EXCITING NEWS: TNG WhatsApp Channel is LIVE…
Subscribe for FREE to get LIVE NEWS UPDATE. Click here to subscribe!
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to concentrate on his legislative duties, and stop meddling into the internal affairs of the PDP.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the caution is predicated on Gbajabiamila’s reported needless interferences into the choice of leadership of the PDP Caucus in the House, which has reportedly lead to intimidation and threats of sanctions against Rep. Kingsley Chinda led PDP Caucus.
The PDP, without equivocation, reminded Gbajabiamila that as a party, it reserve the right to form a parliamentary caucus as well as choose the leaders of its caucus, as obtained in parliaments all over the world.
“The leadership of the House is aware that whereas members from minority parties decided on the Minority leadership, a party and its members have the right to form a caucus and select leaders of such caucus accordingly, without interference by the leadership of the House or members of other political parties in the legislature.
“The PDP reminds the leadership of the House that our party had directed that the affairs of the PDP caucus be organized and managed by Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon. Yakubu Barde, Hon. Chukwuma Onyema and Hon. Muraina Ajibola. This position has not changed.
“The PDP recognizes the caucus roles of our members and they have the instructions of our party to do so.
“Our party therefore calls on the Speaker to respect our choice of leadership for the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives. Our choice has not in any way contravened any rules or pose any threats to the statutory running of the House of Representatives.
“Mr. Speaker should, therefore, steer clear and bury the thoughts of punishing the loyal members of our party just because they are obedient to the decisions of the PDP.
“He should rather focus on giving the House of Representatives the much-needed leadership direction to proffer solutions to the myriads of economic and security challenges confronting our nation today instead of hounding our loyal members and meddling into the internal affairs of our party,” a statement by PDP read.
Earlier, TNG has reported that a grand plot by the Gbajabiamila led House to suspend Chinda, Chukwuma Onyeama, Ajibola Muraino and Yakubu Barde over alleged impersonation of Minority leadership.
From all indications, all is set to further rubbish the 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,” a source told TNG.
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.