Embattled former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has declared that one of the greatest mistakes he made in life was to support the emergence of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
He described his action as an error in judgment.
Jibrin came into limelight when he openly accused Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dogara, and three other principal officers of padding the 2016 budget.
He was also eventually suspended for 180 days from the house for his conduct.
In an interview with Punch, Jibrin, however, denied being sacked, saying that he only resigned honourably.
Speaking on the emergence of Dogara as Speaker, Jibrin said, “What happened to me was an error of judgment. I had written and apologised to my party for that. It is one of the (most) bitter and, at the same time, one of the best experiences I’ve had in life.
“The human being is the most interesting thing to study. What happened was that we came out of the 7th Assembly with bitter experiences and we were determined to get the best person as the Speaker.
“We have a lot of new members in the current House and those of us that returned are few – and even a fewer number of us held sensitive positions in the 7th Assembly. The best qualities I think a Speaker should possess are capacity, being temperate and cool-headed, and the ability to bring people together.
“Femi (Gbajabiamila), my good friend, with whom I get along well – a brilliant lawyer, intelligent and smart – understands the rules of the House. You cannot beat him when it comes to the House rules. But Femi is a bit hyper. I have had that conversation with him to say, ‘Look Femi, you will shout at your colleagues and there will be a shouting match while sitting on that seat (of speaker).
“Dogara, on the other hand, was Chairman of the House Services. I didn’t know him that much. But he came across as quiet. You will hear people say, ‘Oh, he is a man of God.’ I have come to realise that it is a dummy he has been selling to the public. You see him come to the chamber looking quiet.
“He is a brilliant guy; he looks calm and organised. (But) we were deceived by his looks and the surface psychoanalysis of his personality. We felt we should give him the chance (to become the speaker). It was a risk that I took,” he said.
When asked on what led to his ouster as Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, he said, “They are saying I was given the sack. But I need you to understand that I resigned.
“Okay, let’s take it that I was removed as the chairman. Even if I voluntarily resigned, I would still do what I am doing. Let us understand that I came into the parliament at a young age.”
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