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Members of the
House of Representatives who want to use the acting president, Goodluck
Jonathan, to create instability in the Assembly should desist from
doing so in the interest of the nation, member representing
Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency in Kano, Faruk Lawan has said.

Mr. Lawan, who
spoke yesterday in Kano, said those who claimed they are plotting the
removal of Mr. Bankole on behalf of Mr. Jonathan would not succeed. He
said such persons will only create a crisis that is capable of
affecting the political stability of the country.

“Those who want to
use his name to create instability in the National Assembly should be
mindful that whatever crises that would emanate from the legislature
would have a negative effect on the stability of the polity and also on
the stability of Nigeria,” he said.

“But then, those
who are plotting this or those who are claiming to be doing this on
behalf of the acting president are not fair to the acting president. I
think what the acting president need now is the complete support of
every member of the National Assembly because the country is passing
through trying times.”

In need of stability

Mr. Lawan also
said the impeachment plot would not succeed at this time, especially
when the country is planning general elections.

“I know that
anybody who thinks about removing the Speaker overnight should think
twice, because some of us have been involved in the crises in the
legislature in the last 11 years and when we speak about this issue, we
know what we are talking about,” he said.

“Removing a
presiding officer within a twinkle of an eye can be dirty, can be messy
and it can be completely destructive and so the legislature does not
require that at this moment of our national life.” The chairman of the
House Committee on Education added that, as far he was concerned, the
impeachment plot was just a rumour.

“Personally, I
didn’t find such speculation valid,” he said. “I consider the rumour as
mere speculations that have no basis because as a member of the House
of Representatives, I am not aware of any action that has been taken by
the Speaker that would warrant anybody to impeach him.

“I also believe that what the House needs now is stability because
there are constitutional amendments before us. The Senate has already
completed that exercise and it is up to the House to complete the
process so that we can amend the constitution so that we can have
credible elections in 2011.”