I will not resign, Dogara tells critics

Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara has said he will not resign from his position following the allegations by the former Chairman of the appropriation committee of the house.

Emerging from President Muhammadu Buhari’s office at the Presidential Villa, after a brief meeting on Friday, Dogara told journalists who quizzed him that the house would follow its rules.

“Resign for what? What are the allegations? We have rules and regulations, this is not a mock institution, we operate by rules and
we will follow the rules” he said in response to questions from journalists.

There have been calls for the speaker to resign following allegations by the former chairman of the appropriation committee of the house of representatives, Adbdulmumin Jibrin that Dogara connived with his deputy, Yusuf Lasun, the Chief Whip, Alhassan Doguwa, and the Minority Whip, Leo Ogor, to allocate N40billion to themselves in the 2016 budget.

Responding to questions from newsmen on why he was at the Villa he said “can’t I come and see my President? Do I need any reason to come and see my President, it’s a private visit”.

On the issue of alleged budget padding, he responded “What is budget padding? When reminded that the language emanated from his chambers he replied “I don’t know, educate me,I am a lawyer and the speaker and I have never heard of the word padding. What does padding mean”.

He told journalists to ask Jibrin who came up with the story of padding to prove it. “Ask him, he who alleges must prove, that’s the law in Nigeria,” he said.

Asked if he would defend himself on the allegations of padding he said “Am I before a court?

“What is padding, you haven’t told me, ask Jibrin what is padding? for me, I studied law and I have been in the legislature and all this period I have never heard of the word padding being an offence under any law, if I don’t know, you are the media, research the law and let me know”.

The Speaker added that he was not worried over the allegations as there was nothing to be worried about.

On whether there would be sanctions fro Jibrin, Dogara said that would be left for the committee of ethics of the house.