The election of the duo with collaboration from other members gave the House some sense of vibrancy; with which it pursues the agenda of making the House the darling of Nigerians, who had hitherto almost gave up on the law making body of the country.Roundly, the lawmakers from the lower chamber at different point in time have had course to rise up to support its leadership. Even the usual banana peels that comes with the constitution of the House standing committees was well managed by Honourable Tambuwal's led House, despite the fact that there are some aggrieved members who were disappointed with the committees' composition. Even at that, during the heat of the $3 million bribery allegation levelled against the former House ad hoc chairman on monitoring of subsidy regime, Honourable Farouk Lawan and his committee secretary, Mr Boniface Emenalo by the oil magnate, Mr Femi Otedola, it was alleged that certain elements were plotting impeachment move against the Speaker,this development however, caused the Minority Whip of the House, Hon Samson Osagie; on June 15, during the debate on Lawan's suspension to propose that the House should pass a vote of confidence on Honourable Tambuwal.His proposal, however, received a resounding applause and standing ovation from members. Consequently, Hon Osagie, explained that the House under the leadership of Hon Tambuwal had lived up to expectations in the last one year, stressing that, 'if a member of the House commit an offence, it is not the National Assembly that committed that offence'.Hon Osagie however charged members 'to try as much as possible to live above board' and regretted the alleged bribery scandal, involving the erstwhile adhoc chairman of committee on fuel subsidy regime, stressing that 'for us in the House we will refuse to be blackmailed'. With such event, one will be forced to believe that the House is indivisible, but judging by the popular saying that out a group, there will always be one Judas, one would definitely have a rethink. From this line of argument, the event of last Wednesday summarily indicated that that there are still some legislators, who are not wholeheartedly happy with Honourable Tambuwal style of leadership. At the last Wednesday's sitting, the underground move by some of the aggrieved members of the House of Representatives to unseat Honourable Tambuwal was quickly nip in the bud, through an executive session where the impeachment plotters came face to face with the Speaker and his leadership team. Hardly had the lawmakers entered the chamber to commence the day's business when the House Leader, Honourable Mulikat Akande-Adeola moved that the House dissolve into an executive session which lasted for almost two hours.The executive session was stage managed to douse the tension of impeachment threat by some aggrieved members who had earlier senttext messages to members indicating their plans.The text message circulated among member reads: 'This is inviting all first term members of the House of Representatives to an urgent meeting and launching of the Project 'OPERATION CLEAN' Date; 20th Sept. 2012 Venue-Transcorp Hilton, Abuja Time: 11am prompt'. Four lawmakers of northern extraction were purportedly behind the impeachment move against the Speaker.At the executive session, those spearheading the removal of the Tambuwal were said to have questioned the way and manner the embattled Speaker and his leadership has been managing the finances of the House, with claim that his financial dealings were allegedly shrouded in secrecy, a development the plotters reportedly said was never bargained for when they were choosing them as their leaders.The anti-Tambuwal lawmakers were also said to have frowned at the situation where the House leadership would be awarding contracts, and that they were not aware of how the House allocations were being expended. Sources at the executive session, however, confided in the Nigerian Tribune, during the stormy executive session, the Speaker took his time to explain with facts and figures, the way the finances of the House were being managed. The speaker was said to have informed members that the executive arm of government has been withholding the statutory allocation of the House, the situation he said, compelled him and his team to manage the available resources of the House to the best of their ability; such that the House would not be run aground.The speaker was said to have even asked the House committee Chairman on House services, Honourable Yakubu Dogara to provide further explanations to members. Honourable Tambuwal, it was further learnt, called on members with any grouse against his leadership to open up, with a view to addressing all contending issues wholeheartedly.Some of the lawmakers, who opened up during the executive session, according to findings told the speaker point blank the ignoble activities of some committees chairmen, who they claimed, are running the activities of the committee like secret cult.Similarly, the aggrieved members also demanded for increment of the quarterly allocation from N27 million to N35 million. But Tambuwal was quick to let them know that the House was not buoyant enough to finance such increment and as such that would contradict their legislative agenda.Meanwhile, the four lawmakers behind the impeachment move reportedly took their turns to apologise to the speaker on the issues, raised by them and that they were satisfied with the explanations offered by the House leadership. Already, most members, it was learnt, have commenced visits to the Speaker and other key members of his team to pledge their loyaltyand support and as well move for sanction against the impeachment plotters.Reacting over the development, the House spokesperson, Hon. Zakari Mohammed at a media session, denied the impeachment threat against the House leadership, 'I am a member of the House and I was at the executive session, but I cannot confirm what did not happen. What I can tell you is that we are 360 members who elected our own leadership and the unity of this House is not negotiable'.
Click here to read full news..
