Gentlemen of the Press: I am
Representative Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura
of the All Progressive Congress (APC) representing Zango/Baure Federal
Constituency of Katsina State. We are here on behalf of our colleagues of the
APC House Caucus to explain to you the unfortunate occurrence during today’s
plenary session.
The action that occurred inside
the chamber of the House of Representatives was in reaction to the illegal and
unconstitutional action taken by Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of
Representatives, an action in his usual tradition of total disregard to the
wishes of the majority members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus,
the Party itself and the spirit of the Party.
We are aware of a letter sent by
our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dated 23rd June 2015 conveying
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 Representatives.
This letter by the Party is in
compliance with the expressed wish and mandate of the Majority Members of the
All Progressives Congress 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 Principal 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.
The Speaker and the Deputy
Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected by all members of the House
of Representatives irrespective of party affiliation and it is also possible
under our extant rules for a Speaker and his Deputy to be elected from a minority/opposition
party in the National Assembly.
Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara
of the House of Representatives cannot under extant Laws and House Rules
Appoint, Choose, Select, Dictate or even provide guidance on how Party
Principal Officers emerge or are elected or selected. That responsibility and
authority lies with each Party and Party’s Caucus members in the House.
If I may ask is Speaker Yakubu
Dogara empowered to do that for the PDP House Caucus???
This action, by Speaker Yakubu
Dogara cannot and will not be allowed to stand as it will set a dangerous
precedent in our parliamentary practice as it will give the Speaker the right
and authority to appoint, Choose, Select, Dictate or even provide guidance on
how Principal Officers emerge or are elected or selected by the Majority and
Minority Parties in the House of Representatives. This action is capable of
truncating our democracy.
As for the claim being made that
a particular zone should not be allowed to produce more than one Principal
Officer, we say and we say this with all sense of decorum, that this claim is
absolutely RUBBISH!!
Precedences were set in the 6th
& 7th Assemblies where a single zone, the Northwest, produced two and three Principal Officers, respectively.
We the loyal and disciplined
majority APC Caucus in the House of Representatives are fully committed in
ensuring that our party’s and President Muhammadu Buhari’s manifesto, agenda
and positions prevail despite the efforts and shenanigans of the opposition
party(s) and the few disloyal and undisciplined APC party members in the House
of Representatives.
We are determined in our efforts,
to utilize all legislative strategies available to us, so as to ensure the
compliance with due process and democratic norms and values.
We shall persevere, come rain
come shine!
We the loyal and disciplined
majority APC Caucus in the House of Representatives and the All Progressives
Congress have dished out enough of the carrots, it’s time to crack the whip so
as to ensure party discipline and maintain order.
Dare I say, we rode to power on
the platform of the party, the party is supreme and thus no one is above the
party!
God Bless the All Progressives
Congress!
God Bless The House of
Representatives!!
God Bless Nigeria!!!
Thank You for listening
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