Budget padding scandal: House leader Gbajabiamila finally speaks up
– Femi Gbajabiamila has broken his silence over the budget padding scandal rocking the House of Representatives
– He said judgment should not be passed based on allegations
– Gbajabiamila denied working against the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara
– According to him, he has no problem with Dogara’s leadership
Femi Gbajabiamila, the leader of the House of Representatives, has reacted to the budget padding scandal rocking the lower chamber.
A former appropriations committee chairman, Abdulmumin Jibrin, accused the speaker of the House of Reps and other lawmakers of budget fraud.
Gbajabiamila who has remained silent since the crisis started, called for investigation of the allegations, and cautioned against taking sides, Premium Times reports.
Gbajabiamila denied working against the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara
He called on fellow lawmakers and by extension all Nigerians, not to judge Dogara and other principal officers accused of “insertions” of billions into the 2016 budget.
“Yes, allegations have been made but I strongly believe judgment should not be passed based on allegations. We operate a constitutional democracy and we must at all times submit to its dictates and ethos. All parties are innocent until otherwise proven. This should be our guide. I plead with all members. The mudslinging must stop,” Gbajabiamila said.
He denied speculation that he had teamed up with Jibrin to unseat Dogara.
Some unknown people had sent text messages around suggesting he was part of a group working discreetly to force a leadership change in the House.
READ ALSO: Dogara, others should resign for effective investigation – Oshun
The anonymous message read: “Plot to destabilize the leadership of the House of Reps has taken a new dimension as the AGF working with Gbajabiamila, Jibrin & SGF has (sic) drafted charges to arraign and detain principal officers of the House so that the transparency group who recently met with Tinubu’s wife will effect a leadership change with Gbajabiamila as Speaker and Jibrin as Deputy. This is why Jibrin did not mention Femi in his allegations. The 8th House won’t be anybody’s rubber stamp. We will resist them like the senate resisted them.”
Gbajabiamila, through his media aide, Wasiu Olanrewaju, said he had no deal with Jibrin or any problem with Dogara’s leadership.
He said: “Since the budget controversy that engulfed the House about a week ago, I have pointedly maintained a dignified silence. I did this for the sake of the institution I represent and which I have laboured hard to grow and protect, knowing that whatever I say could be impactful both within the House and outside it.
“I was determined to keep in place the glue that holds an otherwise fragmented House, protect its integrity and at same time avoid eroding the little confidence and vestiges of hope Nigerians have in us.
READ ALSO: Presidency wants to remove Dogara, others – Lawmaker
“I am being dragged into an arena I tried very hard to stay out of only for the good of the House. The Speakership election has come and gone. The election was divisive and acrimonious but I have since worked hard to heal the wounds some of which still fester amongst members on both sides.
“It is my responsibility to bring all tendencies in a House I lead together and I have worked well with the Speaker and all other Principal officers in a bipartisan manner and in the interest of the institution and members.
“It is clear that our budget process needs radical reform and very quickly too. Yes, allegations have been made but I strongly believe judgment should not be passed based on allegations. We operate a constitutional democracy and we must at all times submit to its dictates and ethos. All parties are innocent until otherwise proven. This should be our guide. I plead with all members. The mudslinging must stop.”
He described the anonymous text message as a throwback and echoes the dark post speakership election history, adding that the resurgence of the faceless text messengers will not help the house and it will fail.
READ ALSO: PDP questions Buhari over budget padding scandal
The leader of the house urged his colleagues to work collectively towards a stronger legislature and strive to deepen democracy.
Since the removal of Jibrin as the former chairman of Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives by Dogara, there have been allegations and counter allegations over the padding of 2016 budget.
Jibrin in a series of allegations said Dogara, deputy speaker, Hon. Lasun Yusuf; chief whip, Hon. Alhassan Ado Dogowa; and minority leader, Hon. Leo Ogor of allocating N40 billion from the national assembly budget to themselves and other fraudulent activities.
Dogara and other principal officers have since denied the allegation raised by Jibrin.
The crisis has drawn the attention of anti-corruption agencies, and sparked calls for the speaker to resign.
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