The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Dogara

  • Buhari, Dogara to meet in Aso Rock

    Buhari, Dogara to meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to meet the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday night.

    The National Assembly had been embroiled in leadership crisis following the June 9 emergence of Bukola Saraki and Dogara as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

    The development had also stalled the appointment of other principal officers of the National Assembly.

    Wednesday’s meeting will hold at the First Lady Conference Room by 10pm.

  • NASS crisis: Dogara, FCC sued

    NASS crisis: Dogara, FCC sued

    A cultural group, Igbo Youth Democrats has sued the Federal Character Commission (FCC) and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara for disregard of the FCC principle on House leadership.

    Group President Okere Kingdom in a statement yesterday said people from the Southeast were not slaves and  should be recognised in driving the country’s affairs.

    Kingdom sought to know the interpretative jurisdiction of the Federal High Court on equitable zoning of political offices.

    The plaintiffs, Kingdom and Comrade Eze Chigbu, on behalf of the group contended:

    • Whether or not zoning of elective political or appointive offices is constitutional and should be strictly followed in the appointment, election, selection, nomination or endorsement of principal officers of the House and other political offices in Nigeria, in view of Section 14 (3) and (4) and Paragraphs 7 and 8 of Part One of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Sections 5 and 6 of the Federal Character Commission (Establishment ETC) Act.

    • Whether or not the FCC Act and the establishment of the FCC was to ensure fairness, equality and justice in the distribution of political offices and in the composition of the government at all levels and the need to avoid domination of one ethnic group over the other(s).

    • Whether or not it complies with the FCC for one geo-political zone to produce two principal officers of the House when other zones have produced nothing.

    • Whether or not the programmes, activities, as well as aims and objectives of political parties, especially in the nomination, selection, election and endorsement of candidates for the principal positions of the NASS and other political offices at the State and Federal levels must comply with section 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 constitution as mandated in sections 223 (1) (b) and 224 of the 1999 constitution.

    He noted that the combined effects of the sections of the constitution are zoning, and the Igbo should not be zoned out of the principal positions in the House of Representatives.

    “That is why we are in court, as the last hope of the oppressed,” he added.

     

  • Dogara’s claim of Sultan’s support

    During his thanksgiving church service in Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State, on June 21, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara was quoted widely, as having poured encomium on persons and institutions that he claimed had been instrumental to his victory at the controversial June 9 election at the House which pitched him against the preferred candidate of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). Prominent among those who he claimed were instrumental to his victory over Hon Femi Gbajabiamila was the respected Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

    The linkage of the Sultan’s name to that controversial election which raised dusts that are yet to settle, has raised eyebrows across the country. This is mainly because of the respect and acclaim that he has gained across the religious and ethnic divides in the country due to the way he has comported himself with grace and dignity, by keeping himself and his exalted office above the murky waters of partisan politics.

    Having followed the activities of the sultan, since his early days on his exalted throne, it is not hard to chart his involvement in areas that are far-removed from partisan politics. Many who first encountered him through his activities as the co-chair of the Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC) note his transparent and manifest passion for inter-religious dialogue and understanding which stood out and did a lot to bridge the gaps of religious and ethnic understanding, which were being created through the bigotry of some politicians and religious leaders, across the board.

    In concert with Archbishop John Onaiyekan, the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja as well as the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Sultan Abubakar’s roles in the promotion of peace and unity of the country was very evident.  The mileage gained in inter-religious understanding for the country through the cooperative efforts of the two men and the groups they led became deep and real. The trust that had started to build was so real that the Sultan became the first-ever Muslim leader to participate directly in a major Christian activity at the highest level.

    On April 20, 2010, the Sultan delivered a keynote address at the National Executive workshop of CAN in Abuja. The paper entitled, “You and Your Muslim Neighbour” sought to wipe out, by explaining any remaining vestiges of misunderstanding between the two major groups in the country. That sterling gesture was later reciprocated when Bishop Idowu Fearon, a top Christian leader also participated in and delivered a paper at a meeting of Nigeria Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) in Kaduna.

    Even when these efforts by the Sultan seemed to have suffered a setback as Pastor Ayo Oritesjafor, who lacked the type of chemistry that existed between the Sultan and Onaiyekan, became the CAN leader, the Sultan was not fazed. Even when it became obvious that the gains of religious entente recorded by NIREC were being slowed down, or even derailed, the Sultan refused to be diverted from the path of search for religious and ethnic harmony which he had fervently committed himself to.  Onaiyekan continued to give their attention to other aspects of NIREC initiatives that had great impact of the lives of Nigerians, irrespective of their tongues and creed.

