Dogara to announce principal officers on resumption

                                 

Indications that the leadership crisis rocking the House of Representatives may have been settled emerged yesterday as Speaker Hon.Yakubu Dogara hinted that he will constitute the principal officers when the chamber reconvenes.

The House is expected to resume on July 21, although there are claims that the date has been shifted to July 28.

Speaking when the youth wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) known as APC Youth Forum paid him a visit, Dogara also expressed confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to change the course of Nigerian history for the better.

Dogara, who was flanked by some members, said the APC caucus in the chamber was close to resolving the standoff that has stalled the constitution of principal officers.

The Speaker revealed that APC elders had intervened in the matter, adding that a meeting where the problem will be resolved was scheduled for yesterday evening.

He said: “Everything is being done in conjunction with the party; in conjunction with the leaders to ensure that by the time we reconvene all the issues that were there would have been dealt with.

“As soon as I leave this meeting, I’m going for a meeting. I hope we should be able to bury our differences so that when we resume, announcement will be made for the remaining four leadership positions in the House of Representatives.

“I’m speaking on behalf of the House of Representatives; I’m not holding brief for the senate.  But I sincerely believe that by the time we resume this matter will be a thing of the past”.

Briefing his guests on how he emerged as speaker, Dogara argued that leadership comes from God.

He narrated:  “If there were mistakes that were made, we must acknowledge that God in his divine wisdom made those ways possible so that somebody’s destiny would come to pass.  I think that is the starting point and that is what we must use in going forward. I can assure you that that problem is almost over”.

On President Buhari and the challenges facing him, the Speaker declared that he had absolute faith in the ability of the president to deliver on his campaign promises but called on Nigerians to pray for the president not to make mistakes in constituting his cabinet.

He stressed that if Buhari failed in moving Nigeria forward, it may be difficult for the present generation of Nigerians to get out of the woods.

Credit: Sun newspapers