Ahmed Baba Kaita, a lawmaker representing Katsina Federal Constituency, on Tuesday, November 10, alleged that there are plans by loyalists to the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to remove Femi Gbajabiamila as the majority leader of the House.
Kaita noted that the ruling All Progressives Congress had sent instruction on the lingering issue on the alleged lopsided composition of chairmen of the House standing committees that was not followed by the Speaker.
Kaita said: “Our party gave instructions to Mr. Speaker about five days ago and he promised to get back to the party by Monday. It was the same Monday he flouted the party’s directives.
“Yesterday, when we were meeting at the party secretariat, SMS were sent by the people who do not want APC to succeed in the House.
“The content was that Gbajabiamila would be removed this morning (yesterday) and they planned it. But when we arrived at this meeting, they couldn’t do so. They failed because they know we have the majority. As long as this House is going to be dictated by the PDP, we will resist it.
“If Dogara wants us to be with him, fine and good, we have no problems with that. He is one of our own, but only if he will align with the party’s wishes, manifestos and programmes of Mr. President, he will have a smooth ride because we have the majority.
“But as long as he flouts party’s directives and as long as he instigates unscrupulous members to attempt to remove Gbajabiamila, we will resist it.”
However, Ado Doguwa, the chief whip who is a pro-Dogara lawmaker noted that there is no plan by the Speaker or the House leadership to remove Gbajabiamila as House leader. He explained that the alleged meeting held by APC caucus in Hearing Room 1 was meant to discuss some issue and was not a move to remove the House leader.
Doguwa said: “You are aware of what happened yesterday when the Speaker chaired a special session of the House to inaugurate the committees.
“I want to inform you, on behalf of the leadership that there is no crack whatsoever as far as we are concerned.
“As we speak, the Speaker and the House leadership are in the meeting room of the office of the Speaker, discussing how we can move ahead.
“Nigerians are tired of this waiting. We were elected to come and work as members of the House of Representatives.”
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