The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate an impeachment report of the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, allegedly moved by some lawmakers, especially from the North, over the consideration and passage of the controversial National Water Resources Bill.
This was disclosed at a press conference held to dismiss a media report (not by The PUNCH), which claimed that some lawmakers pushing for passage of the bill were threatening the Speaker with impeachment.
The leaders of the main caucuses as well as the spokesman for the lower chamber jointly held a press conference after the plenary on Tuesday.
In attendance were the Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (APC); Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP); Chairman, Northern Caucus, Musa Sarkin-Ada (APC); Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata (APC); Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources and sponsor of the bill, Sada Soli; and Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Onofiok Luke (PDP).
Others were Messrs Olaide Akinremi (APC), Ifeanyi Momah (APGA), Sergius Ogun (PDP), among others.
“Let me state clearly (that) what has been published that members of northern origin are plotting to impeach the speaker is a malicious lie aimed at planting seeds of discord among Nigerians,” Sarkin-Ada said.
The northern caucus leader pointed out that Gbajabiamila enjoys the support of the lawmakers, including those belonging to other political parties.
“If at this juncture somebody will insinuate that members of a particular region – the North – are plotting to impeach the Speaker, that is the greatest disservice to this country and we should condemn it as we should not allow it to go free.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on that paper to retract whatever it has published and apologise to the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives and especially members from the North. We feel aggrieved and we feel betrayed,” he added.
In his remarks, Soli said while he had resolved to reserve his comments on the bill, “unfortunately, some ignorant, uneducated, lazy journalists pounced on this bill.”
He added, “I can guarantee you; all this reportage that is going on in papers is based on ignorance.
“This bill is not Sada Soli’s bill. I was not in the 8th Assembly; I was in the 6th Assembly. When I was in the 6th Assembly, there were bills on water resources legislation – four legislations – on the water sector.”
In his own remark, the Minority Leader said, “In a simple language, there is nothing like any threat to impeach Mr Speaker. Second, the issue of a bill or no bill has not even been dropped before us on the floor for consideration. Third, it is also not true that there was any attempt to put in any supplementary Order Paper for us to consider the bill.”
Ado-Doguwa also stated, “I also rise to say without any fear of contradiction that such publication was not only malicious, it was baseless, mischievous and unfounded. This House, in all ramifications, has never had an instance where we contemplated impeaching our able Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.”