Reps battle Presidency over accommodation for principal officers

By ROTIMI AJAYI Regional Editor, North

ABUJA—MEMBERS of the House of Representatives are spoiling for a fight with the Presidency over the sale of the official residential quarters of principal officers of the National Assembly to the Senate President, David Mark, former Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and former Deputy Speaker Usman Bayero Nafada.

An impeccable source at the National Assembly told Vanguard that the House members were already being mobilized to formally table the issue at the plenary when the House resumes on June 28.

Official quarters

It was learnt that the members were angry that the present Speaker and his deputy could not be accommodated in any official quarters following purchases of the houses by the former presiding officers.

The source revealed that the members were taking on the Presidency to explain the rationale behind the sale of the Houses, adding that the sale of the Houses was part of the deals reached between President Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the last National Assembly when he was acting President.

Vanguard learnt that the President was said to have directed the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, to sell the Houses to the four principal officers on first offer basis.

The source said: “We are already mobilising to summon the Executive on this and we may reverse it because these  are institutional houses which they (the Executive) have no right to sell. It is like selling the Aso Rock Villa or the official residence of the Chief Justice of the Federation.

“These Houses are not ordinary houses which Mark and Bankole, Ike and Nafada bought. They bought the houses while they were presiding officers and now to get house for the Speaker alone will cost the nation about N200 million. This is wrong. We are taking it up.”

When contacted, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, stated that a decision would soon be articulated to the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly. He said: “We are yet to meet as a management to articulate a position to the leadership of both chambers. We will keep you posted.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that some of the beneficiaries of the sales have started restructuring the Houses to suit their personal interest.