Watch Your Language, Reps Warn Jonathan

The House of Representatives yesterday lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan over his allegation that the lower chamber has increasingly become dictatorial and politically driven in its activities.

House spokesman, Zakari Mohammed, described President Jonathan’s statement as “unfortunate”.

Jonathan, during his periodic media chat held on Sunday, remarked that “There is more of politics than work in the House of Representatives.” He also warned that the country risks “parliamentary dictatorship”.

The president was reacting to the House of Representatives’ probes of “missing” oil revenues and the petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, over allegations of spending N10billion on hiring private jets.

Mohammed (Kwara/APC), who chairs the House Committee on

Media and Public Affairs, said “The office of Mr President is one we hold in high esteem but for him to address an arm of government the way he did was rather unfortunate.

“We in the 7th Assembly will not gloss over issues that have direct bearing on the welfare of Nigerians.

“And let me make it abundantly clear that we are not afraid of any name that we are being tagged for supporting Nigerians.

“For a leader to tag an arm of government that has immensely contributed to his political career in that derogatory manner was really uncalled for.”