N2.5bn Car Purchase scam: Bankole Gets One Week To Resign

ABUJA, A group of legislators under the aegis of "Progressives" today gave the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole 7 days notice to resign or face impeachment over allegations of corruption on the N2.5bn car purchase scam.

Speaking to National Assembly correspondents today in Abuja, the legislators numbering eleven said they were making a declaration over the bad leadership of Dimeji Bankole.

However, Rep. Eseme Eyiboh (PDP, Akwa Ibom), chairman House committee on Media and Publicity said the move by his colleagues were "misleading with their proverbial ostrich display of selfish tendencies in the guise of public interest."

The Rep members led by Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi) on behalf of the progressives said, "The public perception of the House has ingloriously declined. We used to be the pacesetters of legislative practice in this country, but it is obvious that we have been overtaken because of the ineptitude of leadership. Because of all these negative manifestations the Reps under Bankole, has nose-dived and has lost its earned positive reputation. We hereby, in strong terms call on Bankole to resign immediately as the Speaker of the Reps within 7 days.

"We are asking him to take the path of honour because of corruption in leadership, his leadership style, which today is responsible for the rift, disagreements, and disharmony between the two brothers in the National Assembly, the Senate and the Reps. The relationship between the two has never been this bad. We are also asking him to resign because of his highhandedness, disrespect for members, frequent breach of the rules of the House and his sweeping and unsubstantiated comments capable of causing disaffection among the various arms of government," he said.

Rep. Dino said if at the end of the one week notice Bankole turns a blind eye, they will be forced to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), National Security Adviser (NSA), State Security Service (SSS) and headquarters of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with what he described as, "Overwhelming evidence, incontrovertible documents and incriminating information."

While alerting the ECFF to fast track moves on the N2.5bn car scam findings, Honourable West Idahosa (PDP, Edo) said, "We will rather die than to lose our courage to speak the word of truth to those who trample on indignity and becoming very ruthless in the face of truth."

The group of eleven include Solomon Awhinawhi (PDP, Delta), Asita Honourable (PDP, Rivers), Darlington Okereke (PDP), Bitrus Kaze (PDP, Plateau), Dilkon George Daika (PDP, Plateau).

Other are Reps Abba Anas Adamu (PDP, Jigawa), Ralp Okere (PDP, Anambra), West Idahosa (PDP, Edo), Independence Ogunewe (PDP, Imo) and Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi).