The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP-backed) leader of its caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, has expressed shock over alleged plot to suspend him.
A media report surfaced over the weekend that Spaeker Femi Gbajabiamila is allegedly hatching plot to suspend the Rivers state lawmaker, and three other members over the leadership tussle which is currently rocking the minority caucus of the house.
The report suggested others likely to be suspended to include, Hon. Chukwuka Onyema, Hon. Ajibola Muraino and Hon. Yakubu Barde, all of who were said to be under investigation by the House committee on Ethics and Privileges for allegedly parading themselves as leaders of the PDP caucus.
Reacting however, Chinda onSunday also expressed optimism that the speaker would not succumb to the pressure to suspend him for playing his role as leader of the main opposition party, PDP caucus, and given that he and members of his faction have been in amiable talks with him (speaker).
“We have met with the Speaker and had some Frank and amiable discussions. Am shocked to hear that this issue is resonating. I dont think the Speaker will concede to suspending us from the House for signing and asking that the constitution of the Supreme Court Panel to hear Presidential Petition should follow the laid down precedent of seniority or speaking on behalf of PDP Caucus of the House. No, the Speaker wont do that.
“The Speaker won’t even push for suspension of a Member from Parliament for any reason whatsoever, talkless of a cooked up, flimsy and hollow reason. The Speaker is very knowledgable in parliamentary practice and a Lawyer, he knows its unconstitutional to suspend an elected member and he had stood against it in the past, I dont think he will change his stand now.
“Anyway from hindsight and the level of horse-trading in politics and the House in particular, I advise my other three colleagues to brace up for the worst. If we are suspended via a majority vote in the House, then I pity the Parliament and Parliamentarians, cos it means no member will have an independent opinion anymore. A bad precedent would have been set”, he stated
