We’ll meet in 2015, opposition Rep tells PDP

Gbajabiamila

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday challenged members of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party to electoral contest in 2015.

The drama took place at a meeting between the Speaker of the House, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, and the BoT members led by the Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih in Abuja.

Anenih led the members on a fence-mending visit to the National Assembly.

While the meeting was in progress, Gbajabiamila came in uninvited to the surprise of the BoT members and Tambuwal.

His sudden arrival distracted Tambuwal, who was already addressing the visitors.

The Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, asked Gbajabiamila, “Are you now a member of the PDP? Or are you crossing over?”

Gbajabiamila, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria from Lagos State, shook his head vigorously and proceeded to whisper into Tambuwal’s ears.

He moved to Anenih, shook hands with him, saying, “You are welcome; have a fruitful deliberation and we shall see in 2015.”

The session burst into a loud laughter.

Gbajabiamila’s mission came  at a time of increased speculation that Tambuwal, a PDP lawmaker, might vie for the 2015 presidential election on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress.

ACN is a key member of the yet-to-be registered APC.

When he was asked the purpose of interrupting the meeting, Gbajabiamila told journalists that “whatever is the purpose of their visit or discussion, I don’t know, but I think I came at the right time.”

Earlier, Anenih informed Tambuwal that the BOT members were at the National Assembly to commend the lawmakers for the “laws you are making, which are in the interest of the people”.

Anenih mentioned “insecurity”, “relationship between the Executive and the Legislature”, “relationship between the party and other arms of government”.

Meanwhile, a source said the “bickering between the National Assembly and the Presidency, especially the House”, was discussed during  the meeting.

It was learnt that the Anenih team held the view that the constant disagreement between the two sides suggested that there was no cohesion among members of the PDP.

In a related development,  President of the Senate, David Mark, has urged the PDP to include members of the National Assembly in the party’s  National Executive Committee.

He also called on the warring groups within the party to cease their bickering  in order to effectively implement the party’s agenda.

He made the appeal when he received the BoT members.

Mark said, “As elected representatives of the people, we can make meaningful contributions for the benefit of the citizenry.”

Lawmakers, he said, were true patriots who were committed to making good laws that would reflect the true state of the people.

“The National Assembly is the engine room of democracy and government and therefore should be given its pride of place,” Mark said.

Punch