Jibrin Slams House Spokesman, Says Comment On His Resumption Is “Insensitive And Insult” To His Constituents
The erstwhile chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has described comments credited to spokesman for the House of Representatives, Abdulrazak Namdas, as ” insensitive and insult to the people of his constituency.”
This was contained in a statement signed by his media aide, Godwin Onyeacholem, and released to pressmen in Abuja, on Friday.
The statement reads in full:
“The attention of the Honourable Member Representing Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has been drawn to a statement by the spokesman for the House of Representatives, Abdulrazak Namdas, who claimed he was speaking on behalf of the House.
“According to him, Hon. Jibrin, having been denied access to the House, Chamber and his office in the last one year, has not completed the said “suspension”, and that even when he completes it, he would have to tender a written apology.
“The Honourable member views Mr. Namdas’ comments as insensitive and insult to the people of his constituency, coming on a day Kiru/Bebeji constituents gathered to further deepen their protests and mark a one year of brazen impunity and injustice meted on them and the member representing them (who it is a public knowledge committed no offense).
“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state that Hon. Jibrin’s position on this issue remains, as always, immutable. He has maintained that denying his constituents representation for ONE good year is UNCONSTITUTIONAL and negates all known democratic principles, just as asking him to apologize for doing no wrong is a negation of all known social norms.
“It is somewhat weird that the official spokesman of the House claims that he does not know the exact date that Hon. Jibrin’s purported suspension would lapse. That in itself speaks volume of the subterfuge and sinister motives around the whole issue.
“Hon. Jibrin is aware of sacrifices required during struggles like this. He is therefore prepared to make whatever sacrifice for the good of the House of Representatives and Nigeria as a whole, so that posterity will remember him on the good side of history.
“Namdas, had on Thursday, during a media briefing with pressmen in Abuja, said that Hon. Jibrin has not completed his suspension, and even when he does, he still has to tender a letter of apology to the House before he can resume his fully as a member of the green chamber.”
Recall that Hon. Jibrin was suspended for 180 legislative days over alleged budget padding by the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, and three other principal officers.