TheCable

Abdulmumin Jibrin, former chairman of the house of representatives appropriations committee, says Yakubu Dogara, the speaker and other principal officers of the lower chamber “obviously have so much to hide, so much to fear”.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Jibrin also said Dogara and others wanted him out of his position because of his independent-mindedness and resistance to corruption.

This allegation is the second since his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) waded into feud between him and the speaker by ordering him to stop further comments on the budget “padding” allegation he earlier levelled against Dogara and others.

He also queried why Dogara would say padding was not an offence but “sack” him for the same purpose.

“The only reason why they wanted me out is my independent-mindedness, resistance to corruption and my refusal to ‘play ball’ on the gross abuse of office they institutionalised in the house, ” Jibrin said.

“They simply want to have someone that can do their corrupt bidding. Now that I have exposed the fact that speaker Dogara and the three others are the padders, padding is no longer an offence, Shame! Shame!! and shame!!!.”

He reiterated that there was massive individual and institutional corruption in the house.

According to him, Nigerians have a responsibility to avail themselves this rare opportunity to flush out corruption in the lower chamber of the national assembly.

“I have pledged my continuous support and assistance to the security and anti-corruption agencies,” he said.

“Let me also state that contrary to some myopic opinion that it would affect the institution of the house, it will rather free the institution of the grip of these corrupt vested interests, restore its integrity and shape it to become a pride to Nigerians home and abroad.

“While speaker Dogara and the other 12 corrupt members are running from pillar to post trying to redefine padding, avoid the anti-corruption agencies, looking for cover or soft landing, I have held several meetings with the agencies, provided useful documents and vital information. They obviously have so much to hide, so much to fear.”

He said what was happening in the house currently was an answered prayer of President Muhammadu Buhari who intends to “completely wipe corruption out of Nigeria.”