The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Media and Publicity, has dispelled rumors of a rift between the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila and the Director-General, Gbajabiamila/Wase Campaign organisation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.
Yusuf Gaji, a member of the Committee who briefed newsmen on Friday, also said that the Speaker had fulfilled his promise to opposition parties in the selection of committee positions.
According to him, the fact that Mr. Jibrin was not given the chair of any committee did not mean there was a problem between him and the Speaker.
He opined that Jibrin might be given something bigger than the chair of a House Committee.
His words: “As regards to insinuations going on that Mr. Speaker has failed to keep up to his promises to other political parties before election, of giving them 60 slots, I don’t think it is true.
“Some people will want to capitalise on the announcement made by Mr. Speaker to take advantage of their own intentions.
Mr. Speaker has given 21 committees to the Peoples Democratic Party members, four other committees to other minority parties and 30 deputy chairmen of committees.
“If Mr. Speaker has promised to allocate 60 positions to minority parties in the National Assembly, and he gave 21 and 30, making 51; plus four of APGA, AA and ADC, it means he has given 58. Fifty-eight and 60, they are almost the same.
“Regarding the Director-General of his Campaign, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, there is nothing between Hon Jibrin and Mr. Speaker.
“They are working together, perhaps Mr. Jibrin is going to be considered for something bigger than a committee in the National Assembly.
“So, these are the information that we felt are necessary for us to give the press so that they will go a long way in reducing the media criticisms against the actions by Mr. Speaker.”