    In   2008 the Sultan and Archbishop Onaiyekan, as NIREC co-chairmen, had founded the Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association (NIFAA), with funding support from the Nigerian government, the World Bank, the Centre for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty (CIFA), and other international funders, with the aim of joining the raging battle against malaria. NIFAA was an instant and resounding success, such that it was able to train up to 300,000 Christian and Muslim missionaries in malarial control activities that included the distribution of treated mosquito nets right to the remotest parts of the country. Tony Blair, former British prime minister, was among the many leaders that took direct interest in the project, having participated in NIFAA training initiatives in Nigeria in 2010. Today NIFAA’s activities which are being coordinated by Bishop Sunday Onuoha from Abia State have become so institutionalized that they are being copied by some African countries, like Liberia.

    If NIFAA has not become a household word in the Nigerian media, it is because both Sultan Abubakar III and Cardinal Onaiyekan are self-effacing leaders who do not court publicity for self-aggrandisement. Nevertheless, the international community had taken adequate notice of these phenomenal contributions by the two selfless Nigerian leaders, as they were co-nominated for Nobel Prize for Peace, in 2012. In fact, they were placed at the fourth position in the nomination list that had more than 100 nominees.  Significantly, it was after that the Catholic Church elevated the erstwhile Archbishop John Onaiyekan to the position of a Cardinal.

    If one has gone to this length, it is to show that the Sultan of Sokoto who had placed himself and activities over and above the limits of local partisan politics and had rather, in addition to his traditional and these adopted activities for peace of harmony in his Sokoto Caliphate and beyond, has had a timetable fully logged with premium intellectual and humanitarian activities at home and abroad. His intellectual and leadership qualities have been recognized far and wide, such that his views and ideas have been in high demand at the most important portals at home, but particularly abroad.

    Since the incidence of the Boko Haram insurgency, the Sultan has had his plate full with efforts to stem the tide. He has also had to contend with the frustrations of failed promises and multi-speaks of officials of government. But all the same, he has kept his eyes on the ball and has not failed to contribute his bit, covertly and in secret, to the many efforts to end the Boko Haram scourge. There is no doubt that he will continue to play such roles in the current dispensation.

    It stands to reason that because the Sultan has had his own loaded national and international agenda cut out for him, it is doubtful if he would have had time for partisan politics. Added to the fact that he cannot find the time for that, the Sultan who has been exposed to all manners of training in leadership and strategic planning is aware that in order continue to enjoy the respect and acclaim of all, he must be impartial and make himself available to all. That must have been why he has left his door open to members and leaders of all the parties, religions and ethnic groups.

    It was, therefore, a big surprise to many observers of the Sultanate that the same man was alleged by the Speaker to have helped him achieve victory in a partisan contest. It would not be hard to deduce that the Sultan would not be pleased to be dragged into the vortex of partisan politics after his manifest and honest efforts to stay far and above it. Hence, keen watchers are imagining that Hon Yakubu Dogara must have misrepresented the roles of the Sultan, if there was any.

    The Sultan of Sokoto is one of the few leaders in Nigeria today that have kept their heads high, over and above the fray of partisan and primordial politics of the country. That is why the Sokoto Caliphate has – and would for a long time continue to – remain relevant and enjoy the respect of all and sundry, because the likes of the current 20th Sultan has, through good and sound education and upbringing, come to appreciate the need to preserve the timeless legacies that were laid down by their great forebear, Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio. Sultan Abubakar III knows that the best way to preserve the institution is to keep it and himself away from partisan politics. He has done that very well to the admiration of all and sundry. It would be too late in the day for him to depart from that path now.

    From the foregoing, it is very doubtful that the Sultan would have had anything to do with Dogara’s fortunes. It was, therefore, wrong for the Speaker to have dropped his name so cavalierly in the manner he did.

    ‘It is very doubtful that the Sultan would have had anything to do with Dogara’s fortunes. It was, therefore, wrong for the Speaker to have dropped his name so cavalierly in the manner he did’

    • Ekeh, writer and political scientist, wrote from Abuja

     

  • Saraki, Dogara deny link with oil barons

    Saraki, Dogara deny link with oil barons

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday denied any link with discredited oil barons.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, said it was false and a calculated mischief to suggest that his emergence as Senate President was facilitated by oil barons.

