Truce has finally been reached in the crisis bedeviling the House of Representatives as the as the two factions in the crisis announced Saturday the resolution of their differences.
The two groups also assured President Muhammadu Buhari of the support of the All Progressives Congress members in the lower chamber.
The spokesman for the Consolidation Group, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, who addressed journalists y in Abuja, said the two factions decided to embrace peace in the interest of the country.
Jibrin, in a statement titled, ‘The disagreement is over’, noted that the issue of those that would assume the positions of the remaining principal officers among members of the APC had been enmeshed in deep controversy.
“Mr Speaker argument has always been since the North-East and South-West have produced the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the remaining principal officers positions should go to the North-West, North-Central, South-South and South-East in the spirit of equity, fairness, justice, a strong precedence and provision of the Constitution.’’
“Several efforts were made to find solution to the crisis and a couple of proposals were advanced. It is in this spirit that the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara, proposed in what is now known as the Dogara formula an equity team,” the lawmaker said.
He explained that the intense consultations carried out by Speaker Dogara eventually led to the birth of the Dogara Formula that saw the emergence of what is now known as the Equity Team.
He said, “In line with the formula, the Equity Team has Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC Kano, North-West) as House Leader, Hon Buba Jibrin(APC Kogi, North-Central) as Deputy Leader, Hon Pally Iriase (APC Edo, South-South) as Chief Whip and Hon. Chika Okafor(APC Imo, South-East) as Deputy Chief Whip.
“Interestingly, both the Speaker and a great majority of the APC caucus in the House including gladiators in the Gbajabiamila’s group like Hon Mongunu, Hon Doguwa and Hon Pally support and stand by the Equity Team.
“We have commenced collection of signatures which has reached advanced stage to affirm the Dogara formula. All other interests, including those excluded from the principal officers, specifically Hon Gbajabiamila and Hon Mongunu, will be duly accommodated with commensurate responsibility to serve.
“Since the Speaker has about 200 positions to share out, many members will have the opportunity to serve the country.” the statement concluded.
