N3bn project allocated to Dogara justified - Reps caucus

dimeji akinloye

July 29, 2016 7:58 AM

It said other principal officers were also entitled to the huge allocations in the budget for constituency projects.

Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Abdulmumin Jibrin

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The caucus, led by Rep. Alli Issa (PDP-Gombe), told newsmen that ``the Appropriation Committee under the leadership of Rep. Jibrin initiated the allocation formula with which the constituency projects of members were inserted into 2016 budget.

According to the lawmakers, Dogara's predecessors and other principal officers enjoyed similar privileges without bickering from members.

The six-member caucus said some persons, both within and outside the House, were bent on scuttling this atmosphere of peace ``engendered by our amiable Speaker.’’

The six-member caucus disassociated themselves from ``any conspiracy and attack against Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the entire leadership of the House.

``By reason of their leadership position, the Appropriation Committee conceded significant provisions to the principal officers of the House.

``But we are even shocked that Jibrin who is not a principal officer allocated provisions to his constituency far beyond what the principal officers he is accusing got.

``So, what is Jibrin’s point in this shameless dance of absurdity?"

The lawmaker who described the allegations raised by Jibrin as "campaign of calumny", however, dismissed the financial impropriety leveled against Dogara.

``Most definitely, the House has enjoyed considerable peace and stability under the able leadership of Dogara.

``We of the Gombe State caucus of the House of Representatives wish to categorically and publicly declare that we are not part of any evil group trying to cause disaffection and instability in the House of Representatives.

``We dissociate ourselves from any conspiracy and attack against Speaker and the entire leadership of the House.

``We are aware that the current impasse is generated and orchestrated by Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin through his wild goose claim that the 2016 federal budget was “padded” by the leadership of the House.

Shortly after Jibrin was appointed Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, he sent letters to all members requesting them to send details of projects they want captured in the Federal Budget for their constituencies.

``Members complied with his circular accordingly. But we are shocked and surprised that Jibrin is now using these same letters to blackmail the House as guilty of padding the Federal Budget.

Other members of the Gombe caucus who signed the statement are: Aishatu Jibrin Dukku; Ustaz Yunusa Ahmad Abubakar; Binta Bello; Ismaila Muazu Hassan and Yaya Bauchi Tongo.

ALSO READ: "Dogara harassed staff, seized computers in my office" - Jibrin says

On his part, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, former Chairman House Committee on Appropriations, promise to reveal more information against Dogara and his deputy, Yussuff Lasun, Ado Doguwa, Chief Whip and Leo Ogor, Minority Leader "until the law catches up with them."

In the new petition, Jibrin who described himself as "an emergency activist", accused Dogara of "fraudulently diverting a Federal Government’s water project to your farm in Nasarawa and how are you funding the farm?"

dimeji akinloye