“We Don’t Plan To Remove Gbajabiamila” – Reps

Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed reports,

The members of the lower house of the National Assembly have debunked an alleged plot to impeach Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The legislators made the disclaimer during plenary on Tuesday amid reports that the Northern Caucus of the House was planning to remove the speaker to ensure that the controversial Water Resources Bill was passed.

As said by them, it is ridiculous that such a publication will be made and insist that they are solidly behind the speaker.

The matter was later taken to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for further scrutiny.

Our Correspondent, Mr. Mohammed Oluwatimileyin Taoheed, says the controversial Water Resources Bill, which seeks to bring all water resources (surface and underground) and the banks of the water sources under the control of the Federal Government, was first introduced in the 8th Assembly.

However, the bill was rejected by the legislators.

It was then reintroduced in the 9th Assembly but wide backlash from a broad section of Nigerians and lawmaker’s who feared that it could endanger the peace of the country.

The bill was again reintroduced in the House of Representatives chamber on June 29.

Hon Sada Soli, who sponsored the bill, claimed that wide consultations have been made for a better version of the bill.

He gave an assurance that if at any point, indications suggest that it would negatively affect any section of the country, he would voluntarily withdraw the bill.

The bill was then read for the first time and would be debated when scheduled for the second reading.

Meanwhile, a bill to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act has scaled the second reading in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

Sada who also sponsored the bill told his colleagues during Tuesday’s plenary that the step was in defence of the sanctity of the nation’s financial regulator.

The bill seeks the removal of the governor, deputy governor, or director of the apex bank if they are involved in partisan politics.