The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun has described as baseless, reports of discord between him and the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.
He said the reports are part of attempts to sow the seed of discord in the House of Representatives and among its leadership.
Lasun was reacting to media reports that Dogara was planning to reduce the Deputy Speaker’s powers, citing some amendments to the House Rules.
A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Wole Oladimeji, said the Deputy Speaker and Dogara share an uncommon bond.
“The House is constitutionally empowered to amend its rules as it deems fit and the process is aimed at enhancing the activities of the House,” Oladimeji said.
“The eighth assembly set up an ad hoc committee to review its rule, inaugurated by the speaker with the deputy speaker in attendance and once the review is concluded, the report is expected to be presented to the House for robust debate before it becomes the new House Rule for the eighth assembly.”
“It should be stated clearly that this has not been done, so the rule being referred to as stripping the deputy speaker of its function by the speaker is a figment of their imagination of the writer.”
The deputy speaker urged the public to discount the report and await the renewed zeal of members to serve Nigeria upon resumption under the leadership of Yakubu Dogara and Deputy Speaker Lasun.
