Kunle Adelabu
The Chairman, House of Representatives Defense Committee, Rep. Babajimi Benson, has explained how his motion for clarity on what Order 7, Rule 15 of House Standing Orders means regarding “Cognate Experience”, helped the minority parties resolve their leadership crisis.
Following the motion moved by Rep. Benson, on Wednesday, Rep. Frederick Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa) emerged as the Minority Leader; Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki (ADC, Sokoto), Deputy Minority Leader; Rep. Mansur Manu Soro (APM, Bauchi), Minority Whip, while Rep. George Ozodinobi (NDC), retained his position as Deputy Minority Whip.
The ranking lawmaker representing the Ikorodu Federal Constituency, describing his intervention as a defining moment for Parliamentary Democracy, revealed in a statement on late Thursday night, that the need for an intervention arose after the resignation of the former Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda who has secured a governorship position in his state, with members of minority parties interested in the House leadership, given different meaning to the House Order.
“In a historic display of legislative foresight, the Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives, has successfully concluded the election of its new Leadership, bringing an end to the contentious debate that threatened the stability of the opposition ranks.
“This resolution came on the heels of a timely and decisive intervention I moved on the floor of the House – a motion seeking the precise and unambiguous definition of the term “Cognate Experience” as enshrined in Order 7, Rule 15 of our Standing Orders.
Rep. Benson said further that:
“The need for this intervention arose after the erstwhile Minority Leader resigned his position, having secured the Governorship ticket of his state. What followed was a period of procedural uncertainty, as members grappled with the interpretation of “Cognate Experience” – a term critical to determining eligibility for leadership.
“To protect the sanctity of our parliamentary practices and uphold the principles of internal democracy, yesterday, I moved the motion. It was met with unanimous, favourable reception by the generality of Members at Plenary”.
He stated that Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, during a plenary session on Thursday, announced the resolutions of the minority parties presenting list of their consensus leaders to the House.
“ Today (Thursday), that intervention bore fruit. At plenary, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, formally announced the unanimous election of the Minority Officers, effectively putting to rest the controversy this issue generated. The House now has the full complement of its leadership.
“The newly reconstituted Minority Leadership, emerging by consensus from the 11 opposition parties in the Green Chamber, is as follows: Minority Leader: Rep. Frederick Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa); Deputy Minority Leader: Rep. Abdussamad Dasuki (ADC, Sokoto); Minority Whip: Rep. Mansur Manu Soro (APM, Bauchi) and Deputy Minority Whip: Rep. George Ozodinobi (NDC, Anambra) – retains his position.
“This transition follows the resignation of the immediate past Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda; Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki; and Minority Whip, Rep. Ali Isa J.C., following their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Acting in accordance with Order Seven, Rule 15 of our Standing Orders”, he said.
