Finally, House of Reps Crisis Resolved as Dogara, Gbajabiamila Groups Reach Agreement

The crisis rocking Nigeria’s house of Representatives has finally been resolved

The crisis in the house of representatives over principal positions is over, Abdulmumin Jibrin, spokesman of Consolidation Group, has said – ahead of Tuesday’s reconvening of the lower chamber. According to Jibrin, “gladiators” in the Femi Gbajabiamila camp have settled for the “Dogara formula” for the allocation of principal positions. Gbajabiamila and Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, had been enmeshed in a rift over the sharing of principal positions of the house

While Jibrin is pro-Dogara, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the newly proposed majority leader, is pro-Gbajabiamila. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, Jibrin said: “Please recall that since the inauguration of the house, the issue of those that will assume the positions of the remaining principal officers among members of our party, All Progressives Congress (APC), has been enmeshed in deep controversy.

 ”Specifically, this controversy surrounded those who will occupy the vacant positions of House Leader, Deputy House Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip. Several efforts were made to find solution to the crisis and a couple of proposals were advanced. It is in this spirit that the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara, proposed in what is now known as the Dogara formula an equity team.
”Mr Speaker’s argument has always been since the north-east and south-west have produced the speaker and deputy speaker, the remaining principal officers positions should go to the north-west, north-central, south-south and south-east in the spirit of equity, fairness, justice, a strong precedence and provision of the constitution. In the interest of peace, unity and harmony in the House, Speaker Dogara reached out extensively to individuals and groups and committed lot of energy and time toward finding an amicable solution to the nagging issue.

The Cable