February 2, 2010
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, today successfully manipulated the debate in the lower house asking Yar'adua to step down and send a letter to the Senate handing over power. After the highly manipulated house seating today, members voted "Nay" to a resolution requiring that Yar'Adua transmit the constitutionally-prescribed letter to the Senate, to commence the handing over of power to his deputy.
The motion was sponsored by Mohammed Sani Abdul, an opposition lawmaker from the All Nigerian People's Party (ANPP) from Bauchi state.
Mr. Bankole expected only six people to speak throughout the sitting, in what was obviously a prearranged deal. Hardly had the mover of the motion barely finished speaking that the speaker recognized Abdul Ningi, a former officer of the house, to give a counter view. He was swiftly followed by Deputy Chief Whip, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
The only opposing member of the house leadership was Femi Gbajabiamila the leader of the Action Congress (AC) party in the house who spoke in favor of the motion. Even Mohammed Ali Ndume, the ANPP leader in the house whose party member had raised the motion, had nothing tangible to say. Given the serious nature of the issue, and the vehemence with which those in favour had spoken last week, it was as clear as day they they had all been compromised. Following a few more incoherent words by James Idachaba, a PDP member from Kogi State, Mr. Bankole hurriedly put the motion to a voice vote and ended the proceedings after the house said "Nay", instead asking the nation to respect the court ruling given by Justice Dan Abutu which stated that Yar'Adua need not transmit a letter.
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Saharareporters sources however found out that an accountant in the speaker's office simply named "Atiku," in the last 24 hours moved cash worth N100 million from an account he controls at the United Bank of Africa Abuja on behalf of the speaker. The sheer volume of the transaction was made possible by the N2 billion made available to Bankole to stymie any opposition in the house against Yar'adua who remains bedridden in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier today, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Information Minister Dora Akunyili broke ranks by submitting an agenda memo by which the FEC would have urged Yar'Adua, in the interest of the nation, to step down. Her memo was reportedly thrown out by pro-Yar'Adua ministers in particular, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Sayyid Abba Ruma, and the Minister of Works and Housing, Ibrahim Bio were vehement in opposing her memo.
The motion was sponsored by Mohammed Sani Abdul, an opposition lawmaker from the All Nigerian People's Party (ANPP) from Bauchi state.
Mr. Bankole expected only six people to speak throughout the sitting, in what was obviously a prearranged deal. Hardly had the mover of the motion barely finished speaking that the speaker recognized Abdul Ningi, a former officer of the house, to give a counter view. He was swiftly followed by Deputy Chief Whip, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
The only opposing member of the house leadership was Femi Gbajabiamila the leader of the Action Congress (AC) party in the house who spoke in favor of the motion. Even Mohammed Ali Ndume, the ANPP leader in the house whose party member had raised the motion, had nothing tangible to say. Given the serious nature of the issue, and the vehemence with which those in favour had spoken last week, it was as clear as day they they had all been compromised. Following a few more incoherent words by James Idachaba, a PDP member from Kogi State, Mr. Bankole hurriedly put the motion to a voice vote and ended the proceedings after the house said "Nay", instead asking the nation to respect the court ruling given by Justice Dan Abutu which stated that Yar'Adua need not transmit a letter.
articleadsbanner
Saharareporters sources however found out that an accountant in the speaker's office simply named "Atiku," in the last 24 hours moved cash worth N100 million from an account he controls at the United Bank of Africa Abuja on behalf of the speaker. The sheer volume of the transaction was made possible by the N2 billion made available to Bankole to stymie any opposition in the house against Yar'adua who remains bedridden in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier today, at the Federal Executive Council (FEC), Information Minister Dora Akunyili broke ranks by submitting an agenda memo by which the FEC would have urged Yar'Adua, in the interest of the nation, to step down. Her memo was reportedly thrown out by pro-Yar'Adua ministers in particular, the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Sayyid Abba Ruma, and the Minister of Works and Housing, Ibrahim Bio were vehement in opposing her memo.
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