Jibrin was not blocked from seeing Buhari- Presidency
Tue Aug 09, 2016 07:43:am Politics
2.8K By Buchi Obichie
The Presidency on Monday deplored what it said were attempts by former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, to drag President Muhammadu Buhari into the budget padding scandal presenting rocking the green chamber.
In response to recent allegations by Jibrin that he had been blocked from meeting with the President, the Presidency stated that as a lawmaker, Jibrin should know the "protocol" on how to see Buhari, instead of making such insinuations.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Mr. Abdulrahman Kawu-Sumaila, spoke on the issue, as it has been suggested, that he was one of the "three former" members of the House of Representatives accused by Jibrin on Sunday to have "blocked" his efforts to see Buhari to state his own version of the budget scandal just like Speaker Dogara did.
The SSA said there had "never" been a time Jibrin requested through his office to see Buhari that he was denied access.
In Kawu-Sumaila's words, "The way he has been going about this issue is unfortunate. He is dragging the names of innocent people into it.
"He has not approached me that he wants to see the President. If he makes a request, I will facilitate it for him. He knows the protocol."
According to Kawu-Sumaila, he had only acted as a facilitator for the recent meeting between the President and the House Speaker.
He said he neither participated in the meeting, nor knew its outcome.
The SSA added, "When the Speaker wanted to see Mr. President, he told me.
"I did my part to facilitate it. I was waiting at the office while they met. I was not at the meeting with them.
"It was after the meeting ended and the Speaker came out that I saw him off.
"The same thing would have happened if Jibrin requested to see the President."
According to reports, Kawu-Sumaila is supporting Speaker Dogara; as he was seen in the video with Dogara as the Speaker addressed State House correspondents soon after he emerged from the meeting with the President.
Investigations show that since the budget padding crisis started, the relationship between Jibrin and the Presidential aide has been frosty.
Before becoming SSA to Buhari, Kawu-Sumaila, an APC ex-lawmaker from Kano State like Jibrin, had previously served as the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
In response to recent allegations by Jibrin that he had been blocked from meeting with the President, the Presidency stated that as a lawmaker, Jibrin should know the "protocol" on how to see Buhari, instead of making such insinuations.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Mr. Abdulrahman Kawu-Sumaila, spoke on the issue, as it has been suggested, that he was one of the "three former" members of the House of Representatives accused by Jibrin on Sunday to have "blocked" his efforts to see Buhari to state his own version of the budget scandal just like Speaker Dogara did.
The SSA said there had "never" been a time Jibrin requested through his office to see Buhari that he was denied access.
In Kawu-Sumaila's words, "The way he has been going about this issue is unfortunate. He is dragging the names of innocent people into it.
"He has not approached me that he wants to see the President. If he makes a request, I will facilitate it for him. He knows the protocol."
According to Kawu-Sumaila, he had only acted as a facilitator for the recent meeting between the President and the House Speaker.
He said he neither participated in the meeting, nor knew its outcome.
The SSA added, "When the Speaker wanted to see Mr. President, he told me.
"I did my part to facilitate it. I was waiting at the office while they met. I was not at the meeting with them.
"It was after the meeting ended and the Speaker came out that I saw him off.
"The same thing would have happened if Jibrin requested to see the President."
According to reports, Kawu-Sumaila is supporting Speaker Dogara; as he was seen in the video with Dogara as the Speaker addressed State House correspondents soon after he emerged from the meeting with the President.
Investigations show that since the budget padding crisis started, the relationship between Jibrin and the Presidential aide has been frosty.
Before becoming SSA to Buhari, Kawu-Sumaila, an APC ex-lawmaker from Kano State like Jibrin, had previously served as the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
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