The cold war and mutual suspicion between the camps of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, may soon spiral into yet another clash, this time, over the composition and appointment of chairpersons of House committees.
PREMIUM TIMES had reported the dissatisfaction among lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who complained that the composition of the committees favoured the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
They also said the development which saw PDP members appointed to some key committees, including works, petroleum resources, aviation, army etc., could sabotage the “change mantra” of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr. Gbajabiamila accused Mr. Dogara of undermining him and other principal officers, who he said were not consulted by Mr. Dogara ahead of the appointments.
In a letter dated October 20, addressed to Mr. Dogara, Mr. Gbajabiamila cautioned the Speaker against undermining his office as well as those of any Principal Officer in constituting the committees.
In the letter, he reminded the Speaker of the several meetings they had during which the House Leader said he sought understanding of what was going on with the composition of chairmen and vice chairmen of the committees.
“I did this because of the incessant rumour that same had been composed,” he wrote. “On each occasion 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.”
He continued, “Honourable 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 privately and publicly to work with you for the progress of the House.
“However, I am constrained at this point to ask that due consideration is given to the provision of our House Rules, Order 7 Rule 10 paragraph (a) which states that the Speaker shall in consultation with principal officers, appoint chairmen and deputy chairmen from among the members of the committees.
“On the role of the Majority/House Leader: Order 7 Rule 27 (2) c says that the Leader of the House shall ‘liaise with committee chairmen and other functionaries of the House’.”
By the foregoing, Mr. Gbajabiamila told Mr. Dogara that undermining the office of any principal officer would not strengthen Nigerian democracy and legislature.
He said he had taken liberty to write the letter, hoping that Mr. Dogara would comply with relevant House Rules before announcement of the composition of the committees.
Three days after the letter was forwarded, October 23, Mr. Dogara unveiled the headships of 96 special and standing committees, apparently confirming Mr. Gbajabiamila’s concerns.
A lawmaker, Babban kaita (APC-katsina State) and an aide to the House Leader, told PREMIUM TIMES that the composition was made without consultation with the principal officers.
Mr. Kaita said the aggrieved APC members could have taken action to stall announcement.
But they acted otherwise in consideration of members of the public who had complained the legislative had spent much time fighting before, he said.
Another member, Sunday Adepoju (APC-Oyo State), who resigned last week as the Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Special Duties, said he took the step to protest “the strengthening of PDP at the expense of my party, APC.”
Mr. Dogara’s spokesperson, Turaki Hassan, said the principal officers were duly consulted, and accused Mr. Gbajabiamila of lying.

Cc: lalasticlala

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/192605-gbajabiamila-writes-dogara-accuses-him-of-undermining-principal-officers.html

Somebody still sounds pained about loosing the Honorable Speaker's seat to somebody else..

One thing APC hate doing is conceding defeat..
Anyway I pray the cold war turns to hot war soonest..

And the blame game begins. He's wrong to not have informed you before. But seeing how you're reacting, one can't help but think he did the right thing. He knew all along that you'll try to influence things in favour of your party.
And if I may ask, please, what exactly is this change mantra these people are preaching? I still have yet to see anything being done differently asides over at the NNPC. If anything, Mr president sounds like it's a GEJ regime all over again; "Nigeria is broke", "we cannot afford to pay ministers"...the repetitive song is damn irritating. And I ask, if you can't even afford to pay 36 ministers, should the youths dare harbour any thoughts of employment by this government at all?

Notice me.. Am beginning to hate ds man.

What's d future of the youths having this man as a legislature?

So, we are back to the era of letter writing again.

I love OBJ. He will make it public just like the open letter to GEJ.

This arrogant man in the news again.

Wetin d man want sef?

sample042:
Notice me.. Am beginning to hate ds man

not only you o

Is your interest on what you get or the competence of the heads and the constituent members of each committee?

Gbajabiamila is aiming to assume semi-godfather to some of his colleagues in the HOR.

Majority of Nigerian Politicians are just self serving.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported the dissatisfaction among lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who complained that the composition of the committees favoured the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

Did I hear someone say PDP was dead?

APC made a big mistake bargaining seats and house leader for this man.

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
Is your interest on what you get or the competence of the heads and the members of the committee?

Majority of Nigerian Politicians are just self serving.

That's naija for you

MTN saw all this coming and did an Advert
"When Nollywood was growing, we were there" "We will always be here for Nigeria"
Case closed

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
Is your interest on what you get or the competence of the heads and the members of the committee?

Majority of Nigerian Politicians are just self serving.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported the dissatisfaction among lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who complained that the composition of the committees favoured the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

My brother, i think he's having issues with the bolded.

saint047:
MTN saw all this coming and did an Advert

"When Nollywood was growing, we were there"
"We will always be here for Nigeria"

Case closed

. and NCC will continue slamming them.

DONSMITH123:


PREMIUM TIMES had reported the dissatisfaction among lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who complained that the composition of the committees favoured the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

My brother, i think he's having issues with the bolded.

But seriously, He's right. When PDP are in Power, how many position do they give out to the opposition?

oluwaSmith1:
APC made a big mistake bargaining seats and house leader for this man.

Not a mistake my dear.

oluwaSmith1:
APC made a big mistake bargaining seats and house leader for this man.

who understands this?

When we were campaigning for Dogara where was Gbajabiamila? Thank you Dogara for affirming PDP's authority in the HOR. You are miles ahead of Saraki.

uncle lalasticlala push food out for wailers

DONSMITH123:


PREMIUM TIMES had reported the dissatisfaction among lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress, who complained that the composition of the committees favoured the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

My brother, i think he's having issues with the bolded.

And you think we don't know that the controversy and dissatisfaction are chaired and promoted by Hon. Gbajabiamila (the chief loser) and this group?

Forget about the news of the dissatisfaction as being spontaneous rather someone stirred it and if I may ask you, who do you think engineered it, if not Gbajabiamila himself?

TonyeBarcanista:
When we were campaigning for Dogara where was Gbajabiamila? Thank you Dogara for affirming PDP's authority in the HOR. You are miles ahead of Saraki.

Bros, i know you'll support him for giving out all the juicy positions to PDP. But Dogara should watch his back. HOR is more peaceful than Senate and he should not undermine that.

IsraeliAIRFORCE:


And you think we don't know that the controversy and dissatisfaction are chaired and promoted by Hon. Gbajabiamila (the chief loser) and this group?

Forget about the news of the dissatisfaction as being spontaneous rather someone stirred it and if I may ask you, who do you think engineered it, if not Gbajabiamila himself?

I think He's just angry for loosing the honorable Speaker's seat to Dogara and there is nothing else he can do than making noise.

Politicians are just funny anyway.

Okay

In as much as I think that Dogara flouted their Standing Rules not to consult the Principal Officers of the House especially the House Leader, I can categorically say these people are selfish at the expense of Nigerians beyond redemption.

Goood

This guy wey dey climb fence still dey legislate