On Monday, The Loyalists Group in the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives, led by Femi Gbajabiamila referred to the Speaker of the House Yakubu Dogara as "agent provocateur". The group equally accused the speaker of wanting to destabilise the Buhari led Federal Government.
The group made the comment in a statement it released through one of its members representing Sokoto state, Musa Garba-Adar following a meeting of about 40 of its members at the party's secretariat.
Yakubu Dogara has endured a running battle with his party's hierarchy his ascension to office as speaker of the lower house. This misunderstanding was escalated following his recent appointment of Chairmen of the house's standing committees. His party worries that the sharing formula which concedes 50% of the headship of committees to opposing parties was inimical to the success of the party and its reforms.
According to the Loyalists Group, “The composition of headships of committees must be seen for what it is: a declaration of war against the APC and the Presidency – all calculated at sabotaging the majority advantage that APC enjoys, with ultimate aim of rolling back the electoral victory of our party.
“The composition of chairmen and deputy chairmen of committees are clear manifestations of the marginalization of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Under the 7th Assembly headed by Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the then majority party – PDP got 63 out of 89 committees of the House which constituted 71% share of the committees, while the Minority parties (ACN, ANPP, CPC and others) got only 26 out of the 89 committees which underscores the fact that the Minority got only 29% share of the committees.
“Unfortunetely, under Speaker Yakubu Dogara the Majority party – APC got 50% share of committees, same with the PDP and other minority parties, which equally got 50%.
“No legislature in the world had ever shared committees on 50:50 basis between the majority and minority parties.
“There must be a clear cut margin between majority and minority parties as was done in previous assemblies.
“Worthy to note that, in the U.S Congress, the current majority party (Republican) enjoys 100% committee chairmanship allocation while the minority party is only considered for deputies and also most African parliaments do not share same equally,”
In expression of its grouse, the Gbajabiamila-led group boycotted a meeting with the party's National Working Committee as well as the inauguration of the standing committees.
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