Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, an ally of former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said on Wednesday that he considered the offer made to him to become the Majority Leader of the House as a possible solution to the raging leadership tussle in the legislature.

“I consider this offer good if it is genuine; the Speaker (Yakubu Dogara) has given the assurances that he is ready for peace to prevail in the House.

“This offer, to my mind, is a good gesture and we can work with it – given the assurances by the Speaker,” he stated.
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Ado-Doguwa spoke exclusively with The PUNCH at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Ado-Doguwa, who is from Kano State, is a member of the All Progressives Congress’ Loyalists Group, which has for long, insisted that the party’s sharing formula for principal offices must be obeyed.

However, he clarified that members of the group had not met to discuss the offer, but he called on them to reason along with him.

“I am just expressing my own view on this matter; that we have to accept this offer so that we can move ahead. I believe that the general opinion of Nigerians is that this crisis has dragged on for too long and we should end it and allow the government to move on,” Ado-Doguwa added.

The APC had zoned the position of Majority Leader to the South-West and recommended Gbajabiamila to occupy the seat.

The party also zoned the office of Deputy Leader to the North-West and had recommended Ado-Doguwa to occupy the office.

The party zoned the offices of Chief Whip and Deputy Whip to the North-East and South-South respectively.

But the North-East and South-South later swapped the positions.

The 8th Assembly Consolidation Group led by Dogara had opposed the party and instead proposed to have the North-West (Ado-Doguwa) occupy the office of Majority Leader.

Dogara zoned the post of Deputy Leader to the North-Central while he also zoned the position of the Chief Whip to the South-South and that of the Deputy Whip to the South-East.

It will be recalled that the refusal of Dogara to zone the offices as recommended by the party had led to the fracas on the floor of the House on June 25, forcing lawmakers to proceed on a four-week break.

While the Speaker claimed that his decision was in the interest of “federal character,” the Gbajabiamila group had argued that “party supremacy” must prevail.

Ado-Doguwa has been a staunch supporter of Gbajabiamila who took active part in the June 25 fighting.

He was the member who climbed a desk right in front of Dogara, shouting that the party’s decision must be obeyed.

Investigations by The PUNCH confirmed a speculation that Ado-Doguwa had come under pressure to back down and accept the offer by the Speaker.

His new stance also confirmed a speculation that Dogara had broken the ranks of the APC Loyalists Group, using the offer made to Ado-Doguwa as the major bait.

On Thursday last week, Ado-Doguwa had disclosed to The PUNCH that the group was ready to engage the Dogara group in a “give and take discussions.”

“We are ready to sit and talk. We will give something and we believe they too can give up something,” he said.

But the spokesman for the Gbajabiamila group, Mr. Nasiru Zango-Daura, gave a different position, insisting that the group would not go against the stance of the APC.

Findings showed that Dogara and Ado-Doguwa had met twice and the Speaker, on both occasions, reportedly assured him that he was ready to work with the group if he (Ado-Doguwa) would accept to be the Majority Leader.

“There was a divide and rule strategy the Speaker adopted, knowing that the North-West has the highest number of 86 APC members in the House.

“He broke their ranks and with the pressure mounted on Ado-Doguwa, he began to weigh his options,” a senior House official informed The PUNCH on Wednesday.

Gbajabiamila did not respond to the latest development when his reactions were sought on Wednesday.

He did not reply texts messages our correspondent sent to him on the subject.

http://www.punchng.com/news/dogara-lures-gbajabiamilas-ally-with-post/

Freemanan:

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wolesmile:


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Atiku @ work

lol. That's to tell you that in Nigeria there is nothing like National or party interest, but personal interest is more paramount to these politicians.

Just appoint Barcanista as PA to Buhari, he will turn around for the opposite. Though Barcanista is one of my highest fan and we share the same views on political matters. Lol. I like you Barcanista "no homo"

This sleepy eye Dogara no dey dull at all o!

Treachery is the game and he is playing it.

However, he clarified that members of the group had not met to discuss the offer, but he called on them to reason along with him.

Tinubu and his boy gbajabiamilla don enter one chance be that

This Dogara guy toh badt

.

Money opps position is the anti Gbaja.

Party supremacy my black behind

Skillbobralph:
lol. That's to tell you that in Nigeria there is nothing like National or party interest, but personal interest is more paramount to these politicians.

Just appoint Barcanista as PA to Buhari, he will turn around for the opposite. Though Barcanista is one of my highest fan and we share the same views on political matters. Lol. I like you Barcanista "no homo"