When last week, news filtered in of the suspension of Hon Abdulmumini Jibrin, a member of the House of Representatives by the All Progressives Congress (APC), it was all confusion in the air. For what?, why?, what did he do? and so and so forth were the questions. JOSHUA EGBODO writes.
When locals bark at Jibrin
The attention the suspension of the popular lawmaker generated was understandably so. To many followers of the lawmaker’s style of politics, he should rather be considered a very beautiful bride by the APC. However, the reported suspension came from his home state of Kano, over alleged “anti-party activities”.
According to his local government’s chapter of the party, for the sin, Jibrin, who represents the Bebeji/Kiru federal constituency at the House of Representatives, is suspended for the next 12 months, with immediate effect. That was what the statement that conveyed the suspension news, and signed by the chairman of the party in Bebeji, Suleiman Gwarmai, explained.
Further, Gwarmai explained that the action was sequel to a petition received by the APC executive committee of Bebeji local government, and an outcome of an investigation into issues raised in the petition by a seven-man committee.
The statement reads; “Upon a petition received by the APC executive committee of Bebeji local government, a seven-man committee was inaugurated to investigate all the issues raised by the petitioner.
“After a thorough investigation, the committee submitted its report and recommendations the suspension of Abdulmuminu Jibrin to the local government executive, which subsequently met and adopt as follows:
“That having confirmed various anti-party activities by Hon Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa which was found contrary to some provisions of the party’s constitution, ranging from article 21, paragraph A (ii) (V) and (Vii) the executive committee adopted the report and hereby suspended Hon Abdulmumini Jibrin Kofa with immediate effect for 12 months.
“That the executive committee also adopted the committee’s recommendation urging the state executive committee to recommend to the national executive the immediate expulsion of Hon Abdulmuminu Jibrin Kofa from the party for various offenses which was also found to be contrary to article 21, paragraph A (ii) and (xi) of the party constitution.
“The local government committee, therefore, urged all APC members to remain calm and committed to the party”.
Save for a social media post, in which Jibrin simply prayed for God’s guidance and protection after the suspension saga, the lawmaker has refused to make any official statement on the matter. Even at that, many described his posture as laughing off the reported suspension.
Jibrin’s politics style
The lawmaker, in 2015 defied his own party, the APC by pitching tent with immediate former Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara, a project pushed through in spite of threats of sanctions from the party. The APC had prior to inauguration of the 8th assembly of the House, endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila for speakership. Aided by opposition elements however, Dogara got elected against the wish of the party.
Jibrin was to later draw the anger of the house, when he dramatically embarked on a campaign of graft against his erstwhile ally, Dogara, and the leadership. He accused Dogara and some principal officers of padding the budget to the tune of billions of naira. On the recommendation of Hon Nicholas Osai-led committee on ethics and privileges, Jibrin was subsequently suspended for 180 legislative sitting days, “for bringing the image of the house to disrepute”.
He was expected to further present a written apology before his readmission, which he later complied with.
Back as a member-elect of the 9th assembly, the lawmaker surprised followers of politics of the house, by taking the campaign directorship of the Gbajabiamila for speakership project. Though it was not clear whether the then incumbent Speaker, Dogara, would make an attempt at a come-back, but he undoubtedly had a blessed candidate in the person of Umar Bago, the leading, and subsequently, only contender against Gbajabiamila in the race.
However, Jibrin this time opted for Gbajabiamila, who he had previously vilified. He had his defence on the basis that he acted based on the information available to him at that time, and at the later point, like the popular saying; ‘now my eyes are opened’. He also succeeded in pushing the Gbajabiamila project through.
Surprisingly missing
But against all expectations that he has again, made a point, and so would be rewarded with one of the best house’s committee leadership, his name was conspicuously missing on July 25, 2019 when Gbajabiamila named committee leaders.
To many analysts, it was a dramatic turn of events, since Jibrin was the arrowhead of the speaker’s campaign organisation, and eventually steered it through to his emergence on June 11, when the house was inaugurated, but missing in the list of 105 standing, and some other four special committees as announced.
However, Gbajabiamila, in a subtle response to debate on the issue offered explanations to the development on his Facebook page, stating; “Let me clarify that Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin was not excluded from the leadership composition. He was involved in the composition process and declined accepting any committee leadership.
This fueled speculations that his name may have been penciled down for a ministerial appointment by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, or the headship of one of the numerous government agencies. Surprisingly, his name was not on the ministerial list sent to the Senate for confirmation.
Victim of own antics?
With the development of last week, when his suspension was made public, many have questioned the failure of the APC national leadership to offer some intervention moves into Jibrin’s fate.
Though no deeper insights were offered by his party’s local government executive committee on what it termed anti-party activities, the bases upon which he was suspended, analysts said the lawmaker may have been a victim of his own antics. It appeared he cannot be trusted. It is argued that if he had done so much in delivering the agenda of the APC in the 9tn house, his fate should not be what he was facing.
Divorcing a beautiful bride?
Like it is always said, all politics is local, and so the expected effect of the suspension, on which the APC at the national level had not taken a position. Jibrin, to many, is a kingmaker of sort, having succeeded in installing two speakers of the House of Representatives in succession. It is, therefore, of great concern to many, whether it wouldn’t amount to throwing out a beautiful bride of the party, a move which may feel would spell greater doom than any good.
