House Disowns Alleged Plot to Impeach Jonathan

The House of Representatives Tuesday dissociated itself from an
alleged plot in the parliament to initiate impeachment proceedings
against President Goodluck Jonathan over the crisis rocking the
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
There have been speculations that the lawmakers were plotting to use
the expected change in the configuration of the parliament to impeach
Jonathan when the National Assembly resumes from its annual
vacation.
The Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Abdulrahman Kawu
(APC/Kano), told journalists yesterday that the House as an
institution, was not prepared to take any action against Jonathan
because the crisis in the PDP was an internal affair of the ruling
party.
Kawu said those flying the impeachment kite were only trying to drag
the House into the crisis in the PDP but assured that the lower
chamber of the National Assembly would resist the temptation.
The House, he said, would remain united and committed to its
legislative agenda whose pillars were deeply rooted in the well being
of the people and the development of the country.
In a statement made available to journalists, Kawu urged those
peddling the rumour of a looming impeachment to leave the House alone.
"Impeachment of the president is not on our agenda as a parliament and
as such it is a figment of anybody's imagination to suggest anything
like that.
"Those spreading the falsehood are doing so for personal benefits and
to maximise their political gains with their masters. The
House is a symbol of Nigeria because of its broad representation of
every constituency in Nigeria and that is why we are working together
to salvage the country.
"I wish to state here that the House of Representatives is one and
indivisible body of 360 members who are committed to the development,
political stability and progress of Nigeria.
"We will never shy away from those things that will bring happiness to
all Nigerians.
"We are, however, using this opportunity to call on those people who
may want to use the crisis in the PDP to foment trouble in the House
to stay away from the House. We won't allow anybody to divide us.
"It is obvious that some people are very jittery over the mass
movement of PDP members to the New PDP and even other political
parties and in their desperate attempts to cause trouble and confusion
they may want to capitalise on the crisis to foment trouble in the
House," he said.
Kawu explained that on their resumption from their annual recess, the
House would continue with its normal legislative duties rather than
succumbing to the distraction of dabbling into the internal conflict
plaguing the ruling party.
He urged the Jonathan administration to concentrate on alleviating the
sufferings of the citizenry instead of indulging in the current fight
with its members.
According to him, the emergence of the New PDP was a positive
development as it would strengthen and deepen democracy in Nigeria.