The House of Representatives has expressed anger over President Goodluck Jonathan’s comments on Sunday in a televised interview .
Jonathan alleged that the chamber is doing more politics than work, and increasingly becoming dictatorial.
Zakary Mohammed, the chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, on Monday described the president’s remarks as “unfortunate, derogatory and uncalled for”
“The office of Mr. President is one we hold in high esteem but for him to address an arm of government the way he did was rather unfortunate” Mohammed said.
Jonathan made the remark when he was questioned about unresolved corruption cases in his government as well as the allegations against Diezani Alison-Madueke, the minister for petroleum.
It would be recalled that Alison-Madueke is currently being investigated by the House for allegedly spending more than N10 billion on private jet charter for trips that are not often official.
The minister, who refused to appear before the House’s investigating committee went ahead to slam a legal suit to stop the probe.
However, Alison-Madueke has been indicted in past investigations, but has been retained by the president, who publicly defended her on Sunday.
The president, who was seen claiming ignorance of the minister’s court injunction against the House of Representatives, said she was right for not responding to summons by the House.
Jonathan accused the lawmakers of “witch-hunt” and questioned why the petroleum minister should make more than 200 appearances before the House since her appointment.
“The Ministry of Petroleum has always been using jets” Jonathan said, adding however that his government is looking into allegations of fraud in the jet chatter.
“There is more of politics than work in the House of Representatives, and warned that the nation risks parliamentary dictatorship”.
Meanwhile, Zakary hinted that the House is expected to raise the president’s comments today (Tuesday) when it sits in plenary, adding that they would not shirk its responsibilities on account of such comments.
“And let me make it abundantly clear that we are not afraid of any name that we are being tagged for supporting Nigerians,” he said.
“For a leader to tag an arm of government that has immensely contributed to his political career in that derogatory manner was really uncalled for.”
The Minority Leader of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the president had no duty appraising the performance of the House.
“I will not join issues with Mr. President. On this one I will allow the electorate to determine who plays politics and who is working.”
“I will let the Nigerian people speak in 2015 as to who they think has been the stumbling block to the wheel of the Nigerian progress. I am supremely confident of what the verdict will be,” Mr. Gbajabiamila said.
If you wish to know how this story develops, use
Know more about this news? Update the info!