Another Rep rejects Dogara’s appointment

Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, Mr. Sunday Adepoju, turned in his resignation letter as the chairman of the committee on Thursday....

Adepoju was one of the 96 committee chairmen and 96 deputies named by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday last week.

He took after the example of Mr. Garba Dhatti-Muhammad, who resigned earlier on Tuesday.

However, unlike Dhatti-Muhammad, who announced his resignation on the floor of the House, attempts by Adepoju to resign on the floor were thwarted by the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yusuff Lasun.

Drama started after Adepoju, an All Progressives Congress member from Oyo State, rose to raise an order of privilege.

But, Lasun, using the provisions of the standing orders of the House, quickly cut him off for “progressing in error.”

By the provisions of the rules, Lasun reminded him that he ought to have registered his protest immediately the Speaker made the announcement on Thursday last week.

He added that coming one week after to protest was belated.

But, not deterred, Adepoju later addressed reporters where he confirmed that he had resigned.

“Yes, I have tendered my resignation because I did not believe that the APC was fairly treated by the speaker,” he stated.

He argued that in a situation where the opposition took the committees “so vtial to the change agenda” of the APC government, was unacceptable to the people of his constituency.

“The committees on powers, aviation, works, petroleum and others are with the PDP.

“The speaker is intelligent enough to know the best way to handle this issue,” he added.

But, House spokesman, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, expressed surprise that some lawmakers seemed not to appreciate the reason they were elected to the National Assembly.

Besides, he pointed out that the Committees on Appropriations and Finance, seen as being in charge of allocating funds, were given to the APC.

“The point should be made that some committees, by convention, are held by certain zones. We can’t change that now.

“The Speaker merely kept the tradition. Members should know that our reason for being here is not to fight over committees,” he added.