Fresh crisis hits Reps over committees

The House of Representatives has been hit by fresh crisis over the selection of chairmen and deputies of the 95 standing committees set up last week by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

This comes as a member loyal to Dogara’s main challenger, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, Rep Sunday Adepoju (APC, Oyo) resigned his position as deputy chairman of the committee on special duties, while another who supported Dogara, Hassan Saleh (PDP, Benue) resigned as deputy chairman of the committee on local content.

Saleh’s resignation was contained in a letter he addressed to Dogara. Confirming the resignation, House spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas said the speaker would decide on the lawmaker’s decision to resign.

Only on Tuesday, a member loyal to Gbajabiamila and immediate past deputy minority whip, Garba Mohammed Datti (APC, Kaduna), resigned his position as the chairman of the House committee on solid minerals. He was replaced with another Gbajabiamila loyalist Rep Samaila Suleiman (APC, Kaduna).

At yesterday’s plenary, Rep Adepoju cited Order 6, which deals with matters of privileges, making reference to the setting up of the committees last week.

Reacting, House spokesman, Namdas said what Adepoju did on the floor was against the House rules, saying there are appropriate channels to follow for resignation.

On Datti’s resignation, Namdas said the speaker had picked the lawmaker as chairman of the solid minerals committee because of his experience and in view of the resolve of President Muhammadu Buhari to diversify the economy, saying “but we respect his opinion as a member who decided to resign.”

Daily Trust learnt from reliable sources that Adepoju was not the only member that wanted to resign his position yesterday, as there were four others that wanted to do so with him. They could not do so because of what happened to their colleague, it was further gathered.