From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives, has denied the plot to impeach Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, over the controversial Water Resources Bill.
The denial came against the backdrop of a report by an online news platform that northern lawmakers were allegedly plotting to impeach Gbajabiamila, should he fail to support the passage of the proposed legislation.
The water resources bill, which was withdrawn last year for further legislative actions, was recently re-introduced in the House.
Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, and Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, yesterday, said the alleged plot to oust the speaker was in the imagination of peddlars of the story.
The lawmakers said the major preoccupation of the House was to support the executive arm of government to proffer solutions to the security challenges confronting the country.
Wase, while ruling on a matter of privilege by the chairman of the Northern caucus, Sarki Adar, at yesterday’s plenary, said the House is united under Gbajabiamila’s leadership.
Adar, who spoke under matter of privilege had informed the House about an online publication alleging that Northern lawmakers were mobilising to impeach the speaker, if he failed to support the passage of the Water Resources Bill, when there was no such plan.
Wase, who referred the matter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, said as a Northern lawmaker, he was unaware of the alleged plot.
“There is nothing like that going on to the best of my knowledge. I am a Northerner, I am not aware.”
He said speaker had earlier directed that the bill be circulated to all members, before it is listed for second listed .
On his part, Elumelu said House is more concerned about the state of the country.
“I saw that publication and to me it was was very ridiculous because I know my colleagues. I know all of them whether APC , PDP what ever, it is not what we are thinking about. Today we are under siege, Nigeria is under siege. Yesterday, the presidential guards were attacked. Just few weeks back Kuje prison was invaded. Yesterday, the Minister of Education asked our children to go back home, we don’t even know where we are, whether today or even before we leave; here, may be invaded. That should be our concern.”
After the plenary, Ado-Doguwa, Elumelu, chairman House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata and chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli, chairman, House Committee on Media, Benjamin Kalu, addressed a press conference, while they reiterated that there was no plan to impeach Gbajabiamila.
Fulata said the passage of bills is within the powers of the House, and not the speaker.