DOGARA, GBAJABIAMILA CAMPS ENDORSE SPEAKER POSITION

REPS: DOGARA, GBAJABIAMILA CAMPS ENDORSE SPEAKER POSITION 

...Gbajabiamila, Munguno lose out! 

“ In line with the Formula, the Equity Team has Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC Kano, North West) as House Leader, Hon Buba Jibrin (APC Kogi, North Central) as Deputy Leader, Hon Pally Iriase (APC Edo, South South) as Chief Whip and Hon. Chika Okafor (APC Imo, South East) as Deputy Chief Whip. “Interestingly, both the Speaker and a great majority of the APC caucus in the House including gladiators in the Gbajabiamila’s group like Hon Mongunu, Hon Doguwa and Hon Pally support and stand by the Equity Team.”- Abdulmumin Jibrin

As the House of Representatives set to reconvene next Tuesday, the two warring factions met in Abuja on Saturday and declared “No More War” announcing names of Principal Officers of the Green Chamber which was an endorsement of the position of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja today, Abdulmumin Jibrin, the spokesman of Consolidation Group, which is a faction supporting the Speaker said both camps have accepted the “Dogara formula” in the sharing of the remaining principal positions.

Hear him: “Please recall that since the inauguration of the house, the issue of those that will assume the positions of the remaining principal officers among members of our party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has been enmeshed in deep controversy.

 “Specifically, this controversy surrounded those who will occupy the vacant positions of House Leader, Deputy House Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip. Several efforts were made to find solution to the crisis and a couple of proposals were advanced. It is in this spirit that the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara, proposed in what is now known as the Dogara formula an equity team.

“Mr Speaker’s argument has always been since the north-east and south-west have produced the speaker and deputy speaker, the remaining principal officers positions should go to the north-west, north-central, south-south and south-east in the spirit of equity, fairness, justice, a strong precedence and provision of the constitution. In the interest of peace, unity and harmony in the House, Speaker Dogara reached out extensively to individuals and groups and committed lot of energy and time toward finding an amicable solution to the nagging issue”.

Speaking further, the Kano-born lawmaker said; “This became extremely necessary in order to actualise the needed peace and unity in the House so as to commence work for the Nigerian people and provide support for our President, Muhammadu Buhari. Let me reiterate our resolve that President Buhari is going to enjoy the maximum and unprecedented support of the APC caucus in the House in order for him to achieve all the laudable programmes of this government.

“Permit me to point out, however, that the intense consultations carried out by Speaker Dogara is what eventually led to the birth of the Dogara Formula that saw the emergence of what is now known as the Equity Team.

“ In line with the Formula, the Equity Team has Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC Kano, North West) as House Leader, Hon Buba Jibrin (APC Kogi, North Central) as Deputy Leader, Hon Pally Iriase (APC Edo, South South) as Chief Whip and Hon. Chika Okafor (APC Imo, South East) as Deputy Chief Whip. “Interestingly, both the Speaker and a great majority of the APC caucus in the House including gladiators in the Gbajabiamila’s group like Hon Mongunu, Hon Doguwa and Hon Pally support and stand by the Equity Team.

“We have commenced collection of signatures which has reached advanced stage to affirm the Dogara formula. All other interests, including those excluded from the principal officers, specifically Hon Gbajabiamila and Hon Mongunu will be duly accommodated with commensurate responsibility to serve. Since the Speaker has about 200 positions to share out, many members will have the opportunity to serve the country.

“In light of this development, it is heart-warming to announce to you that the disagreement in the House, which many have erroneously labelled as crisis, has finally come to an end. We hereby express our deep appreciation to Mr President for his fatherly disposition during this disagreement. We also commend our party for its patience and understanding and re-affirm our continued support for the realisation of its objectives.

“We thank Speaker Dogara for his maturity and gentle disposition towards ensuring that the disagreement is amicably resolved. We thank our other colleagues who disagreed with us for their willingness to dialogue and accept our compromise position for the peace and stability of the House and overall national interest. 

“We will make a particular mention of Hon Mongunu, Doguwa and Pally for their patience, maturity and understanding. Finally, we thank Nigerians and once again pledge that this House will now get down to work for the Nigerian people.”

However, Gbajabiamila who lost out to Dogara on 29 May, 2015 has not responded while filing this report.

BBO recalled that he met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday on the same issue but the outcome of the meeting remains unknown.

But Hon Munguno who was endorsed by the party to become the Deputy Speaker was present at the press conference and he said he was supporting the report.

The emergence of the duo of Dogara and Lasun as Speaker and Deputy has thrown the ruling APC into a deep crisis and the party leadership has tried in vain to resolve it.

Similar problem is in the Upper Chamber where the emergence of the duo of Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as the Senate President and Deputy respectively is unacceptable to the APC leadership. The EFCC is being brought in to resurrect the case file against Saraki with a view to forcing him out of the office. SA