    He described the allegation as a case of calling a dog a bad name to hang it.

    The Senate President added that since he was elected unopposed on June 9, the claim that he was sponsored by oil barons cannot hold.

    Saraki had earlier made the same denial when the story first broke.

    The statement reads in part: “One of such desperate attempts to justify this blackmail and others was the story published in newspapers of Monday June 29, as contained in a statement issued by the former Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande.

    “Ordinarily, we would have ignored the report, but for the sole reason that some undiscerning readers might mistake the fiction for the facts.

    “We also wish to state unequivocally that it was wrong and mischievous for the statement by Chief Akande to link what happened on the floor of both chambers to some unnamed oil barons.

    “We dare say that the entire story was the figment of the imagination of the author.

    “We make bold to state that in the 7th Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki was Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee, which exposed the fraud and mismanagement in the oil sector.

    “Until Saraki’s motion on the floor of the Senate, no one was in the picture of the rot in the sector or took any action.

    “Therefore, surely, Senator Saraki will be the last person the oil baron will want to see as Senate President.”

    Dogara, who also described the allegation as baseless and lacking in substance, called on Nigerians to disregard them.

    A statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Adamu Hassan, described Akande’s allegation as “unfortunate and uncharitable”.

    The statement said Dogara’s “antecedence, capacity, experience, being a team player, incorruptibility and his progressive mind and activities are the qualities that endeared him to his colleagues”.

    It added: “We challenge Chief Akande to name the so-called oil barons whom he alleged sponsored the election of the Speaker.

    “In case Chief Akande does not know, the first investigative motion adopted by the 8th House of Representatives under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Speaker was to investigate the allegation of fraud in the oil-swap contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    “A resolution instituting investigation into the allegation was passed with a resolve to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the NNPC, as well as its subsidiary, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company, over the swap contracts. How then can the House under the leadership of Mr. Speaker order investigation into activities of those who allegedly sponsored his election?”

  • Speakership election: Dogara attacks Akande over allegations

    Speakership election: Dogara attacks Akande over allegations

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives; Hon. Yakubu Dogara has debunked the allegations by the former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, that corrupt oil barons sponsored his election to become Speaker.

    Dogara while describing the allegation as baseless and lacking in substance called  on all Nigerians and the general public to disregard such allegations “as they are meant to distract the new leadership of the legislature from concentrating on passing legislations that will help to fight poverty, insecurity, infrastructural decay, and to revive our economy.”

    A statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Adamu Hassan, describes Akande’s allegation as “unfortunate and uncharitable.”

    The statement reads: ” Former All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande issued a statement on Sunday alleging that oil barons who never liked President Muhammadu Buhari`s anti-corruption stance allegedly sponsored the election of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    “His antecedence, capacity, experience, being a team player, incorruptibility and his progressive mind and activities are the qualities that endeared him to his
    colleagues.

    “These were the selling points among members-elect that made him to be elected Speaker. Therefore, the allegation by Chief Akande is unbecoming of a well-respected elder-statesman and a former Interim National Chairman of the APC.

    “It is baseless and lacking in substance and merit and can best be described as figment of Chief Akande`s imagination. We challenge Chief Akande to name the so-called oil barons whom he alleged sponsored the election of the Rt.Hon. Speaker.

    “In case Chief Akande does not know, the first investigative motion adopted by the 8th House of Representatives under the leadership of the Rt. Hon. Speaker was to investigate the allegation of fraud in the oil-swap contract awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    “A resolution instituting investigation into the allegation was passed with a resolve to constitute an Ad-hoc committee to investigate the NNPC, as well as its subsidiary, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company over the swap contracts. How then can the House under the leadership of Mr. Speaker order investigation into activities of those who allegedly sponsored his election?

    “Chief Akande`s allegation is both unfortunate and uncharitable. What we expect the Chief to do at this critical time in the life of our nation and the APC as a party is to play the role of an elder-statesman and help to bring warring party members to the table and not ignite crisis that will further divide the party that he helped to build.”

    The statement notes that since assuming duty as Speaker, Dogara has not left anyone in doubt as to his stance on corruption which is the bane of Nigeria`s development.

    “Thus, he presented the draft legislative agenda of the 8th Assembly to the House last week which among other things proposed legislations that will help fight corruption.

    ” Mr. Speaker has on different occasions reiterated his resolve to compliment President Buhari`s anti-corruption stance and insists that the present crop of leaders don’t have any excuse to give to Nigerians on the change promised them before and during the election that brought APC into power,” the statement further states.”

