Reasons why reps exchanged blows during Thursday’s plenary – Daura

Firstclass newsline gathered that the All Progressives Congress
member in the House of Representatives, Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura,
representing Zango/Baure Federal Constituency of Katsina State, has
issued a press statement on the physical battle that ensued in the
Green Chamber during plenary on Thursday.
At the plenary, the tension and divided interest among the legislators
led to a brawl between the two factions in the chamber.
The statement reads, "We are here on behalf of our colleagues of the
APC House Caucus to explain to you the unfortunate occurrence during
today's plenary session.
"The action that occurred inside the chamber of the House of
Representatives was in reaction to the illegal and unconstitutional
action taken by Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives,
an action in his usual tradition of total disregard to the wishes of
the majority members of the APC Caucus, the Party itself and the
spirit of the Party.
"We are aware of a letter sent by our Party, APC, dated 23rd June
2015, conveying the approval of the party's principal officers vis a
vis the APC House Leader, the APC Chief Whip, the APC Deputy House
Leader and the APC Deputy Chief Whip for the House of Representatives.
"This letter by the Party is in compliance with the expressed wish and
mandate of the Majority Members of the APC Caucus in the House of
Representatives.
"This action of the party and the APC House Caucus is in compliance
with the Nigerian Constitution, the House rules and parliamentary
tradition, practices and precedents in Nigeria and all over the World.
"But to our surprise and in breach of our privilege and rights as
contained in the Constitution and extant House Rules, Mr. Speaker
refused to read the letter from our party.
"The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are not Party Principal Officers but
are House of Representatives Presiding Officers and by precedent and
practice are expected to provide a level playing ground for all
members, while the Party Principal Officers are supposed to be the
main advocates for their individual party positions.
"The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives
are elected by all members of the House of Representatives
irrespective of party affiliation and it is also possible under our
extant rules for a Speaker and his Deputy to be elected from a
minority/opposition party in the National Assembly.
"Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives
cannot under extant laws and House rules appoint, choose, select,
dictate or even provide guidance on how Party Principal Officers
emerge or are elected or selected. That responsibility and authority
lies with each Party and Party's Caucus members in the House.
"If I may ask, is Speaker Yakubu Dogara empowered to do that for the
PDP House Caucus?
"This action by Speaker Yakubu Dogara cannot and will not be allowed
to stand as it will set a dangerous precedent in our parliamentary
practice as it will give the Speaker the right and authority to
appoint, choose, select, dictate or even provide guidance on how
Principal Officers emerge or are elected or selected by the Majority
and Minority Parties in the House of Representatives. This action is
capable of truncating our democracy.
"As for the claim being made that a particular zone should not be
allowed to produce more than one Principal Officer, we say this with
all sense of decorum, that this claim is absolute rubbish.
"Precedences were set in the 6th & 7th Assemblies where a single zone,
the North-West, produced two and three Principal Officers,
respectively.
"We, the loyal and disciplined majority APC Caucus in the House of
Representatives are fully committed in ensuring that our party's and
President Muhammadu Buhari's manifesto, agenda and positions prevail
despite the efforts and shenanigans of the opposition party(s) and the
few disloyal and undisciplined APC party members in the House of
Representatives.
"We are determined in our efforts to utilise all legislative
strategies available to us, so as to ensure the compliance with due
process and democratic norms and values.
"We shall persevere, come rain come shine!
"We the loyal and disciplined majority APC Caucus in the House of
Representatives and the All Progressives Congress have dished out
enough of the carrots, it's time to crack the whip so as to ensure
party discipline and maintain order.
"Dare I say, we rode to power on the platform of the party, the party
is supreme and thus no one is above the party.
Firstclassnewsline.net