Reps Speakership: Coalition Backs Zoning To S’East, Kicks Against Benjamin Kalu

By Progress Godfrey, Abuja

A coalition of groups across various zones has called for zoning of the leadership of the House of Representatives to the South-East zone of Nigeria. 

The groups made up of Coalition of Northern Patriotic Front, South-west Professionals and Coalition Of Arewa Youth Groups, made the call at a world press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

Delivering a joint statement by the groups, the President of AREWA Youths, Tijani Abdulmumini said the groups observed that the contest of the 10th National Assembly had become a theatre for display of nativity. 

According to Abdulmumini, the National Assembly is the ‘engine room’ of the success of any government and the growth of Nigeria’s democracy depends on the quality of leaders in the parliament. 

“Who will possibly emerge speaker from the South-East region is as much an issue of interest to the country and the APC as it is to the South-East. 

“In pursuance of balancing act and preservation of Nigeria’s sanctity, we believe the leadership of the National Assembly should be zoned to the South-East, however, in doing so, equity, justice and fairness should be applied,” Abdulmumini said. 

The Groups, however, kicked against the aspiration of Hon Benjamin Kalu, a serving Reps Member from Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, stating that with the performance of the outgoing speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the bar of leadership has been raised high.

The groups stated that aspirants must have a scorecard of their contributions to the success of the party during the last election, and public perception of those who have shown interest to lead. 

Abdulmumini read further; “While the issue of loyalty is starring Benjamin on the face, like the sword of Damascus, his alleged complicity in marital issues hangs on his head.

“The Hallowed Chamber of the House should not be reduced to a Customary Court where a Speaker would be accused of snatching married women from poor spouses.

“Further as part of sieving the wheat from the chaff, every speaker hopeful whose reputation has been tarnished by scandals should be given no more than a passing glance by his colleagues.

“The position of a Speaker of the House of Representatives is not for experiment and must not and should not be slaughtered on the altar of ethnic sentiment to pave way for mediocre who have barely served out their first term in the house.

“We have also watched with consternation, the brazen manner with which saboteurs, who traded the interest of the APC and its presidential candidate with some treacherous groups who are against the sanctity of the Nigerian State trying to take over leadership of the incoming Assembly. 

“The Holy Bible and Qur’an enjoin that, if a man does not work, he should not eat or a man should not reap where he did not sow. Hon Benjamin Kalu did not sow in APC but rather, he’s an opportunist, who wants to leverage on primordial sentiments to pass through the backdoor to the leadership of National Assembly.”