Impeachment - Bankole Begs Jonathan, Mark
Embattled speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole may have sought the help of the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and Senate President, David Mark to save his job.
Strong indications emerged yesterday that the speaker may have gone to Aso rock to beg for forgiveness.
The speaker in the meeting which was brokered by one of Jonathan's kinsmen in the Senate, Nimi Bariya Amange allegedly told the Acting President that his support for ailing President Umaru Yar'Adua was not a slight on Jonathan.
Bankole at the meeting pledged to work with the Acting President and also mobilize support for the quick passage of the 2010 budget. The speaker who has been in a battle of superiority with Mark was alleged to have made similar approach to the Senate President in his renewed move to save his job.
Some associates of the speaker believe that Mark and Jonathan have a hand in the fresh plot to impeach the speaker.
Bankole has come under fresh fire following insinuations that he worked against the emergence of Jonathan as the Acting president. Sources alleged that the speaker refused to dump Yar'Adua who at the fierce debate on the car scandal in the House saved the job of the two presiding officers. The ailing president was alleged then to have shielded the speaker from probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Bankole argued that it would amount to betrayal for him dump Yar'Adua at the peak of the debate on his long absence from the country due to ill health.
Key players in the whole political drama that threw Jonathan up as the acting president in February saw the speaker then as the only stumbling block.
The actors, some of them who were members of Nigerian Interest Group (NIG) are said to be piling pressure of the Acting president to pay the speaker in his own coins.
But the speaker at the said meeting told Jonathan he had nothing personal against his emergence as the acting president.
He begged Jonathan to forgive him for his alleged refusal to support the 'doctrine of necessity' which threw him up as the acting president.
But Jonathan was said to have told him that though he is not harbouring any ill-feelings against him over his support for Yar'Adua, would not be there to protect him if he was found to have breached any law.
He however assured the speaker that he was not going to interfere in the affairs of the House, but advised the speaker to watch his back.
Daily Champion gathered yesterday that some lawmakers who were insisting on full scale inquest in the car purchase scam may regroup for fresh offensive when the House resumes sitting today after Easter break. Some of the lawmakers are also angry over the refusal of the speaker to effect changes in the headship of over 83 standing committees of the House.
>>Daily champion.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks