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…even after silencing opposition in the House
There is a grand plot by the Femi Gbajabiamila led House leadership to suspend Kingsley Chinda, Chukwuma Onyeama, Ajibola Muraino and Yakubu Barde over alleged impersonation of Minority leadership.
From all indications all is set to further rubbish the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Members for being vocal while carrying out their legislative duties.
Multiple sources confirmed on Friday night to TNG that the grand plot has been well prepared and any moment from now the four lawmakers would be sent packing as the Chairman of the Ethics Committee is under instructions to forward a report indicating the Lawmakers and recommend for their suspension.
One of the sources said”this ugly development if allowed to sail through will heat up the body polity and create the impression that there’s more than meets the eyes on this issue.
“Chinda the arrowhead of the PDP members has maintained an unusual silence to the extent that the man does not even contribute any longer on the floor of the House.
“The man has been going about his legislative duties quietly and he religiously followed the proceedings of the Ethics and Privileges Committee mandated to investigate the alleged impersonation of minority leaders. However, the member cautioned that his silence should not be mistaken for weakness. He still remains one of the best legislators in the House.
Another source, a member from the South East geo-political zone also spoke in the same vein saying, “it can’t be true, was it not this same Gbajabiamila who spoke against the suspension of a member as the House Leader under Speaker Dogara?
“I doubt whether Speaker Gbajabiamila will throw caution to the wind and suspend Chinda and co. it will boomerang, if not now in the future.
“This action if carried out will go a long way in bringing the House to public odium and destroy his immaculate legislative agenda.
“If he’s under immense pressure to go ahead, he should remember that first and foremost, he’s a first among equals as this will amount to passing a capital punishment on his colleague for no visible offence.
“Well in Nigeria nothing is impossible but I doubt if he would do that because he is going to set a dangerous precedent.
“We are watching from the sidelines and see what will happen but this is going to be most unfair to these lawmakers and indeed opposition, if this is true.
Recall that the House had mandated the Ethics and Privileges Committee to probe the allegation via a motion raised by Hon Ben Igbakpa, PDP, Delta last year against the members for making releases as PDP Caucus Leaders.
PDP quickly responded that the said members have the express mandate of the Party to speak for her since the Speaker did not honour its list of Minority leadership, moreover since the Minority Leaders announced by the Speakers were on suspension from the party. One would think that the matter was settled.
Some Members of the ruling APC frowns at the move and feelings that the Speaker was being pushed into the internal matters of the PDP at the risk of the smooth and United House. The best approach to this would have been to encourage dialogue than brute force.