A group, the Coalition of Oodua Self Determination Group (COSEG), has raised the alarm that some people want to blackmail the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, over the political logjam in the country by accusing him of working for ‘northern interest’ at the detriment of the collective interest of the nation.

COSEG in a statement at the weekend endorsed by Dayo Ogunlana, Chairman, Co-ordinating Council and Rasaq Olokooba, Secretary, Co-ordinating Council, said those behind the plot also wanted to create the picture that Bankole is against the emergence of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The plot now is to accuse Bankole of working for ‘northern interest’ as if Jonathan Acting Presidency is to work against ‘northern interest.’ From this, a plot is developing to rake up allegations of corruption in the media against Bankole or his family members as a spring board to call for the removal of his leadership.

“Since the President, Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua took ill on November 23, 2009 and was absent from his duty post, Nigeria as a nation is confronted with challenges that have to do with its constitution. These challenges which have to do with non-compliance or inability of the President to comply with Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution have heated up the polity with various government organs, civil society groups, eminent persons, the media and religious bodies, taking various positions on how to resolve the problem.

“Finally on February 10, a solution was found in the National Assembly’s resolution making Vice President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan the Acting President pending the return of President Yar’Adua to his duty post.

“But even before this solution came, attempts were made to cast blame and aspersion on Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the highest Yoruba man in office at federal level as well as the House of Representatives. The falsehood and propaganda against an illustrious Oodua son to the effect that he was too pro-Yar’Adua caught our attention and based on record that is available in public domain we place in public glare, his patriotic role in the resolution of the constitutional crisis based on Yoruba virtues of equity, fair play and justice against the selfish interest and role of some people.

“Rt. Hon. Dimeji Bankole as a true democrat was on hand to receive the ‘Save Nigeria Group’ when they came to National Assembly, while the Senate was content to refuse audience to the group led by Professor Wole Soyinka on the basis of a pending court case.

“When Eminent Group of Nigerians led by Senator Ayim Pius Ayim came to present their own resolution, he received and promised that their views would be looked into by the House of Representatives based on due process, rule of law and the constitution, pointing out that the situation of the country in relation to the matter is novel and should be handled with care,” the group said.

COSEG noted that even after the National Assembly’s resolution and the emergence of Dr. Jonathan as Acting President, a power hungry cabal was now resolute in a plot to destroy Bankole as it believed his leadership of the House might frustrate its sinister plot to capture and control Dr. Jonathan acting presidency for its gains.

 

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