubu’s wife will effect a leadership change with Gbajabiamila as
Speaker and Jibrin as Deputy. This is why Jibrin did not mention Femi in
his allegations. The 8th House won’t be anybody’s rubber stamp. We will
resist them like the senate resisted them.”
But Mr. Gbajabiamila, in his email to lawmakers, denied claims made in the anonymous message.
He said, “Since the budget controversy that engulfed the House about
a week ago, I have pointedly maintained a dignified silence. I did this
for the sake of the institution I represent and which I have laboured
hard to grow and protect, knowing that whatever I say could be impactful
both within the House and outside it.
“I was determined to keep in place the glue that holds an otherwise
fragmented House, protect its integrity and at same time avoid eroding
the little confidence and vestiges of hope Nigerians have in us.
“I am being dragged into an arena I tried very hard to stay out of
only for the good of the House. The Speakership election has come and
gone. The election was divisive and acrimonious but I have since worked
hard to heal the wounds some of which still fester amongst members on
both sides.
“It is my responsibility to bring all tendencies in a House I lead
together and I have worked well with the Speaker and all other Principal
officers in a bipartisan manner and in the interest of the institution
and members.
“It is clear that our budget process needs radical reform and very
quickly too. Yes, allegations have been made but I strongly believe
judgment should not be passed based on allegations. We operate a
constitutional democracy and we must at all times submit to its dictates
and ethos. All parties are innocent until otherwise proven. This should
be our guide. I plead with all members. The mudslinging must stop.
“This text message, which desperately seeks to finger me in some
macabre plot to destabilize the House is a throwback and echoes our dark
post Speakership election history. The resurfacing or resurgence of the
faceless text messengers will not help us as a House and let me quickly
add that it will fail.”
“My strongest critics and biggest political adversaries in the House
cannot deny the fact that my commitment has always been to strengthen
the legislature and its processes and our democracy as a whole. I
consider everyone a friend and colleague and urge that as we
collectively work towards a stronger legislature and strive to deepen
our democracy, we do not pull back the hands of the clock nor lose sight
of the enormous responsibility placed upon us by providence as members
of a critical arm of government.”
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