A special ATM card named ‘Member’s Green Card’ and loaded with $10, 000 is part of strategies being deployed to consolidate APC support for Gbajabiamila and break the ranks of new PDP members, hours to the election of a Speaker for the House of Representatives.
If Hon Gbajabiamila wins this time, a sixth term followed by governorship of Lagos state are in sight but a repeat of his 2015 loss would cause his political twilight and loss of face for his mentors – Asiwaju and Oshiomhole.
Efforts had been made to limit the number of journalists during today’s voting for the House’ principal officers but a load of US dollars, promise of juicy committees, use of coercive force, resort to political power and grand manipulation may help ensure that Gbajabiamila carries the day, even as the race in both houses of the National Assembly is laying bare the hollowness of the current ‘battle against corruption’.
New federal legislators are being rapidly socialized into the Abuja system with government’s arrangement for a N221, 000 two-nights’ stay at the very best hotels in Abuja while issues of perjury and serious moral issues involved in Hon Gbajabiamila’s diversion of a debilitated client’s $25, 000 have been swiftly swept aside by his party and the APC Federal government.
On Monday night, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after extensive consultations with critical stakeholders, adopted Senator Ali Ndume and Hon. Umar Mohammed Bago for Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives of the 9th national assembly to be inaugurated today.
In a statement issued by its National Secretary, Senator Umar Ibrahim Tsauri, the PDP stated that the final resolution on Senator Ndume and Hon. Bago was reached at the end of a decisive meeting of members of the National Working Committee, party leaders, state governors as well as senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP.
“This decision is in the best interest of the nation, in line with our party’s determination to deepen democracy, ensure a strong and independent legislature, strict compliance with the principle of separation of powers as well as constitutional checks and balances in the polity.
“All senators and members-elect on the platform of the PDP are to be guided accordingly,” the party said.
