The crisis in the
Peoples Democratic Party continued yesterday with 40 members of the House
of Representatives opposed to the Kawu Baraje faction and Speaker Aminu
Tambuwal, holding a suspicious breakfast meeting in Abuja.
The meeting was held behind closed
doors in Plateau Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Barely a few hours after the
meeting, the President removed his Special Adviser on National Assembly
Matters, Mrs. Joy Emordi, as part of a new strategy by the Presidency to take
control of the National Assembly.
Emordi was alleged to be using the
carrot and stick method in dealing with National Assembly members instead of
going for the stick policy.
According to our investigation, the
40 House members met to review the disruption of the visit of the Kawu Baraje
faction to the House on Tuesday and how to form a “standing army” to resist
moves by the New PDP members and the opposition to frustrate bills from the
Presidency.
They also summoned the session,
which was held between 9am and 10.30am, to design how to checkmate Speaker
Aminu Tambuwal who is alleged to be sympathetic to the New PDP.
A text message inviting the affected
members to the meeting reads in part: “You are invited to a Breakfast Meeting
as follows: Date: Friday, 20th September, 2013 (yesterday). Venue: Plateau
Hall, Tarnscorp HiltonHotel, Abuja. Time: 9.00am prompt. Kindly mobilize and
attend with all those of our members who signed for peace and stability in our
country, from your state (being one of our co-ordinators). Dr. Pat Asadu.”
The affected lawmakers tried to hide
the session away from the public, but one of our correspondents was able to
enter the hall without them suspecting.
The small hall in Transcorp Hilton
with about eight to ten tables was filled, but there were no indications
outside the hall to suggest the importance of the gathering as the aides and
hangers-on that usually accompany the lawmakers were absent.
The front of the hall was empty,
except for the hotel’s staff and security officers that even pretended not to
be aware of the calibre of people in the hall.
The meeting was, however, presided
over by a member of the Pan-African Parliament, Hon. Bethel Amadi, who is
eyeing the governorship ticket of Imo State.
At the end of the meeting, a few of
the lawmakers took their time to take a bite of the breakfast, while many left
in groups with smiling faces.
One of the lawmakers, who spoke in
confidence, said: “We decided to meet in order to bring in more members into
our fold.
“We want to ensure a smooth reign
for President Goodluck Jonathan between now and 2015.”
Another source said: “The lawmakers
agreed to form a “standing army” to checkmate the majority in the House (New
PDP and the opposition) who are already planning to frustrate all bills from
the President.
“We are not after the impeachment of
Tambuwal, but he has to watch it. With what happened on Tuesday, we have shown
that Tambuwal has not caged all members of the House.
“Tambuwal should know that he is
sitting on the edge. He has cause to be fair in all proceedings or else members
will decide appropriately.
“We may not have our way, but we can
cause enough trouble for Nigerians to appreciate the tyranny of the majority.”
Some of those in attendance were
Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP, Kogi), Dr. Abiola Ajaja (Accord Party, Oyo), Friday Itulah
(PDP, Edo) and many women representatives from the South-South and South-East
axis.
Barely a few hours after the
session, the Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Mrs. Joy Emordi, was
removed by the Presidency for what a source described as allegedly being too
weak in dealing with National Assembly members.
The source said: “Emordi believes in
the carrot and stick method, but this is the time to call a spade a spade in
the National Assembly.
“The invasion of the National Assembly
by the Kawu Baraje faction was embarrassing and legislative aides to the
President were not circumspect enough.
“If the National Assembly wants to
draw a battle line with the Presidency, let it be done right away.”
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Politics