We have no impeachment plans against Jonathan – House

The House of Representatives  has said it is not hatching any plans against President Goodluck Jonathan, as being speculated.

There had been speculation that the parliament was hatching impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

There have been speculations that the lawmakers were plotting to use the expected change in the configuration of the parliament to impeach Jonathan when the National Assembly  resumes  from its annual  vacation.

The Deputy Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Abdulrahman Kawu (APC/Kano), said that the House as an institution could not meddle in the PDP crisis, which was an internal affair of the ruling party.

Kawu spoke to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said  those impeachment speculations were meant to distract the House and drag into the crisis in the PDP but assured that the lower chamber of the National Assembly would resist the temptation.

According to him, the House  remain united and committed to its legislative agenda whose pillars were deeply rooted in the well being of the people and the development of the country.

In a statement made available to journalists, Kawu urged those peddling the rumour of a looming impeachment to leave the House alone.

'Impeachment of the president is not on our agenda as a parliament and as such it is a figment of anybody’s imagination to suggest anything like that. “Those spreading the falsehood are doing so for personal benefits and to maximise  their political gains with their masters. The House is a symbol of Nigeria because of its broad representation of every constituency in Nigeria and that is why we are working together to salvage the country.

'I wish to state here that the House of Representatives is one and indivisible body of 360 members who are committed to the development, political stability and progress of Nigeria.

'We will never shy away from those things that will bring happiness to all Nigerians.

'We are, however, using this opportunity to call on those people who may want to use the crisis in the PDP to foment trouble in the House to stay away from the House. We won’t allow anybody to divide us.

'It is obvious that some people are very jittery over the mass movement of PDP members to the New PDP and even other political parties and in their desperate attempts to cause trouble and confusion they may want to capitalise on the crisis to foment trouble in the House,' he said.

Kawu explained that on their resumption from their annual recess, the House would  continue with its normal legislative duties rather than succumbing to the distraction of dabbling  into the  internal  conflict plaguing the ruling party.

He urged the Jonathan administration to concentrate on alleviating the sufferings of the citizenry instead of indulging in the current  fight with  its members.

According to him, the  emergence of the New PDP was a positive  development as it would strengthen and deepen democracy in Nigeria.