  • Dogara: why APC’s directive on officers was rejected 

    Dogara: why APC’s directive on officers was rejected 

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara said yesterday that a court matter and the need to uphold federal character prevented him from  yielding to the directive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the selection of principal officers.

    Dogara’s move to shun his party’s directive led to a fracas on the floor of the House last Thursday. This prevented him from announcing the names of principal officers.

    Yesterday, the speaker said a court process by some aggrieved lawmakers and the constitutional provision on federal character created the difficulty he found himself in.

    He accepted responsibility for the incident, promising that a lasting solution  would be proffered before resumption from the four-week recess to the satisfaction of all parties and Nigerians.

    Dogara spoke when he received the Forum of Former Members in his office.

    “There was a court process served on the leadership of the House. What they are alleging is very simple: whether it is in accordance with the constitution of Nigeria and the House rules that a political party has the right to choose the principal officers of the House.

    “The second question is: assuming the political party has the right, whether it is in tandem with the constitution to exclude their zone, whether that meets the requirement of the provision of the federal character.

    “There are issues of law, issues relating to court, issues relating to the provisions of the Constitution.

    “Now the precedent that we saw not too long in the House is that anytime we have such audacious report, we have always run away from trying to force that.

    “By this, let me just explain: assuming we go ahead to announce the party’s position, which recognises members of the Northcentral as principal officers position and most of the members from the Southwest as principal officers and then the Northcentral members made a very strong allegation against the APC.

    “Assuming they win the case and the court rules that that the directive of the party breaches the provision of the constitution relating to federal character, so do we now begin to see somebody vacating his principal official position so that we can accommodate the court’s ruling?

    “So these are issues that are really not easy to fathom or to sort. When we got this letter, we raised this issue with the party, that there is the need for us to look at it so that we don’t get a ruling that will compel us to go back and enforce the alignment.

    “We said the best thing is, in order to avoid this, let’s circulate the positions to the zones in the  House.

    “There has never been a time in the House when a zone got more than two leadership positions and we all know the provision of the constitution which did say that all positions must be guided by the standing orders.

    “But in a situation where the standing order is not explicit or is not provide for, then we provide that the use of precedent, customs, the tradition.

    “So, that therefore means even though the law does not say distribute the position to six zones, but the tradition has been that it should go to the six zones in line with the constitutional provision relating to the federal character. So this is the bone of contention.

    “But, as leaders, we are bound by the constitution and when we got that directive from the party, we said that we must defend the constitution, we must enforce our rules and whether we have it would have harmful effect on the constitution of Nigeria for us to adopt the position of the party.

    “This is because certainly, we have to be aware of the gravity of the constitution.

    “That is where we are and that is what we are discussing.

    “It was an ongoing discussion relating to this that certain sections of our members felt ‘well whatever it is let the House know, that the party is supreme’ and so that was what led to the near fracas which we witnessed on the floor of the House.”

    Dogara  apologised, saying amends would made in order to have a peaceful House capable of discharging its responsibilities to Nigerians.

    He said: “We would make the platform through which we can ventilate the wishes and aspirations of our people.

    “I have accepted responsibility for everything that transpired and we apologise to the nation.”

    The group, led by Dauda Bundot and Jonathan Asake said its visit was in solidarity with Dogara.

  • Dogara: Buhari needs prayers to succeed

    Dogara: Buhari needs prayers to succeed

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday said President Muhammadu Buhari and other leaders need the prayers of all Nigerians to succeed.

    Dogara spoke when he attended a Thanksgiving Service at the Winners Chapel, Durumi, Abuja.

    According to the Speaker, because the challenges before the present leaders are not ordinary, it requires extra-ordinary prayers to overcome them.

    Dogara said: “I want to plead that the problems we have now in the country are not conventional, so conventional wisdom cannot solve them. We need divine wisodm.

    “Without prayers there is no way we can succeed. So I urge that we offer prayers and supplication for all the leaders beginning from the President to the least person in authority.”

    According to the Speaker, the reason leaders need prayers is “so that we can embrace this wisdom that comes from God and apply those tools that we can fashion out by means of this wisdom in bringing solution to the problems that are no longer conventional.

    The Speaker said he had been a product of grace and never had to struggle for anything in his life.

    Dogara said ever since he encountered God before his university days, he never lacked any good thing.

