Since the pronouncement by the All Progressives Congress on its choice of speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, there have been growing agitations. Patrick Andrew writes.
South-west vs North-central
The contest for the speakership of the 9th House of Representatives seems to have narrowed substantially to South-west and North-central aspirants, respectively. In fact, in real terms only incumbent Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, is the only known aspirant from the South-west.
Albeit, there are very competent serving members who have been returned by virtue of their re-election in the February 16 National Assembly elections, they apparently have chickened out in deference to the authority and power wielded by APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose words within the political circle in the region is law.
Indeed, the former Lagos state governor, like he did but failed in 2015, has endorsed or rather imposed his preferred candidate for the highly esteemed office of speaker of the House. Of course, his protégée Femi Gbajabiamila has remained the anointed candidate.
It seems obvious in the estimation of the Asiwaju, whose endorsement of Gbajabiamila has provoked no little reaction mostly anti, the Surulere 1 federal constituency lawmaker remains the only cock he wants to crow perhaps with 2023 in view.
Though the South-west could argue like every other geo-political zone that it has the right to vie for the prestigious office of speaker especially with its motley of very eminently qualified lawmakers both in the past and at present, the zone perhaps may contend based on its contributions to the APC’s eventual ascendency to power in 2015 that it ought to have been allowed to produce the speaker.
That indeed was the plan until some felt as they do now that it would perhaps amount to greed for a particular to geo-political region to exercise dominance over others by virtue of being in charge of two powerful and highly influential positions: Vice President and Speaker.
Therein lies the coup that toppled and invalidated a carefully laid out plan for Gbajabiamila to mount the rostrum as speaker.
Even then, some had argued and their contention still remains valid that the zone has had its fair share in terms of holding the position of speaker. Recall that the South-west held the position of speaker twice and deputy once through Mrs Patricia Etteh (Osun state) who held the reins for four months (June 2007 to November 2007), while Dimeji Bankole (Ogun state) who was speaker from November 2007 to June 2011. Currently Hon Sulaiman Lasun is the deputy speaker.
Not so the North-central. Despite being the third in terms of votes contributed to the APC project since 2015, the zone has never been considered for the position of speaker. True, it has had its fair share of leadership of the senate presidency, its performance in the House in the capacity of speaker seems elusive.
That was until the trio of Idris Ahmed Wase, (APC, Plateau), John Dyegh (APC, Benue), and Mohammed Umar Bago (APC, Niger). They are have both by utterances and in actions defied the position of the APC national leaderships that have endorsed and insisted on Gbajabiamila as its sole candidate for the speakership.
Adams Oshiomhole, the ruling party’s national chairman had ignited agitation for the speakership when he stated that it was the resolve the party to forestall a repeat of the 2015 episode when its decision was not only countered but rubbished by some recalcitrant elements within the party.
He felt strongly that the persistent friction between the executive and the legislature could perhaps have been non-existence had the party produced a lenient or rather compliant leaderships made up mostly of party loyalists.
Asiwaju Tinubu re-echoed Ohiomhole’s position by lamenting that a painful lesson was learned in the last four years regarding the leadership of the National Assembly.
“One needs only look at the last four years to see how painfully this lesson has been learned with the senate leadership usurped by regressive elitists that constituted a break on progress and good governance.
“Just look at how outgoing Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and their like, highjacked the budget process these past four years.
“National budgets were delayed and distorted as these actors repeatedly sought to pad budgets with pet projects that would profit them. Even worse, they cut funds intended to prosper projects that would have benefitted the average person.
“After four years of their antics halting the progress of government, we should do all we can to prevent a repeat of their malign control of the National Assembly said.
Thus at a dinner hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari for members-elect of the House of Representatives the position of speaker was confirmed to have been given to the South-west geo-political zone and narrowed to finally the incumbent majority leader and favoured candidate of Asiwaju Tinubu: Femi Gbajabiamila.
That seems to have rankled up even more some members-elect from the North-central who had yearn quietly contest engendering them to openly defy the party by declaring intentions to contest.
John Dyeh
Representative John Dyegh, who represents Gboko/Tarka federal constituency of Benue state, objected to the endorsement of Gbajabiamila saying he was uncomfortable with the decision of the party to zone the position to the South-west and not the North-central.
“My party, the APC in her wisdom zoned the position of speaker to the South-west and even micro-zoned. I am a party man and my loyalty to the APC is 100 per cent, however, the North-central zone has not been convinced nor given reasons why their votes should not count and why we should not run and we feel very strongly that there is still room for negotiation because we believe it is not over until it is over.
“We are, therefore, appealing to the party to have a rethink and re-zone the speakership to the North Central for justice and fair play. We pray to God almighty to touch the hearts of our leaders to reconsider us favourably.
“As citizens, we all have equal stakes in the Project Nigeria, and it is against this background that the “House Project for Harmony” emerged. I therefore, stand before you today, my colleagues and dear country men to declare publicly my humble and sincere intention to vie for the position of the speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.
“I am ready to offer my time and talents, and make sacrifices for the good of every Nigerian. The decision to join this race is based on my unyielding faith in a united and prosperous Nigeria.
“My ambition is also a response to the clarion call by my constituents, Honourable colleagues in the Green Chamber across party lines, party faithful and other stakeholders in the North Central geopolitical zone and Nigeria in general, for me to offer myself for this office.”
Further adducing reasons for being unwilling to align with the party’s leaderships in the respect of speakership he cited section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which has to do with federal character principles.
“It will only be fair, if the position of speaker is given to the north central, having taken away the seat of senate president to the North-east. It is instructive to note that the North-central has neither produced speaker nor the deputy speaker since 1999.
“We are saying that reward in politics is based on what you bring to the table and the North-central brought the third highest number of votes in making President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term a reality and enabling the APC to form federal government,” he noted.
Muhammed Umar Bago
The lawmaker like many groups that have objected to the imposition said the endorsement of the South-west candidate was not only undemocratic but threatens the unity and stability of the party. He warned that the APC again to could lose the chance to produce the next speaker due to the highhandedness of the party’s leadership.
Bago speaking through the spokesman of his campaign organization, Victor Afam Ogene, a former member of the House of Representatives himself said:
“There is no retreat, no surrender, in our demand for equity and justice in the zoning arrangement, and the ultimate desire of many members-elect to be allowed to choose their own leaders.”
“Rather than been stifled only gained further traction, especially against the realisation that the template, which our national chairman relied upon in arriving at this curious choice remains hazy.
“We, therefore, condemn this obvious attempt to drag our party through the same tortuous path of 2015, all in a bid to sustain a legacy of imposition aimed at entrenching one man’s imperious dynasty.
“Until and unless the right thing is done, we reiterate our commitment to the pursuit of equity, justice and the independence of the legislature.”
“It is our contention that our party is being goaded towards the same ignoble path which led to the 2015 fiasco, which the National Assembly leadership tussle turned out to be.
“We view the development as a poorly choreographed political orchestra aimed at using the hallowed precincts of the Presidential Villa to anoint a candidate from the South west geo-political zone.”
Idris Wase
He has suddenly gone underground, which is normal and so has yet to openly declare his intention to run even though his campaign structures are on ground.
In other words, come June 9 the contest for speakership could narrow down to only two zones. Going by growing agitations it may not be out of place to expect a revolt against the endorsement of certain persons whether they were anointed by powerful individuals and the party or not.
