Allegations have surfaced of the offer of $25k (approximately N4m) to each member of the Federal House of Representatives by the faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chaired by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur.
This is to lure the lawmakers into kicking against the faction chaired by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje and also to impeach Speaker Aminu Tambuwal.
While those who have expressed commitment to helping to impeach the speaker are those who have been paid, the Presidency is leaving no stone unturned in order to make more recruitments in the lower chamber, as Tambuwal is believed to be too friendly with the opposition. However, those opposed to Tambuwal’s impeachment have expressed confidence that despite the bribe, the plot to impeach the speaker would eventually crumble.
Meanwhile, the Baraje faction of the party has thrown its weight behind the leadership of both lower and upper chambers of the Assembly, saying the machinations would not succeed.
“We have learnt of the sinister plot to impeach both Senate President, Senator David Mark and Speaker Aminu Tambuwal in connection with the visit of the progressive governors and the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the National Assembly on Tuesday, 17th September 201,” National Publicity Secretary of the faction, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze wrote in a release.
“To us, this plot by the hawks in the Presidency is politics taken too far and illustrates the extent to which they are prepared to go in their determination to plunge this country into chaos. We wish to warn those who are planning this coup to desist forthwith as such a misadventure is capable of plunging this nation into a crisis of monumental proportions.
“These undemocratic elements should stop overheating the polity just because of their selfish ambitions. Those who feel that politics is better practised by way of threats and the unseating of those who do not share their unprogressive thoughts should know that there is a limit to how far they can push us. “
The faction defended Mark and Tambuwal, saying they have both brought in a unique style of leadership that has resulted to the sanity, brotherhood, unity being witnessed in the National Assembly
“Any negative attempt on them will be resisted considering that we now have the majority in the Assembly. In this regard, we wish to advise the leadership of the National Assembly not to lose sleep over this evil plot as it is destined to fail. They did nothing wrong by warmly welcoming the progressive governors and the NWC of PDP to the National Assembly,” the statement continued.
“The visit was well-intentioned and part of the nationwide consultations being undertaken by our people in our efforts to correct the evils being perpetrated by the undemocratic leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his cohorts.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the progressive governors have for the past three months been visiting past Heads of State and some other great minds in their search for a peaceful way out of the logjam in the PDP orchestrated by the failed Tukur leadership of the party.
“Their visit to the National Assembly was just in continuation of their nationwide tour. The aim was to brief and rub minds with members of the National Assembly in view of their position as leaders of the party on how to reposition our great party to be united and face other parties by 2015. Any other motive imputed into the visit is not only mischievous but also a product of the devilish imaginations of those reaching such conclusions.
“We wish to commend both the leadership and the members of the National Assembly for the great reception accorded our team during our visit even as we condemn the failed attempt by certain desperate and undemocratic elements to sabotage the visit by engineering a rowdy scene during our delegation’s meeting with members of the House of Representatives.
“In conclusion, we sincerely thank the Senate President, Distinguished Senator David Mark for his great counsel that no member of the National Assembly will be unseated for any reason based on the present wrangling within the party contrary to the threat by Tukur and his misguided group that members of the National Assembly supporting our move to restore sanity to our party will have their seats declared vacant not minding the limit of their powers in this regard though unconstitutional acts are what they are well noted for. A word is enough for the wise!”