    “Ever since I met God through this commission at a tender age, I have not had to struggle for anything in life.

    “I never had any reason to struggle nor lack any good thing in my life.’’

    While acknowledging God as his source, the Speaker urged Nigerians to keep praying for leaders, saying without prayers, nothing could be achieved.

    He said conventional problems do not need conventional wisdom but divine wisdom, stressing that “Nigeria needs God’s blessings at all times.

    “The nation needs steadfast leaders who will do the will of God, not theirs.

    “We need your prayers, we can’t do it alone.’’

    Pastor John Adelekan, the Senior Pastor of the church, urged the congregation to keep praying for leaders in the country, adding that this was the right thing to do.

    He said: “Service to God pays, as it is the easiest way to experience unending blessings from Him.’’

    The pastor said service to God also opened the doors of favour when a man’s way pleased God, as He would make ones enemies to be at peace with him.

    Pastor Adelekun, while preaching read scriptures from the book of Matthew 6:33, Malachi 3:l7, Ephesians 6:18 among other verses, called on the worshippers to serve God and tap into His blessings.

    According to him, those who serve God are doing themselves favour by doing so and do not beg to be lifted.

  • Principal officers’ fracas: My hands are tied, says Dogara

    Principal officers’ fracas: My hands are tied, says Dogara

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has said he was constrained not to yield to the request of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the selection of Principal officers for the House.

    He said a court process by some agreieved lawmakers served on him and the constitutional provision on federal character created the the difficulty he found himself in over the matter that led to a fracas on the floor of the House last Thursday.

    While accepting responsibility for the ugly incident, Dogara assured that a lasting solution would be proffered before resumption from a four-week recess to the satisfaction of all parties and Nigerians.

    Dogara spoke when he received Forum of former members that paid him a courtesy call after the suspension of plenary on Thursday in his office.

    “There was court process served on the leadership of the House. What they are alleging is very simple: whether it is in accordance with the constitution of Nigeria and the House rules that a political party has the right to chose the principal officers of the House.

    “The second question is: assuming the political party has the right, whether it is in tandem with the constitution to exclude their zone, whether that meet the requirement of the provision of the federal character.

    “So apparently it is not against the transcendent of the party and as presiding officers, we don’t want to announce the position of the party.

    “But there are issues of law, issues relating to court, issues relating to the provisions of the constitution.

    “Now the precedent that we saw not too long in the House is that anytime we have such audacious report, we have always run away from trying to force that.

    “By this let me just explain: assuming we go ahead to announce the party’s position, which recognise members of the Northcentral as principal officers position and most of the members from the Southwest as principal officer positions and then the Northcentral members made a very strong allegation against APC.

    “Assuming they win the case and the court now rules that that directive of the party breaches the provision of the constitution relating to the federal character, so do we now begin to see somebody vacating his principal officer position that we can accommodate the court’s ruling.

    “So these are issues that really not easy to fathom or to sort. When we got this letter, we have raised this issue with the party that, there is the need for us to look at it so that we don’t get a ruling that will compel us to go back and enforce the alignment.

    “We said the best thing is, in order to avoid this, let’s circulate the positions to the zones in the House.

    “Meanwhile, there has never a time in the House where a zone got more than two leadership positions and we all know the provision of the constitution which did say that all positions must be guided by the standing orders

    “But in a situation where the standing order is not explicit or is not provided for, then we provide that the use of precedent, customs, the tradition.

    “So, that therefore means even though the law does not say distribute the position to six zones, but the tradition has been that it should go to six zones in line with the constitutional provision relating to the federal character. So this is the bone of contention.

    “But as leaders, we are bound by the constitution and when we got that directive from the party, we said that we must defend the constitution, we must enforce our rules and whether we have it would have harmful effect on the constitution of Nigeria for us to adopt the position of the party.

    “This is because certainl, wenhave to be aware of the gravity of the constitution.

    “That is where we are and that is what we are discussing.

    “It was ongoing discussion relating to this that certain section of our members felt ‘well whatever it is let the House know, that the party is supreme’ and so that was what led to the near fracas which we witnessed in the floor of the House”.

    Dogara however apologised while stating that amends would made in order to have a peaceful House capable.of discharging it’s responsibilities to Nigerians.

    He said: “We would make the platform through which we can ventilate the wishes and aspiration of our people.

    “That was why I had to call on chairman ad hoc committee on media to apologise to Nigerians.

