Of all the analogies that can be used to describe the exile and return of House of Representatives member Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, none is more apt than the parable of the prodigal son. Once a young hero who had won over the hearts and minds of the northern caucus in the national assembly, Hon Jibrin bit more than he could chew and was cast off into the wilderness. And now, after roaming around in political obscurity for over a year, he has been welcomed back into the fold.
Recall that Hon Jibrin fell out with speaker of the house Yakubu Dogara and other northern elements after fingering the speaker in allegations of project reallocation and budget padding. Thereafter the former buddies became bitter enemies even as Jibrin was summarily suspended for 180 legislative days for flouting house rules. Since then, the duo had been fighting verbal battles and cold wars spanning several months.
Just when it seemed the fire of discord would keep blazing for ever, some powerful northern elders decided to step in before the flames become an all-consuming conflagration. The Kano governor Abdullahi Ganduje and other prominent northerners were co-opted in the peace process. After several months of behind-the-scenes meetings, the stray sheep has finally rejoined the herd.
During his enforced sabbatical in the political wilderness, Jibrin, the house member representing Kiru/Bebeji federal constituency, found out that loneliness is a virtue his political career could not afford. Hence he retraced his steps and ran back, a repentant prodigal, into the warm embrace of his “family” in the house.
Jibrin, who until his suspension headed the juicy house committee on appropriations, has had his suspension lifted by the speaker and is now free to resume his legislative duties whenever he feels like it. Though the fissure in his friendship with Dogara is something only time can heal, he has already begun the process by writing a letter of apology his colleagues in the house.