House of Reps to invite British envoy over comments on Gowon

The Nigerian House of Representatives has weighed in on the recent accusation of grand sleaze leveled against General Yakubu Gowon by a UK parliamentarian with a resolution to invite the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Catriona Laing.

The invitation, among others, is to understand why the diplomat has not rendered an apology to Gen. Gowon over the issue especially in the face of several calls by concerned stakeholders for an unreserved apology to the former Head of State over the accusation.

RovingNaija recalls that last week, Mr. Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge, Edenburg and Malling and Chairman Foreign Relations Committee, House of Commons British Conservative parliamentarian, accused Gowon of looting half of the money in the Central Bank of Nigeria when he went on exile.

On Tuesday, during plenary the House mandated its Committee on Foreign Affairs to interface with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the British parliament over the comments.

According to the House, the allegation of looting by a member of the British House of Commons against Gowon is capable of causing a crisis in Nigeria and disturbing the peace of the country.

The resolution of the house followed a motion from a lawmaker, Yusuf Gagdi, who is from the same constituency as the former head of state.

Gagdi maintained that no evidence was provided to back the claim of the British parliamentarian.

Following Gagdi’s motion, the House resolved that the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila should write to the Speaker of UK Parliament to express displeasure over the unfounded allegations.

The letter is also to demand that Tom Tugendhat should offer a public apology to Gowon, as well as the people and government of Nigeria.

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