A recently-elected member of the House of Representatives for Barkin Ladi/Riyom Constituency of Plateau State, on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Simon Mwadkon, said no godfathers will impose the leadership of the House come June, 2019.
He equally said, anyone vying for the position of Speaker knows that he or she cannot take all positions to one political party.
Mwadkon disclosed this in a chat with journalists in Jos, the state capital.
He said, “The tension is caused by the ruling party. The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, went on air to make a pronouncement, which is now in the public domain, encouraging members of APC to take the entire leadership of the National Assembly and the entire committees chairmen and that none should go to the opposition party.
“That statement alone created tension within and outside the National Assembly because the working of the National Assembly is not the way Oshiomhole is looking at it.
“The National Assembly is an institution on its own; no leader or Speaker will win and take the entire leadership to one party and survive.
According to him, “No matter the overwhelming majority they have, they still need everybody because we are going to discuss issues that deal with the survival and progress of Nigeria as a nation, not that of a political party.
“Each and every one that is contesting for the position of the Speaker knows fully well that he or she cannot, in anyway, take all these things to one political party”, he maintained.
On the issue of the position of the Speaker zoned to the South-West region, despite having the Vice President from that particular zone, Mwadkon who represented the aforementioned constituency between 2011 and 2015, said,
“The speakership should be based on merit; that is one argument.
“Some people are arguing that Honourable Femi Gbajabimila, having been in the House of Representatives for the fourth time now, and he is presently the House leader and also a high ranking member merits the position.
“While on the other hand, some are of the opinion that the principle of federal character where every section of the country should be recognised to promote peace should be applied; while another set of people are saying let there be equal distribution of all these key positions from the presidency downward among the geopolitical zones in the country.
“These set of people are clamouring for somebody from the North-Central and I think there is a sense in this”, he explained.
“But I want to say that the person that would emerge as the Speaker would not be determined by any governor, president or even by the power brokers in any of the geopolitical zones, but he will be Speaker that would be as a result of the wishes of members of the National Assembly.
“I am from the North-Central. I feel that people from this zone are being marginalised. So, the agitation by the zone for the speakership position now is appropriate.
Speaking on the influence of godfathers and how it can be minimised, the Lawmaker elect said, “I want to tell you that it would be played down because the APC has exposed Gbajabiamila. There was a meeting held and Mr. President was there and they said they were giving it to the South-West and he was the only person from that zone contesting for this position and that was not strategic at all.
“It was like the scenario that played out in 2011; the political gladiators and the godfathers wanted Mulikat Akande as the Speaker; even the party at that time put up a posture that they wanted her. But at the end of the day, she lost because the legislature would not want a stooge; they didn’t want somebody that would be answerable to the executive 100 percent. So I foresee a situation where the godfathers may not succeed in this case,” he stressed.
