Dogara declares action of protesting Reps as contempt

… as anti-speaker’s lawmakers berate his action

The leadership of the House of Representatives has described the action of the law- makers who disrupted legis- lative proceedings yesterday as contempt of the House.

Sani Toro, chairman, House Committee on Me- dia and Public Affairs, gave the hint at the National As- sembly complex, Abuja, while giving update on the aftermath of the aborted proceedings.

“It was obvious from the action of these members that they were acting on a premeditated script, as some of them even carried placards with inscriptions on them.

These members attempted to seize the Mace, which is the symbol of au- thority of the House and other sundry acts of fight- ing, fracas, misconduct, disruption and committed unparliamentary actions unbecoming of the status of honourable members.

“The conduct of these honourable members amount to contempt of the House and is clear violation of the standing orders of the House and legislative houses (powers and privileges) Act and the customs and tradi- tions of Parliament,” he said.

Toro, who conveyed the speaker’s apology to Nigeri- ans, however, assured that the eighth House “in fulfil- ment of its electoral mandate shall devote its time and energy to address the hydra- headed problems facing Ni- gerians and not on matters not in consonance with our primary responsibilities.”

At a press briefing held by the aggrieved lawmak- ers, Nasiru Zangon Daura, (APC-Katsina), argued that the speaker should have read the letter sent by the APC chairman, John Odigie- Oyegun on the nominees for the four principal officers, and accused the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, of breach- ing the parliamentary conventions and practices.

Daura, who described the incident as ‘unfortunate,’ said Dogara’s action was il- legal, unconstitutional and unusual tradition of total disregard to the wishes of the majority members of the APC caucus, the party and the spirit of the party.

“We are aware of a letter sent by our party, the All Pro- gressives Congress (APC), dated 23rd June 2015, con- veying 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 Rep- resentatives.

“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 Prin- cipal 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.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja