Deji Elumoye

he management of the National Assembly recently organised a two-week orientation programme for all elected members of the Ninth Assembly to acquaint the legislatorselect with the workings of the legislative arm and what is expected of them once the two chambers are inaugurated in June. The turnout of the legislators made up of 60 per cent new intakes and 40 per cent returnees, who were divided into two batches was largely impressive.

Some of the legislators-elect during the orientation programme held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, bared their minds on the kind of leadership they looked forward to in the Ninth Assembly.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is a ranking member, Hon Yakubu Dogara, advised the political parties against imposing any candidate on the 9th National Assembly.

Dogara, a PDP member, who is also known to be interested in being re-elected Speaker emphasised that leadership is something that emerges from people.

In his words, “It is always better for the leadership of the legislature to emerge from members but where leadership has been forced on the people, it doesn’t usually endure. If you look at the history of the National Assembly, it (imposition) has never endured.

“The leadership selection process from outside the chamber has always been causing crisis in the Assembly. Parties should ensure that whoever they are supporting has the backing of the legislators so that they can accept such candidate, because they own the process and they own the leadership”.

On her part, a female Senator-elect, Akon Ejakenyi, “If the leaders chosen to lead the National Assembly do not have what it takes, it therefore means we are going to have a chaotic sessions. We have been told that it would be by secret ballot and the exercise would be properly conducted”.

For Taofeeq Ajilesoro, a fresh House member-elect, he sought the election of presiding officers that would protect the interest of all legislators and not leaders that would be an appendage of the Executive.

“I believe the party should not determine whoever that would be chosen as our officers. This is a matter of who is going to protect our interest. National Assembly is supposed to be an independent arm of government, meant to check the executive”.

A former governor of Abia State and Senator-elect, Orji Uzor Kalu, emphasised that as a loyal party man, he would abide by the party’s zoning arrangement for the election of presiding officers of the Senate. He, however, advised the ruling APC to