    “I have accepted responsibility for anything that transpired and we apologise to the nation”.

    The group, led by Hon Dauda Bundot and Jonathan Asake said it’s visit was in solidarity with the Speaker.

     

  • Saraki, Dogara: What should APC do?

    Saraki, Dogara: What should APC do?

    The crisis that trailed the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dagora as the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively, against the position of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has continued to plague the ruling party as the NASS leaders also rebelled against the party leadership on their choice of other National Assembly leaders. In this report, Sam Egburonu, Associate Editor, Dare Odufowokan, Assistant Editor, Sunday Oguntola in Lagos, Abdulgafar Alabelewe in Kaduna; Kolade Adeyemi in Kano; report on the options available to APC and the implications on the polity and the party

    Since the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly and the election of the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, where Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara emerged Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively against the position of their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party, which won the presidential and National Assembly elections has been thrown into crisis. The matter escalated this week when Saraki and Dogara also refused to listen to the advice of the party leadership on who should occupy the party leadership positions in both chambers.

    While Saraki-led Senate dumped the list of candidates for Senate Majority Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip and successfully elected different candidates for the positions in defiance of the party, Dogara’s attempt to do the same at the Green Chamber ended in a stalemate as the House went on a long recess after a free for all fracas.

    Reacting to this development, concerned supporters of APC and some of its leaders have called on the party to do something fast to regain authority and save the polity.

     

    ‘My hands were tied’

    Explaining why he did what he did, Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Thursday, June 25, 2015, wrote a letter to the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), John Oyegun, explaining that he went against the party’s wishes in the appointment of Senate leaders because his hands were tied.

    It would be recalled that before the election of the Senate Majority Leader and the other leaders of the Red Chamber, APC National Chairman, Oyegun had written a formal letter to Saraki, telling him to choose Senator Ahmed Lawan as Majority Leader, amongst other nominations made by the leadership of APC. But when it was time to elect the leaders, the Senate President nominated Senator Ali Ndume instead; an action APC leaders described as the height of rebellion and disrespect for the party’s supremacy.

    So, in the letter, which he signed personally, the Senate President explained that the APC’s letter on who to nominate came after the zonal caucuses had chosen their candidates in line with parliamentary convention.

    Saraki further said that he would have liked to please the party but his hands were tied.

    He also assured the APC of his continuing loyalty in the letter which was addressed to National Chairman, John Oyegun.

    Also, explaining the reasons behind the fisticuffs on the floors of the House before the House went on recess, Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura  of the All Progressive Congress (APC), representing Zango/Baure Federal Constituency of Katsina State, said “The action that occurred inside the chamber of the House of Representatives was in reaction to the illegal and unconstitutional action taken by Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives, an action in his usual tradition of total disregard to the wishes of the majority members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus, the Party itself and the spirit of the Party.

    “We are aware of a letter sent by our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dated 23rd June 2015 conveying the approval of the Party’s Principal Officers vis-a-vis the APC House Leader, the APC Chief Whip, the APC Deputy House Leader and the APC Deputy Chief Whip for the House of Representatives.

    This letter by the Party is in compliance with the expressed wish and mandate of the Majority Members of the All Progressives Congress APC Caucus in the House of Representatives.

    This action of the Party and the APC House Caucus is in compliance with the Nigerian Constitution, the House Rules and Parliamentary tradition, practices and precedents in Nigeria and all over the World.

    But to our surprise and in breach of our privilege and rights as contained in the Constitution and extant House Rules, Mr. Speaker refused to read the letter from our party.

    The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are not Party Principal Officers but are House of Representatives Presiding Officers and by precedent and practice are expected to provide a level playing ground for all members, while the Party Principal Officers are supposed to be the main advocates for their individual party positions.

    The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected by all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of party affiliation and it is also possible under our extant rules for a Speaker and his Deputy to be elected from a minority/opposition party in the National Assembly.

    Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives cannot under extant Laws and House Rules Appoint, Choose, Select, Dictate or even provide guidance on how Party Principal Officers emerge or are elected or selected. That responsibility and authority lies with each Party and Party’s Caucus members in the House,” he told the press during the week.

    While every concerned observer said APC must do something fast to save the situation, the right option left for the party is not generally agreed upon.

