Jibrin Is A Blackmailer-House

The House of Representatives has accused the sacked Appropriation
Committee Chairman, Hon Abdulmumuni Jibrin of blackmailing the leadership
of the House in his claim that they atempted to pad the 2016 Budget with
N40billion.

The House in a statement signed by Hon AbdulRazak Namdas who is the Chair
of the Committee on Media and Publicity said the allegations leveled
against the House Leadership by Jibrin were an afterthought

The Statement reads:

Our attention has been down to media statements made by the former
Chairman of House Appropriation Committee, Hon Abdulmumuni Jibrin wherein
he made wild allegations against the House of Representatives and it's
leaders.

We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection Committee of
the House  to appoint and remove Committee Chairmen.That power has been so
exercised in the case of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin as chairman of
Appropriation Committee.

Most of the allegations on the 2016  budget process and his opposition to
immunity of Presiding officers  are non issues and mere afterthough
manufactured simply because the House relieved him of his position.

If he had all these 'facts' before ,why didnt he make them public? Why is
he doing that now?

Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, like any other member of the House knows that
there are conventions and precedents as it relates to budgets and projects
for principal officers of the National Assembly . Why is he making it an
issue now? In any case, he is entitled to his opinion as a Nigerian and as
a legislator while acting within the laws of Nigeria and rules of the
House.

We must make it abundantly clear that he was not removed because of his
support or otherwise on immunity bill. Afterall he is not the only one who
opposed the bill.


The bill is still pending before committee on review of constitution and
it has to be voted upon by each and every member of the House, get Senate
concurrence, endorsed by two-third of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and
be assented to by the President. It is a cheap blackmail on the part of
Hon. Jibrin to even insinuate that he was removed because he opposed
immunity bill.

He should not distract the House from giving legislative support on 
important issues facing the government concerning the revival of the
economy, insecurity in the country, pursuit of anti-corruption measures,
poverty alleviation, infrastructural development etc. The Nigerian people
are simply not ready to waste their time on personal issues and personal
egos of our leaders. We should face the urgent tasks before us for which
we were elected.

Signed

Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas
Chairman
House Committee on Media & Publicity