The Parliamentary Governance Forum (PGF) said for the purpose for equity, justice and fair play, the position of the next Speaker of the House of Representatives should be zoned to the North-Central region.
PGF also insisted that a very competent and seasoned ranking member such as the current deputy speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase should be supported to preside over the affairs of the green chamber.
The Assistant Secretary of the Forum, Uyi David who made these calls in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja, said North-Central is the zone which has not enjoyed the slot from the northern region since return to democratic rule in 1999.
Uyi further said zoning the position of Speaker to the North+Central zone of the country and particularly to Wase should be considered as a way to reward the area for its loyalty towards the ruling party.
“Although, there are other able and also qualified ranking members that can effectively handle the office of the Speaker with thorough efficiency, if given the chance in that zone, but what made Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase stand out amongst them is not about the several bills he has sponsored in the Green Chamber to improve the Healthcare services for Nigerians in many parts of the country or his vast experience in the continental legislations, which he has garnered since his appointment in 2018 as the Regional Representative for West Africa to serve on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and his subsequent election as the first Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in 2019 but his tested loyalty and total submission to party’s supremacy above self-interests.
“This is what had distinguishes him from other lawmakers from the green chamber. It was reported that during the 2019 contest for the position of Speaker which he also contested for, and despite having secured overwhelming supports from majority of his colleagues to be elected as Speaker, Hon.Wase was seen to the party’s line by stepping down for Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila after which the party leadership of the APC had decided that the speakership position has been zoned to the Southwest.
“It was in this humble submission that he jettisoned his interest to honor the party’s decision and decided to opt for the position of the Deputy Speaker for the stability and progress of the party. This same ambition which caused the party to lose some of her seats at the 8th Assembly, where the likes of former senate president, Bukola Saraki and the then Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara delivered their party into the hands of the opposition like the way Judas betrayed Jesus, and handed him over to the Romans for crucifying.
“So, this is the time the leadership of APC has to remember and at the same time equally reward one of her party faithful in respect of Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase to occupy the speakership position in the House, having been one of the ranking returning lawmakers to the House and the one who has chaired many committees than the rests, and being the current Deputy Speaker in the 9th Assembly without any rancor between him and the Speaker for the past four years of their services to the fatherland.
“APC and its members in the house should know that one good turn deserves another: for it will be politically suicidal to lose one of her party’s greatest stronghold, which is the North-Central zone if it mistakenly concedes the speakership position to another zone in the country,” he added.