     

    Options open for APC

    Tambuwal option:

    Some Nigerians, especially APC supporters, worried by the current war of words amongst APC members over the development, are of the view that the party can adopt what they described as ‘Tambuwal option.’ Taken from how the Peoples Democratic Party reacted when Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, a PDP lawmaker from Sokoto State, aligned with the opposition to emerge the Speaker of the House of Representatives against his party’s decision, the option implies turning a blind eye. That is, avoiding the temptation of sanctioning the offender in order to stall further confrontations that may hurt the party. It would be recalled that when former Speaker of the House of Representatives emerged against the decision of the then ruling party, PDP practically turned blind eye and so he served as PDP Speaker with the firm support of the opposition until the tail end of his tenure, when he formally declared for the then opposition party, the APC.

    Not all APC sympathizers are willing to accept this option. Those who are opposed to it say in PDP’s case, Tambuwal did what Saraki and Dogara are not doing today. According to them, after Tambuwal emerged speaker through his alliance with the opposition, he did not openly disregard the positions of his party leadership. He accepted Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola as the Majority Leader of the House as advised by the PDP leadership then. He not only made every move to appease PDP leadership but also accepted practically every other fence mending requests they made after his emergence. Saraki on the other hand ignored all the requests of the APC leadership, including the letter written by the APC National Chairman, Oyegun, bearing the list of the candidates nominated by the party leadership for the remaining Senate leadership.

    Implication:

    From the views of many of our respondents, there is the fear that if APC adopts the Tambuwal option in the current circumstances, it will open room for other rebellion, a development that will ultimately lead the party to lose authority. “This option should not be considered because it will lead to a situation where party directives will no longer be binding on anybody. In that case, anybody can just do the same thing that Saraki and Dogara are doing,” most of the respondents said.

    Sanction

    Most Nigerians opposed to Tambuwal option in this matter are insisting that the party must enforce discipline. They insist that the only credible option is for the party to act fast to enforce party supremacy which has been defied twice both by Saraki in the Senate and Dagora in the House of Representatives. “This rebellion against the party has resulted in a situation where PDP is now in control of the two chambers of the National Assembly in spite of the fact that APC has majority in the two chambers. We cannot close our eyes to the damage already done to our party and the more disastrous implications in the future if we keep quiet now. We must sanction these people no matter the implications.

    Our investigation shows that those advocating sanction do not however agree on the kind of sanction that should be prescribed against them. So far, informed observers said the party can either suspend or expel Saraki and Dogara. A few others said the sanction need not necessarily include their supporters at the National Assembly. This suggests that Saraki and Dogara may also be isolated and disciplined. However such sanction is applied, it is agreed that it will have varied implications.

    Implications

    Our investigation confirms that most political leaders in the country agree that suspension or expulsion of the two NASS leaders may result to serious crisis for the party and the polity as it may result to the possibility of defection of the principal parties. “If Saraki and Dogara are suspended, they may decide to defect to the opposition PDP and no matter how you may try to manage the resultant crisis, the party and the polity cannot be better for it,” said a source.

    Not every respondent agreed that in event of sanction, Saraki and Dogara will automatically leave APC. Some informed observers say they may think twice before defecting because of the ruling on the Ondo State House of Assembly matter, which may imply their losing their plum seats.

    Also, there are some observers that said Saraki, if suspended for some time may decide to remain like that and work as Senate President.

    Informed observers however warned that for APC, suspension or expulsion of the offending NASS leaders implies that the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal executive would be dealing with a hostile and unstable NASS. “This is not what we voted for,” said an APC member in Lagos.

     

    Isolation

    Some top politicians who do not want to be named however said another option that may be considered is Isolation. “Another option open for APC-led federal government is to isolate the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives. This implies either isolating them for sanction without touching their supporters at the national Assembly, or Mr. President not depending on them in the running of his government,” explained one of such respondents who added that “it is important these two party men are disciplined.

  • Dogara: Building bridges

    If there were any doubts about the capacity of the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, his actions in his first few days in office have shown that he is a man with a clear sense of direction and focus.

    While he would have been expected to be basking in the euphoria of victory and relishing the defeat of his opponents in the election that produced him as Speaker, he has chosen instead to reconcile all parties as part of his belief that “there is no victor and no vanquished in the House leadership election.” In his recent meetings with state caucuses, the Speaker has consistently stated that he is not willing to pay back any group or lawmakers that did not support his bid for the exalted office. Instead, he insists that all heads must come together to ensure that the 8th Assembly does not fail in its responsibility to the citizens of Nigeria.

