for the speakership of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara,
received the endorsement of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus,
yesterday.
A re-elected member of the House, Samson Okwu, who spoke on behalf of
returning PDP members, said the caucus was determined to enthrone
Dogara from Bauchi State as the next Speaker.
Okwu, representing Oju/Obi federal constituency, Benue State, said
members were more disposed to working with a Speaker that will have a
general appeal than someone who would likely be subservient to a
godfather.
He also stressed that though members were elected on different
political party platforms, what was of utmost importance to them as
federal parliamentarians was the overall interest of the country.
He said: "We are about 142 members out of 360 and as minority, we are
going to determine the leadership of the House of Representatives,
especially the Speaker.
"We are determined to do that and we want to do it in such a way that
we will choose leaders that will have support across party lines and
will also look out for the interest of the country and members.
"It is no longer about APC or PDP it is about the House of
Representatives and what is happening is not a different thing. By the
time the 8th House is inaugurated, we are going to elect a Speaker of
our choice.
Precedence
"Let no one make a mistake: the House has a precedence and a scenario
that happened in the House since 1999. PDP wanted Salisu Buhari to
become the Speaker, but he did not last because he was not the choice
of the members.
"He lasted only two months and Ghali Na'Abba was elected. The same
scenario played itself in 2003.
"The party wanted Matazu, who was even a returning member, but the
members did not want him and then elected Aminu Bello Masari as
Speaker. Similar thing happened in 2007 when Patricia Etteh was
imposed on members.
"They accepted her, but after four months, they forced her out and
Dimeji Bankole was elected. The same scenario or even worse than the
previous ones happened in 2011.
"PDP tried to impose Mulikat Adeola-Akande and we did not want her. So
we brought Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as our Speaker.
"If the party in power is thinking that things have changed, they will
surely be proved wrong. It is not about the party, it is the attitude
of the House of Representatives to always go its own way in choosing
its leadership.
"If APC is thinking that members will abide by its zoning arrangement,
the same scenario will play out because we are all the same members
and nothing has changed.
"All along, it is the House that has been playing progressive roles
that Nigerians are happy with. We are going to do same thing.
"We will bring a Speaker that we want. We are not undermining any
party, but the House of "We are solidly behind Yakubu Dogara as
Speaker. And we are determined to deliver him come June.
"We want somebody who will rally all members behind him. Dogara is
that person who will protect the interest of members and all
Nigerians. He does not answer to any godfather.
"He does not take weekly briefings from a godfather who lives hundreds
of kilometres from Abuja like a puppet. Dogara looks at the 359
constituencies as his own.
--Vanguard
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