The speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has revealed how Budget padding advocate, Abdulmumin Jibrin helped him win the No 4 seat in Nigeria.
Dogara made this known in his biography, ‘A Reed Made Flint’, authored by publisher of Ovation, Dele Momodu.
Jibrin was the one who nominated Dogara for speakership on the floor of the house in June 2015, having jettisoned his own bid and failed in an attempt to align with Femi Gbajabiamila.
Dogara said: “I have to say that to his credit. He was there. He really did a great job
“I will say that although Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin wasn’t with our team initially, he later supported me 100%, whole-heartedly. Luckily his secretariat wasn’t far from ours and he was handy.”
The Fallout
Dogara also detailed the circumstances that led to the falling out with Jibrin, who was subsequently removed as chairman of the appropriation committee and suspended from the house.
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Dogara said: “My kind of nature is not the kind that insists on breathing down your neck, having given you an assignment. So, attempting to interfere in everything committees are doing was not my line. I believe in giving everyone considered competent enough to handle posts to thrive in them. I don’t believe in making my colleagues feel distrusted. I give you that freedom to do your work. Having trusted you I will not bother you too much.”
“I never went to Jibrin to ask for anything in the Budget. Never! Even once!”
Further describing the fallout, Momodu wrote: “Dogara confronted Jibrin with all these warnings but like a desperate Trojan eager to assume his command, Jibrin swore heaven and earth. Dogara eventually capitulated on that score. He gave Abdulmumin Jibrin his much cherished post of Chairman Committee on Appropriations. But as feared, Dogara would soon carry the cross of his decision to trust Jibrin.
“As Chairman Committee on Appropriations, Jibrin’s first major task was the Budget. As a leader who believes in giving all Chairmen and members of committees the breathing space to do their work, Dogara right from day one did not exert undue interference in the work of Jibrin’s Committee.”
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Jibrin had alleged that the 2016 budget was padded to the tune of over N284 billion by Dogara and three other principal officers of the house of reps.
The others are Lasun Yusuf (deputy speaker), Leo Ogor (minority leader) and Alhassan Doguwa (whip).