… Says Isa Pantami must go
There appear to be a new dimension over the controversy surrounding calls for the resignation of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Isah Pantami.
Recall that the minister was quoted to have drumed support for Al-Qaeda, the Taliban and Bokoharam sect in the past.
House Minority leader Ndudi Elumelu had raised a matter of privilege asking the House to debate the matter calling for his suspension or resignation.
But the matter was swept under the carpet with the speaker Femi Gbajabiamila ruling that the matter was not properly presented and wount be debated.
In his words ” Elumelu said He’s the honourable Minister for Communication and Digital Economy for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
” The portfolio he currently occupies gives him the free latitude to administer, coordinate and manage flow of sensitive information within and outside the shores of Nigeria”
“There has been insinuation that he has direct links and personally subscribe to the extreme Islamic beliefs of Al-Qaeda, Taliban and Boko Haram sects.
” And he is still serving in this administration. Mr Speaker, I feel that it will be out of place for me to sit here and allow this Chamber not to speak about it and totally call for his resignation or suspension. This is my submission, Mr Speaker.”
But Femi Gbajabiamila noted “Thank you Hon Elumelu. I think you came under the wrong order.
“Your point of order is well noted. But you know we don’t debate such issues if it comes under order of privilege, thank you.”
Recall that only recently the House Spokesman Bamjamin Kalu APC replied the House Minority leader Ndudi Elumelu saying” the misrepresentation of facts for the sake of sensationalism has necessitated this statement of clarification.
He said “For the avoidance of doubt, the House is guided by the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (House Rules) in its operations and administration”
” In this case, the Minority Leader should have known better than to present such an issue for debate via Order 6 of the House Rules which only applies to Legislative Privileges”
“He ought to have come under Order 8 Rule 4, as a matter of urgent national importance, or via a motion on notice to enable other members second the motion and make their contributions through debate in true democratic fashion, after which the House would be able to take a position on the issue.”
“It is therefore pertinent to inform Nigerians that the House has not acted in error, but in line with the provisions of its rules.”
“All insinuations that the House did not allow democratic debate to take place on the important issue of Pantami’s resignation are simple untrue.”
“As always, the House stands ready to give audience to Rep. Elumelu or any other member of the House on this issue, provided that such audience is sought through the proper channels and brought under the relevant rules of the House” .
But the Minority Caucus finds it shocking that instead of the Spokesman standing with Nigerians at this critical moment, Hon. Kalu chose to engage in personal attack on the Minority Leader, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, for pointing to the dangers of retaining in office, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, after reports of the minister’s support for terrorists came to the fore.
The statement signed by the spokesman of the Caucus Francis Agbo reads “The attention of the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has been drawn to a statement by the Chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs/ Spokesman of the House, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, which clearly exposed a sinister intention to misrepresent the rules of the House, mislead the undiscerning public and frustrate genuine effort in the fight against terrorism in our country”
“Indeed, Hon. Kalu’s claim that our Minority Leader did not properly present his motion, under an appropriate rule is completely dumb, frivolous and exposes his poor knowledge of the legislative procedures”
“It also points to a deliberate scheme to jeopardize our nation’s fight against terrorism.”
“Furthermore, we take a strong exception to Hon. Kalu’s vain posturing of trying to tutor the Minority Leader, a well respected seasoned legislator, on the House Standing Rules and parliamentary convention”
It is instructive to state that the motion by the Minority Leader calling for the resignation or sack of the Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari was properly presented under the House rules as provided in Order 6: 1,2&3 (Privileges), contrary to claims by Hon. Kalu.
Order 6:1,2,3 clearly and generously provide for full debate on the issue brought pursuant to it.
“For the avoidance of doubt, while sub-section 2 of the Order 6 provides that “whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be taken into consideration immediately”, sub section 3 is clear in providing that whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be disposed of and no other issue shall be considered until “the debate on a motion thereon” is adjourned….”.
” Moreover, it is clear that the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, conceded to the appropriateness of the Order, under which the Minority Leader presented his motion, and for that, did not rule him out of order, regarding the presentation of the motion and its consequential prayers.”
” Furthermore, the Hon. Speaker, in accepting the motion, announced that the issues raised have been noted.”
” It is therefore completely irresponsible for anybody, let alone the spokesperson of the House, who should be abreast of the Rules, to state that the Minority Leader ought to have known better than coming under Order 6.”
“His statement is therefore in bad faith and should be disregarded and withdrawn by him immediately.
” Our Caucus will not condone any unwarranted attack on any of our colleagues, let alone the Minority Leader, who is doing very well by speaking the mind of the silent majority of Nigerians, who have no platforms to speak out.”
“In any case, we are aware that Hon. Kalu was not in Plenary when the motion was moved. We expected him to have consulted the Rule book before attacking the Minority Leader. For we believe if he had done that, he would have saved the 9th House of Representatives the embarrassment his statement has caused! “
“We therefore demand that Hon. Kalu should withdraw his statement and tender an unreserved apology to the Minority Leader and Nigerians for misrepresenting the rules of the House.”
“Our caucus, standing with millions of Nigerians, also demands that the Speaker should immediately act on the prayers of the motion, by conveying same as the position of the House to Mr. President, having accepted the appropriateness of the procedure and taken legislative note of the prayers therein.”
“As a caucus, we stand behind the Minority Leader in insisting that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, should resign or be removed by President Muhammadu Buhari, as his continued stay in office poses great threat to our national security.”
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