The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

  • House: no plan to sack Deputy Speaker Ihedioha

    House: no plan to sack Deputy Speaker Ihedioha

    The House of Representatives has said there is no truth in reports that the All Peoples Congress (APC) wants to remove Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha on resumption from the Christmas/New Year break.

    Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, who was reported to be preparing to take over as deputy speaker, has distanced himself from such plan.

    In a statement yesterday by his Personal Research Assistant, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, the Minority leader emphasised that he remained focused on his legislative duties.

    The lawmaker said issues about offices were left to the House as an institution.

    He, however, said Aminu Tambuwal would remain speaker, even if the APC took over the leadership of the House.

    The statement reads: “Gbajabiamila remains focused on his legislative work and has repeatedly said the issue of offices will be resolved by the House as an institution as it is done in other legislatures all over the world. What to him is sancrosanct is that the Office of  the Speaker remains intact.”

    On the purported moves to unseat the deputy speaker, the House has said it had no plan to do such to Ihedioha.

    The House explained that constitutional procedures would be adhered to as the APC prepare to officially take over the leadership of the House.

    The Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Information and Public Affairs, Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra), described the reports as a deliberate attempt to cause crisis in the House.

    Referring to House rules and the constitution, Ogene said the deputy speaker could only be removed through resignation, impeachment or death.

    According to him, a change in the majority party in the House cannot cause the officer to lose his seat.

    The lawmaker also noted that Ihedioha could retain his seat even he was not a member of the majority party.

    Ogene said: ”Resignation, death or impeachment are the only ways a vacancy can occur in the Office of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker or any other principal officer’s position.”

    The lawmaker cited Order 7 (2) of the House Rules, which states that while those of the majority leadership come from the party with majority members, the minority parties nominate Minority leader, Minority Whip, Deputy Minority Leader and deputy minority whip.

    For a vacancy to occur among presiding officers, like the speaker and deputy speaker, Ogene said the person has to resign or be impeached by two-thirds of members, that is 240 members,

    He said: “The report that the Deputy Speaker will be removed when we resume is the handiwork of fifth columnists, who are trying to cause a crisis among members before resumption.

    “People should not forget that besides political affiliations, we all belong to a group called ‘House Project’, which saw to the emergence of the current House leadership. What will happen is a seamless transfer.

    “As soon as the party with the majority members notifies the speaker that its has the majority, which is the APC, the speaker crosschecks with the House clerk and the change is immediate.”

  • Encomiums for Lagos APC chieftain at book launch

    Encomiums for Lagos APC chieftain at book launch

    Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gathered at the Eko Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos, yesterday at the book presentation of one of the party’s leaders, Prince Tajudeen Olusi.

    The 393-page book, titled: “Do not be a low mean man….. The story of a Prince of Peace”, was reviewed by Prof. Siyanbola Oyefeso, a former lecturer at the Lagos State University (LASU).

    APC members turned the event into a celebration of the author, showering encomiums on him.

    Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, in his welcome address, said: “We are here to celebrate and honour a living legend, a veritable grassroot leader, an elder statesman, a gentleman, former federal legislator, political leader, a great thinker, a socialite with deep passion for social development and emancipation of the people. We are here to celebrate a father and an inspiration to many people, including my humble self. Today, we celebrate a towering figure in the Southwest and in Nigerian politics.”

    Gbajabiamila said Olusi’s journey has been filled with sacrifices for Lagos and Nigeria. According to him, Olusi pitched himself with the progressives and fought vehemently for the restoration of democracy during the military era.

    APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said Olusi should be celebrated for the role he played in the progressives’ struggle since he joined politics some decades ago.

    Tinubu, who was represented by former Lagos State Commissioner for Health Dr. Leke Pitan, said the level of leadership demonstrated and the principled position taken by Olusi portrayed him as a transparent and honest leader and politician.

    He said when Olusi lost the Lagos City Council chairmanship, he took it in good faith.

    “We commend you for the role you have played and that you are still playing. Since you never deviated from the progressive movement, you will continue to lead us, so that we can benefit from your wisdom,” Tinubu added.

    APC Interim National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, who was represented by Afenifere chieftain Senator Ayo Fasanmi, described Olusi as a rare leader, whose integrity has never been found wanting.

