To resolve its members’ differences over the alleged padding of the budget, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has met with House Speaker Yakubu Dogara and former Appropriations Committee chairman Abdulmumin Jibrin.
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The party had said that it sent an invitation letter because Mr. Jibrin deliberately made himself inaccessible by phone.
The letter, dated July 29, 2016, and signed by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, stated that, “Following confirmation received by SERAP from the EFCC that it has taken up and was looking into SERAP’s petition to the body on the allegations that the leadership of the House of Representatives padded the 2016 budget to the tune of N481billion, SERAP is now writing to request you to immediately step aside from your position as Speaker of the House of Representatives pending the out outcome of the investigation”.
He denied that the party was planning to sanction Mr. Jibrin for his relentless media campaign against Mr. Dogara and others.
He continued, “I was reading today in your paper that we called him to discipline him; discipline him on what?”
The lawmakers, Linus Okorie representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo federal constituency, Anayo Edwin Nwonu representing Ezza North/Ishielu federal constituency and Laz Ogbee representing Ezza South/Ikwo federal constituency, in their separate statements, noted that any veiled attempt at leadership change in the House of Representatives will definitely fail because pro-democracy members will remain on a perpetual alert to defend what is just.
“But when certain things go off course, the party needs to call its members to know how best to reunite them”. The reason for this meeting is because they are our members and we want t get to the root of the matter. “They are our members, we should know from them directly what is really going on, so that we can see how we can handle the situation without necessary making it a town square dance”.
But in a fight back, Dogara said Jibrin concocted the alleged $20,000 bribe from the “figment of his imagination”, and calling his sanity into question.
Lawal told newsmen after three hours meeting that “we are discussing with them and it is an ongoing consultation, we are not done with them”.
Mr. Jibrin said, “I’m here on the invitation of our great party, the APC”.
“SERAP believes that the House of Representatives can not function effectively nor enjoy public trust and confidence as long as the allegations of budget padding continue to trail its leadership”.
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He said, “We will continue to discuss. We have heard earlier from the speaker but because it was not in the newspapers…. nobody knew we held a meeting with the speaker”, he said.
