•Another member resigns appointment
•Dogara, Lasun defend selves before party
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Compliance, Honourable Chika Adamu has resigned his appointment ahead of the planned inauguration of the newly constituted committees.
He is the fourth Committee Chairman/deputy chairman to decline his appointment following widespread dissatisfaction in the House with the constitution of the committees by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
The lawmaker from Niger State dropped his resignation letter on Thursday evening hours before Dogara and Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun honoured the invitation of their party, All Progressives Congress (APC) on the committees issue yesterday.
Earlier in the week, House leader, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, who is unhappy that he and supporters were sidelined in the constitution of the committees, had taken his case before the party leadership.
His invitation by party chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun was based on an October 20, 2015 letter protesting that he was not carried along in the committee allotment process and that the party has been relegated to the background.
The Nation learnt that though the party is unhappy with Dogara’s actions, it could only advise him to always do the right thing in the interest of the party.
It was gathered that Gbajabiamila and his supporters in the House may boycott the inauguration of the standing and special committees on Monday.
A source said efforts are being made to convince Gbajamiamila, who is wearing two caps as the leader of the APC and Majority Leader in the House, to attend the inauguration.
“The thinking by the Speaker and other well meaning members in the leadership cadre, is that the absence of the Majority Leader will stimulate the impression that the House is not together as one,” one source said.
The resignation train was led by Deputy Minority Whip during the Seventh House and member of the APC, Garba Mohammed Datti, who resigned as Chairman, House committee on Solid Minerals Development. Sunday Adepoju (APC Oyo) followed when he resigned as Deputy Chairman, Committee on Special Duties.
A member from Benue State, Hassan Saleh (PDP), also wrote to the Speaker, announcing his rejection of the Deputy Chairmanship of the Committee on Local Content.
In reaction to the latest round of resignations, House spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas, said the Speaker is not relenting in his efforts to unite the House.
Namdas, who spoke by phone from abroad said: “It is the wish of the Speaker that every member is carried along in the sharing of the committees. Unfortunately not all members will be chairmen or deputies.
“He tried his best to ensure that all interests were taken care of but it appears a few people are still not happy. I can assure you as the leader, the Speaker will explore several ways in ensuring that there is stability.
“To the best of my knowledge only three persons have resigned out of 192 offices. One chairman and two deputies. Datti, Chairman on Solid Minerals, Sunday, Deputy chair, special Duties and Hassan, Deputy chair, Local Content.”
Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza chided those who resigned, saying that they were all elected as nationalists to come and serve, and to move the country forward.
He said: “If you are given a committee and for some reasons you feel that you cannot operate adequately in that capacity and resign, definitely someone that is equally suited will be given. What we are doing here is legislation, not for ourselves but for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Nigeria comes first.
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