Old friends turn foes as Jibrin calls for Dogara’s sack as Speaker

Erstwhile Chairman of Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives, Abdulmumuni Jibrin, Thursday called for the sack of Speaker Yakubu Dogara moments after the House adjourned for its annual vacation. He had been a very close supporter of the Speaker. He accused him of budget padding and seeking immunity for his office.

Jibrin quit his post a day earlier in yet unclear circumstances, though there had been wide reports that he voluntarily resigned because he could no longer stand the pressure of the office. He was replaced by House Chairman on Housing, Mustapha Balance Dawaki, another APC member from Kano state.

However, Jibrin caused a twist in the tale when he alleged in a statement Thursday that his refusal to support immunity for presiding officers as well as the approval of N40 billion for principal officers out of N100 billion approved for members of the House for constituency project led to his removal.

In calling for Dogara’s sack, and those of other principal officers like his deputy, Yussuff Lasun, the Minority Leader Leo Ogor and the Chief Whip, AlHassan Doguwa, Jibrin alleged that the said officers had been involved in budget padding and lobby for immunity.

He also warned President Muhammadu Buhari to be wary of the Speaker who he said was a pretender and hypocrite.

In his statement titled, “My resignation” Jibrin said, “I am obliged to make further statement after listening to the full statement of Speaker Yakubu Dogara on why I had to leave as Chairman Appropriation. It is a fact I went up to the Speaker and told him Clearly I want to leave.

“Thereafter I proceeded to my office. I was therefore not surprise when an aide of mine walked into my office to inform me that the Speaker had announced my departure. I was relieved and went straight to adress the press and released a statement. It was only later in the night while monitoring the news that I understand the full statement he made on the floor.

“Speaker Dogara’s statement was a complete misrepresentation, false, mischievous, unfair and a calculated attempt to bring my name to disrepute, blackmail, silence and use me as a scape goat. The plan is to execute it just before the recess so that by the time we return I have been buried and the issue forgotten.

“Mr Speaker, this issue will never be swept under the carpet. We are closing for recess with it and we shall commence the next session with this issue. This was the last option they have after every attempt to find something to nail me failed.

“I am a very blunt person by nature. I don’t know how to pretend. I don’t do eye service neither will I ever be a sycophant. I don’t give returns. I just do my job dedicatedly. My offence was asserting my independence and insisting we do the right thing at all times and expose corrupt people in the house.

“Lately I openly disagree with some principal officers on the issue of immunity and budget issues. I still maintained I will never support immunity. I strongly believe with every conviction that in cleaning up the budget system and considering what transpired during 2016 budget which I have all the facts documented, Speaker Dogara, Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and minority Leader Leo Ogor should resign.

Dogara has since called Jibrin’s reaction an after-thought, wondering why he kept his accusations under wrap until now.

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