    Not a man of many words, it is pertinent to note that in his selection process for chairmen of adhoc committees, Hon Sani Zoro, a staunch supporter of Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, his major contender for the speakership, was selected to run one of the most important and key committees that is charged with the huge responsibility of projecting the House‘s image: the Media and Public Affairs Committee.

    Zoro hails from Jigawa State where no legislator supported the bid of Dogara for the leadership of the Green Chamber. This exemplifies his resolve to work for the progress of the entire House of Representatives and the nation as a whole without recourse to groups, party or zonal affiliations but as a collective unit to achieve the legislative agenda of the 8th Assembly which is ultimately aimed at improving the well-being of the ordinary Nigerian.

    To achieve this and knowing that the more hands on deck, the easier the job, the Speaker had further appealed to Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who he noted had fought a good fight and who has served the House and the nation with distinction, to join him so together they will heal the wounds and divisions of the contest and work to deliver good legislation and good government to our people.

    I recall in his inaugural speech wherein he stated: “Elections are over. The onerous task of governance begins. I plead with all the supporters of both camps in this election to quickly bury the hatchet and forge a united front to tackle the myriads of problems facing the nation”.

    Getting down to legislative business barely two weeks after his election, he has shown the direction that the House will take in the next four years with the proposed 8th Assembly Legislative Agenda. This is in line with his position that as a parliament, they can only justify the confidence of Nigerians by keeping faith with their duties of law making, representation and oversight of the executive arm of government.

    But this is not without his recognition of the fact that in their responsibility for checking and balancing the executive, good governance can only be effected when all arms of government are working in harmony and partnership to bring about the changes voted for by Nigerians on March 28.

    Highlights of the legislative proposals include enhancing the independence and autonomy of the House of Representatives while maintaining a robust and cooperative relationship with the executive; overhauling the budgetary processes of the National Assembly; improved oversight coordination and processes; strengthening the committees of the House of Representatives; transparency and accountability on the issue of salaries, allowances and running cost of the legislature and improving communications with the general public.

    Others include conducting legislative needs assessment; review of the Standing Orders of the House; introduction of a robust Code of Conduct for members; Strengthening the committees of the House of Representatives; improving physical structures and  equipment used in the House; priority legislation, other legislative measures  and conclusion of outstanding bills from the 7th House of Representatives.

    Introducing the agenda, Dogara further stated, “The 8th House of Representatives will concentrate on legislation that will bring the changes required and voted for by Nigerians. Legislative measures that will tackle the issue of endemic unemployment crises; insecurity of lives and property; poverty alleviation; health and education; endemic corruption; electricity and energy crises; general infrastructure decay etc. We shall work closely and speedily to pass legislation that will tackle these matters.”

    His proposal to introduce sectoral debates on various aspects of the Nigerian economy is also a right step in the right direction. This proposal envisages that the House will designate specific legislative sitting days or weeks in its calendar specifically for discussion on various problems facing the nation.

    Such identified themes, sectors, areas or problems include  –  unemployment, health, education and social services; power/energy sector, oil and gas, science and technology; commerce and industry;  transportation; telecommunications; agriculture; mining; manufacturing; diversification of the economy, finance, corruption, security matters, infrastructure etc.

    These debates, according to the Honourable Speaker, will lead to crafting of new laws or amendment to existing ones or indeed make recommendations on how to better manage the economy. In the coming days, nay weeks, the hallowed Green chamber will subject the draft agenda to scrutiny by all members.

    Undoubtedbly, with his resolve to build bridges, mend fences and extend olive branch to all members alike, there is no doubt that like his elder brother and predecessor Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal did, Dogara, has taken the path of consolidating on the gains and achievements of the 7th House. Like the Biblical John the Baptist who prepared the way for the Lord,  Tambuwal had prepared the way for Dogara to consolidate on.

    Interestingly, the new Speaker is already armed with a well laid out plan of action which is an indicative of the fact that the 8th Assembly under his leadership will demonstrate to the world that Nigeria‘s legislature is living up to the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers by leaving a legacy of an accountable, autonomous, focused, progressive and united House capable of playing its role as the stabilizing force in our polity as the House of the Nigerian people.

    Let it be told from here that the House under Dogara, will continue to remain the repository of the democratic hopes and ambitions of the Nigerian people.

    ‘Undoubtedbly, with his resolve to build bridges, mend fences and extend olive branch to all members alike, there is no doubt that like his elder brother and predecessor Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal did, Dogara, has taken the path of consolidating on the gains and achievements of the 7th House’

    • Hassan is Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker.