Dogara and Gbajabiamila

Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and Majority leader Femi Gbajabiamila  have met behind closed-doors to resolve their differences over the  crisis about committee headship in the House.

Gbajabiamila who lost the speaker’s contest to Dogara on June 9  publicly rejected the composition of the 96 standing committees’ chairmen and deputies announced by Dogara on October 22.

The composition of the committees showed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) got 48, while the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was allocated 45.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) got one each.

The crisis almost led to fisticuffs in the National Assembly Tuesday, when APC Reps loyal to Gbajabiamila, stormed a meeting being held by APC members loyal to Dogara, amidst rumours of a plan to vote a  non-confidence vote on Gbajabiamila.

At their fence-mending meeting, Gbajabiamila told Dogara that he was only carrying out his duties as a leader of the APC Reps in the House but added that he was ready to work harmoniously with the speaker for the House to be peaceful.

Signs that the duo may have resolved to bury their differences became glaring when Gbajabiamila for the first time since June was seen accompanying Dogara to his office after plenary as well as attending a courtesy call at the speaker’s office.

Chief Whip of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa told journalists shortly after the APC Caucus meeting that there was no cause for alarm and that the rumour of plans to remove Gbajabiamila as House leader was unfounded.

“I want to tell you on behalf of the leadership of the House that there is no crack in the leadership whatsoever.

“As I am talking to you, Rt. Hon Dogara and the Leader are in the same room discussing, trying to see how we can move ahead.