TENSION MOUNTS AS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RESUME TOMORROW •Lawmakers may move to remove House majority leader, deputy By Onwuka Nzeshi Ahead of the resumption of federal parliamentarians from their annual vacation, there are palpable fears that the split in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may lead to tension and trigger a leadership change in the House of Representatives. THISDAY learnt that though Senate President David Mark may have no issues for now insofar he remains neutral over the ensuing crisis in the PDP, in the lower chamber of the parliament, a plot is already at hand to target the House Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, and Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, for removal. The “coup plotters” were said to have exempted the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from the hit list apparently because of his perceived sympathy for the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the ruling party. They were also silent on the fate of other principal officers in both chambers. Twenty-two senators and 57 members of the House of Representatives recently publicly lent their support for the Baraje faction of the PDP. These 79 lawmakers and others sympathetic to their cause are billed to meet today (Monday) to deliberate on the leadership change and the future of the ruling party in the National Assembly. The venue and time of the meeting are being kept secret for security reasons. The meeting, a source said, would enable the lawmakers in the splinter group of the ruling party to fashion out the shape of things to come. However, there was apprehension over the weekend that the primary agenda of the meeting would be how to exploit the crisis in the ruling party and the alliance between the New PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to tilt the slant of the National Assembly. THISDAY learnt that the general feeling among the Baraje loyalists in the parliament is that the current leadership of the National Assembly, particularly in the Senate, is largely tilted towards the mainstream PDP headed by Bamanga Tukur. But they have decided not to move against Mark so long as he remains neutral, but it will be another kettle of fish for some of the leaders of the House of Representatives. A lawmaker and member of the Baraje faction, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that the group was poised to put the leadership of the Senate and the House on their toes by asking each and every principal officer to declare his or her position on the crisis rocking the party. “So far we have about 79 members in both chambers. In addition, we have the strong voices of 137 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Green Chamber who have vowed to support our cause without blinking an eye lid. If you add all that together, we are clearly in the majority in the House of Representatives. “You can imagine a situation where this large number of lawmakers speak with one voice in all proceedings, including bills and motions. “We will handle all matters as one large family to bring down those tyrants who are enemies of democracy in the old PDP,” the lawmaker said. However, there are concerns that security agents may have started to closely monitor the dissident lawmakers to ascertain their movements and nip any possible crisis in the bud. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the of House of Representatives has expressed his sadness over the death of the former Governor of Ondo State, Chief Olusegun Agagu, describing it as a monumental loss to Nigeria. Tambuwal said the deceased was a nationalist who had championed the virtues of unity and tolerance among Nigerians. According to him, Agagu was a fulfilled gentleman who shared his vast knowledge and experience with many politicians within and outside his immediate environment.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:04:50 +0000
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