The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Thursday moved to gag the former House of Representatives Appropriation Committee Chairman, Hon. Abdulmuminin Jibrin, over the raging allegation of budget padding he leveled against the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, his deputy, Yussuf Lasun, and some principal officers of the House.
Since going public with his damning allegations against the House leadership over a week ago, Mr. Jibrin has shown no signs of slowing down as he has been granting press interviews, issuing statements and taking to the social media to expose alleged corruption in the lower legislative chamber.
A meeting between the lawmaker and the APC leadership on Tuesday failed to restrain the former appropriation committee chairman as he accused Mr. Dogara on Wednesday of inducing lawmakers with $25,000 each to pass a vote of confidence on him.
However, in an August 4, 2016, letter addressed to Jibrin and signed by the Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawal Shuaibu, the APC said it has decided to wade into the matter with a view to finding an amicable solution to it.
RELATED: APC’s Conciliatory Move On Reps Budget Padding Crisis “Medicine After Death”, Says Dep. Spokesman
As part of measures towards proffering a lasting solution, the party leadership asked him not to issue and public statement either through the social media or any other means of passing information to the public.
It also commended him for honoring the party’s invitation and pledge to work with the party in resolving the matter.
The letter reads: “As you are aware, the party and indeed the government have not been happy with recent developments in the House of Representatives over the issue of the 2016 budget. We found it embarrassing to have to deal with another new phenomenon you tagged ‘budget padding’.
“However, I write to thank you for your cooperation in honouring our invitation and your readiness to afford the party the chance to handle the House of Representatives budget padding crisis.
“Arising from the series of meetings we held with you over the subject matter, the National Working Committee had decided to request you to henceforth avoid issuing public statement on this matter.
“This, however, includes statements through the social media or other means of transmitting an opinion on the matter to the public, as the party is now looking into it towards finding a possible solution. While counting on your cooperation, please accept my sincere best wishes”.
