Dogara to Jibrin: If you had all these ‘facts’ before, why didn’t you make them public?

ABUJA - SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu
Dogara has described the allegation from the former Chairman
of Appropriations Committee, Abdulmumuni Jibrin against him
in the budget controversy as an after thought.
He also debunked the
claims by Jibrin that he
was removed because
he did not support the
immunity proposal in
the House for presiding
officers of the National
Assembly.
Dogara in a statement
through the House
Committee Chairman
on Media and Public
Affairs, Abdulrazak
Namdas wondered why
the former
Appropriations
Committee Chairman
had waited for too long
to make the allegation.
The statement read in part: "Our attention has been down to
media statements made by the former Chairman of House
Appropriation Committee, Hon Abdulmumuni Jibrin wherein he
made wild allegations against the House of Representatives
and it's leaders.
"We wish to say that it is the prerogative of the Selection
Committee of the House to appoint and remove Committee
Chairmen.That power has been so exercised in the case of
Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin as chairman of Appropriation
Committee.
"Most of the allegations on the 2016 budget process and his
opposition to immunity of Presiding officers are non issues
and mere after though manufactured simply because the
House relieved him of his position.
"If he had all these 'facts' before ,why didn't he make them
public? Why is he doing that now?
"Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, like any other member of the House
knows that there are conventions and precedents as it relates
to budgets and projects for principal officers of the National
Assembly . Why is he making it an issue now? In any case, he
is entitled to his opinion as a Nigerian and as a legislator
while acting within the laws ol Nigeria and rules of the House.
"We must make it abundantly clear that he was not removed
because of his support or otherwise on immunity bill. Afterall
he is not the only one who opposed the bill.
"The bill is still pending before committee on review of
constitution and it has to be voted upon by each and every
member of the House, get Senate concurrence, endorsed by
two-third of the 36 State Houses of Assembly and be
assented to by the President. It is a cheap blackmail on the
part of Hon. Jibrin to even insinuate that he was removed
because he opposed immunity bill.
"He should not distract the House from giving legislative
support on important issues facing the government concerning
the revival of the economy, insecurity in the country, pursuit of
anti-corruption measures, poverty alleviation, infrastructural
development etc.
"The Nigerian people are simply not ready to waste their time
on personal issues and personal egos of our leaders. We
should face the urgent tasks before us for which we were
elected."