Speakership: Group Canvasses Support for N’West

North-central zone endorses Dogara

The quest for the job of the Speaker of the House of Representatives appears to be taking a new dimension as divergent interest groups lobby support for their regions, their guilds and individual choices.

THISDAY gathered that a group from the North-west geo-political zone is trying to convince Hon. AbdulMumini Jibrin to partner his South-west counterpart, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, so that the former’s geo-political zone would not be excluded from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the caucus of the National Working Committee (NWC) when the party eventually forms government.

According to a source close to Jibrin, although the presidentelect is from the North-west, he represents the entire country now, “and so there is no way he can descend from his high office to aggregate the interest of his constituency at the caucus level.

“It is for this reason that you require the apportioning of the position of say Deputy Speaker to the region. This will ensure that the North-west has a part in the top six positions in the country,” the source said.

He added that what they are trying to do behind the scenes now is to persuade Jibrin to team up with Gbajabiamila, “whose zone we hope the party will uphold its proposal of giving the Speakership job to.

“We also hope that the party will relocate the slot of the Deputy Speaker to the NorthWest, so that Jibrin will bring his dual advantage, individually as a legislator conversant with the economic side of law making; and collectively as a rallying point for a pool of votes needed from his geo-political zone,” the source further added.

A disparate position on the matter is that of the North- central caucus in the House of Representatives is throwing its weight behind the candidature of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House.

The caucus is also pledging a “bloc vote” for Dogara, stating in a statement yesterday that they “have resolved to deliver bloc votes to Dogara during the election and ensure that we further canvass for votes and supports for him from other zones.

“We are pleased with his aspiration which is motivated by selfless service, the desire to consolidate on the gains of the seventh assembly recorded under the able leadership of Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from 2011 to date .

“We must strive hard to sustain and consolidate on the giant strides made by the Tambuwal leadership and that is why only personalities like Dogara have the capacity to lead the next assembly.

Signed by Hon. Herman Hembe, Benue, Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, FCT, Hon. Umar Bago, Niger, Hon. Samson Okwu, Benue, Hon. Umar Buba Jibril, Kogi, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, Kwara, Hon. Davematics Ombugado, Nasarawa, Hon. Golu Thimothy, Plateau, the statement cited Dogara’s legal background of 22 years, his composure, humility and intellect as his endearing credentials.

“Since he took over the leadership of the House services and welfare committee in the 6th assembly, Dogara has been exemplary in the running of the committee.

Previously, Speakers have had issues with the same committee but not under Dogara.

“In the light of the above, we are calling on all elected members from different parts of the country to come onboard this movement and consolidate on the gains of the seventh assembly.