    Akande said: “I hold him in high esteem for his transparency, integrity and consistency.”

    Fasanmi said the book launch was the first public function he was attending in Lagos in the past three years.

    Oyefeso said the book has corrected several erroneous impressions created in the history of Lagos. He said the book is about Lagos monarchy, people, history of Islam and party administration.

    Oyefeso said Olusi was revered in Lagos history and culture, such that people doing research on Lagos approach him for factual information. He said the first civilian governor of Lagos State said he relied on Olusi when he wrote a piece,titled: “A case for Lagos”.

    Oyefeso described the author’s father, the late Oba Sanusi Olusi of Lagos, as a peaceful monarch, who was instrumental to resolving a dispute between the Alaafin of Oyo and the Olubadan in 1939.

    He said the late Oba Sanusi was in constant touch with monarchs outside Yorubaland, such as the Attah of Igala and the Emir of Ilorin, during his reign.

    Dignitaries at the event include Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye; Senator Anthony Adefuye; former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba; Alhaji Musliu Smith; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Chief Henry Ajomale; Erelu Abiola Dosumu; Alhaja Oluranti Adebule; Mr. Olawale Oshun; Oba Olatunji Hamzat; Chief Aro Lambo and Mr. Yakub Balogun.

    Also present were Otunba Segun Adesegun; Dr Adeniji Adele; Prince Kayode Olowu; Alhaji Olanrewaju Rasaq; Mr. Dapo Sasore; Chief Adekunle Ali; Mr. Razaq Balogun; Mrs. Folashade Ashafa; Prince Lisade Biobaku; Alhaja Abimbola Jakande; Mr. Hakeem Masha; Mrs. Olatoun Adeniran; Mr. Alawiye King; Mrs. Jumoke Anifowose; Chief Tunde Adeniji; Mr. George Sadiku and Mr. Ademola Sadiq.

    In her vote of thanks, Senator Tinubu thanked God for sparing the author’s life “to give us a document that has been missing in the history of our state”.

    She described Olusi as very knowledgeable, a mentor and a role model in her constituency, Lagos Central Senatorial District.

    Mrs. Tinubu said: “He trained me and many others to be good politicians. We have benefited from his vast experience and we pray he will continue to guide us for a long time to come.”

  • Why we stand on $79 benchmark, by Gbajabiamila

    Why we stand on $79 benchmark, by Gbajabiamila

    A budget gridlock looms as the opposition in the House of Representatives yesterday said it won’t back down on its position that the oil price benchmark of the budget is $79.

    In a statement last night, Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said the opposition would remain steadfast on this position to protect the integrity of the legislature.

    He said: “The constitution in line with the principles of federalism, particularly fiscal federalism states clearly in section 162 (1):

    “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called “the Federation Account” into which shall be paid all revenues (emphasis mine) collected by the Government of the Federation………….”

    Section 162 (3) further states: “Any amount standing to the credit of the Federation Account shall be distributed among the Federal and state Governments and the local government council in each State on such terms and in such manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly.”

    “The section provides that ALL REVENUES and not some revenues (which is what the keeping of part of the oil revenue in another account does) should be paid into the federation account for distribution of to all tiers of government.

    “What this means is that the federal government cannot take part of the revenue of the country as its own to be distributed to states as and when it wishes or spend for itself through the instrumentality of an illegal excess crude account. It is an unconstitutional appropriation.

    “There are only two accounts known to our constitution; the federation account and the consolidated revenue account. Though the constitution in section 162 also permits the operation of any other account permitted by an Act of the National Assembly, the National Assembly did not at anytime enact a statute to create the excess crude account.

    “Indeed as an institution, we have wittingly or unwittingly condoned an illegality. We must not perpetuate it and call on our colleagues to immediately stop the operation of this or any other illegal account.

    “Indeed the time has come to test the constitutionality of the “benchmark” in court. If the debate on benchmark must go on, then it should be done with both or all sides being armed with the facts”.

     

  • Photo: Reps, Finance Ministry meet on budget implementation

    Photo: Reps, Finance Ministry meet on budget implementation

  • House of Reps in session (22/05/2013)

    House of Reps in session (22/05/2013)