By Bukola Kayode
Member representing Obio/Akpor Federal Constituency of Rivers State, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, has dismissed reports on plans to suspend him indefinitely.
The lawmaker in response to a trending story, that Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila was under intense pressure from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors and members of the House to suspend him, said the Speaker is too experienced to fall for such a ploy.
Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, the Rivers lawmaker insisted that Gbajabiamila was too grounded in parliamentary politics to buy into suspending him and three other members who belong to his group.
Chinda disclosed that he and members of his faction had fruitful deliberations with Speaker Gbajabiamila and it would be surprising if they are suspended.
Others likely to also be suspended are Rep . Chukwuka Onyema, Rep. Ajibola Muraino and Rep. Yakubu Barde.
The quartet are under investigation by the House committee on Ethics and Privileges for allegedly parading themselves as leaders of the minority caucus.
Chinda said: “We have met with the Speaker and had some frank and amiable discussions. I ‘m shocked to hear that this issue is resonating. I don’t think the Speaker will concede to suspending us from the House for signing and asking that the constitution of the Supreme Court Panel to hear Presidential Petition should follow the laid down precedent of seniority or speaking on behalf of PDP Caucus of the House. No, the Speaker won’t do that.
“The Speaker won’t even push for suspension of a member from parliament for any reason whatsoever, talk less of a cooked up, flimsy and hollow reason. The Speaker is very knowledgeable in parliamentary practice and a Lawyer, he knows it’s unconstitutional to suspend an elected member and he had stood against it in the past, I don’t think he will change his stand now.”
Despite a display of confidence, Chinda urged his other colleagues, who may be likely suspended along with him to prepare for all outcomes, as parliamentary politics can be highly unpredictable.
“Anyway from hindsight and the level of horse-trading in politics and the House in particular, I advise my other three colleagues to brace up for the worst. If we are suspended via a majority vote in the House, then I pity the Parliament and Parliamentarians, cos it means no member will have an independent opinion anymore. A bad precedent would have been set”, he opined.
He further noted that the suspension if announced, will be unconstitutional and will not stand the test of law.
“I’m very sincerely, indifferent about the suspension cos I know that it is an unconstitutional act and cannot stand the test of the law. Yes, I hear some people say when it’s done, we can go to court and they will frustrate the litigation with money for next 3 years and we will remain outside the Parliament but am not worried about all that. We only pray for divine wisdom and favour in everything we do, I am very sure it will end well”, Chinda submitted.
Elumelu , Okechukwu, others remain susoended-PDP
On its part, the PDP rejected any plans to suspend Chinda, Onyema and others. The major opposition party in a statement through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that Chinda and the three others remained the Caucus Leaders of the party, pending the resolution of the issues.
The statement also said Elumelu and five others remained suspended.
The statement read in part: “The suspension placed on some PDP members who connived with others to supplant the party decision with regards to the party’s position in the House is subsisting and has not been lifted. The suspended members of the party cannot therefore conduct any business of the party at whatever level until disciplinary measures have been concluded.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) in its wisdom, and consistent with its position on the matter, which has not changed, directed that the affairs of the PDP Caucus of the House of Representatives be organised and managed by: Hon. Kingsley Chinda, Hon. Yakubu Barde, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema and Hon. Muraina Ajibola.”
In its statement yesterday, PDP told Gbajabiamila that as a party, it reserved the right to form a parliamentary caucus as well as choose the leaders of the group.
PDP said whereas members from minority parties decided on the minority leadership, a party and its members had the right to form a caucus and select leaders of such caucus without interference from the leadership of the House or members of other political parties in the legislature. The party reiterated that it had directed that the affairs of the PDP caucus should be organised and managed by Chinda, Barde, Onyema, and Ajibola, stating that this position has not changed.
“Our party, therefore, calls on the Speaker to respect our choice of leadership for the PDP Caucus in the House of Representatives,” the statement said. It added, “Our choice has not in any way contravened any rules or pose any threats to the statutory running of the House of Representatives.
“Mr. Speaker should, therefore, steer clear and bury the thoughts of punishing the loyal members of our party just because they are obedient to the decisions of the PDP.”
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