Suspended Rep Member, Jibrin says Buhari playing into enemies’ hands

Suspended member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari, saying that he has allowed himself to be taken hostage.

The former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, did not say who took the President hostage, but in a series of tweets on his twitter handle, @AbdulAbmJ, on Monday, the lawmaker asked Buhari to either fight those blackmailing him or give up the Presidency.

In one of the tweets, he wrote, “A President must repel blackmail with all his arsenals or give up the Presidency. You cannot be an effective president while in hostage!”

He accused Buhari of playing into the hands of people he (Jibrin) claimed did not believe in him.

Jibrin, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Kano State, tweeted “Mr. President, you are playing into the hands of people who do not believe in you and your government.

“You will come back to these tweets in 18 months.”

He further alleged that Buhari had turned his back on a lot of issues in the name of achieving political stability and harmony.

Jibrin noted that the President’s decision would later come to haunt him.

He added, “Mr. President, such ‘political stability’ and ‘harmony’ that compels you to turn away your face where you shouldn’t is useless to our country!”

It was not clear whom Jibrin was referring to, but observers said coming on the day the Speaker of the House, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, turned 49 years old, Jibrin might have become frustrated in his bid to have Dogara prosecuted.

Buhari, had in a birthday message to Dogara, praised the Speaker, saying that he (Dogara) inspired his trust in the youths of the country to deliver Nigeria out of challenges.

Jibrin had been suspended by the House in September after lawmakers dismissed his N40bn budget padding allegations against Dogara and three other principal officers.

The three others are the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun; the Chief Whip, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; and the Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor.

Jibrin had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, the Police and the Department of State Services, seeking the prosecution of Dogara and other principal officers.

None of the agencies has acted so far by inviting any of the officers for questioning.

Jibrin later left the country for the UK on the excuse that his security was no longer guaranteed in Nigeria.