A letter purportedly sent by the leadership of the All Progressive
Congress, APC, on how the leadership of the National Assembly should
emerge is the reason by the fight that broke up this morning at the House
of Representatives, APC Caucus members said in a statement.
A member, Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, representing Zango/Baure Federal
Constituency of Katsina State, who issued a press statement on the
physical battle that ensued in the Green Chamber during plenary on
Thursday said the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, is committing illegality by
attempting to foist leadership on the House.
The statement reads, “We are here on behalf of our colleagues of the APC
House Caucus to explain to you the unfortunate occurrence during today’s
plenary session.
“The action that occurred inside the chamber of the House of
Representatives was in reaction to the illegal and unconstitutional action
taken by Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives, an action
in his usual tradition of total disregard to the wishes of the majority
members of the APC Caucus, the Party itself and the spirit of the Party.
“We are aware of a letter sent by our Party, APC, dated 23rd June 2015,
conveying the approval of the party’s principal officers vis a vis the APC
House Leader, the APC Chief Whip, the APC Deputy House Leader and the APC
Deputy Chief Whip for the House of Representatives.
“This letter by the Party is in compliance with the expressed wish and
mandate of the Majority Members of the APC Caucus in the House of
Representatives.
“This action of the party and the APC House Caucus is in compliance with
the Nigerian Constitution, the House rules and parliamentary tradition,
practices and precedents in Nigeria and all over the World.
“But to our surprise and in breach of our privilege and rights as
contained in the Constitution and extant House Rules, Mr. Speaker refused
to read the letter from our party.
“The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are not Party Principal Officers but are
House of Representatives Presiding Officers and by precedent and practice
are expected to provide a level playing ground for all members, while the
Party Principal Officers are supposed to be the main advocates for their
individual party positions.
“The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are
elected by all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of
party affiliation and it is also possible under our extant rules for a
Speaker and his Deputy to be elected from a minority/opposition party in
the National Assembly.
“Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives cannot
under extant laws and House rules appoint, choose, select, dictate or even
provide guidance on how Party Principal Officers emerge or are elected or
selected. That responsibility and authority lies with each Party and
Party’s Caucus members in the House.
“If I may ask, is Speaker Yakubu Dogara empowered to do that for the PDP
House Caucus?
“This action by Speaker Yakubu Dogara cannot and will not be allowed to
stand as it will set a dangerous precedent in our parliamentary practice
as it will give the Speaker the right and authority to appoint, choose,
select, dictate or even provide guidance on how Principal Officers emerge
or are elected or selected by the Majority and Minority Parties in the
House of Representatives. This action is capable of truncating our
democracy.
“As for the claim being made that a particular zone should not be allowed
to produce more than one Principal Officer, we say this with all sense of
decorum, that this claim is absolute rubbish.
“Precedences were set in the 6th & 7th Assemblies where a single zone, the
North-West, produced two and three Principal Officers, respectively.
“We, the loyal and disciplined majority APC Caucus in the House of
Representatives are fully committed in ensuring that our party’s and
President Muhammadu Buhari’s manifesto, agenda and positions prevail
despite the efforts and shenanigans of the opposition party(s) and the few
disloyal and undisciplined APC party members in the House of
Representatives.
“We are determined in our efforts to utilise all legislative strategies
available to us, so as to ensure the compliance with due process and
democratic norms and values.
“We shall persevere, come rain come shine!
“We the loyal and disciplined majority APC Caucus in the House of
Representatives and the All Progressives Congress have dished out enough
of the carrots, it’s time to crack the whip so as to ensure party
discipline and maintain order.
“Dare I say, we rode to power on the platform of the party, the party is
supreme and thus no one is above the party.
“God Bless the All Progressives Congress.
“God Bless The House of Representatives.
“God Bless Nigeria.
“Thank You for listening.”