A coalition of newly-elected members of the House of Representatives, under the aegis of New Dawn, has thrown its weight behind the zoning formula adopted by the ruling All Progressives Congress for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
The decision was sequel to the controversy surrounding the leadership of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly.
While assuring Nigerians that the 10th Assembly would not be pocketed by the Executive, the members-elect maintained that the adoption of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, was taken in the best interest of the country and Nigerians.
The over 100-member organisation with membership cutting across the various political parties in the country, made its position public in a communique issued after an enlarged meeting in Abuja obtained by journalists on Thursday.
The Convener of ND and outgoing Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun (Peoples Democratic Party, Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben Federal Constituency) said the position was taken after wide consultations with stakeholders across the board.
The communique reads in part, “That we have unanimously resolved to unreservedly support the decision of the ruling party regarding the zoning of offices specific to the 10th House of Representatives.
“That, we are in full support of the decision of the Minority Parties Forum to endorse Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu for Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively of the 10th House of Representatives.
“That, considering their pedigree, experience and nationalistic dispositions, the emergence of the duo will produce a balanced, focused, stable and an inclusive House which will discharge its primary functions with distinction and serve the interests of the generality of Nigerians.
“That, we appeal to all our colleagues in the 10th House of Representatives to file behind Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu on June 13, 2023 In the overall interest of the 10th House of Representatives in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
Meanwhile, another coalition, Middle Belt Youth Leaders, has criticised the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, for claiming that the APC considered religion in arriving at the ruling party’s zoning plan for the leadership of the coming 10th National Assembly.
The MBYL said Shettima could have declined the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC for the 2023 presidential election, adding that the President-elect can also resign his position for religious balancing.
The group was referring to Shettima’s speech when Abbas and Kalu, respectively visited him last week.
Amidst protests, the APC had anointed a former Minority Leader of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, from Akwa Ibom State in the South-South for President of the Senate, the ruling party had picked the current Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Barau Jibrin, from Kano State, North-West, for Deputy President of the Senate.
The youth leaders, at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, said members of the National Assembly should be allowed to the presiding officers without interference from the executive arm of the government and political parties, adding that the emergence of the presiding officers should not be subjected to religious or ethnic considerations.
