Split in House APC caucus over who becomes speaker

…As aspirant canvasses for position to be zoned to N’Central

…Wants APC hierarchy to revisit zoning formula .Seeks single 6-yr-term for lawmakers

Henry Omunu, Abuja

A widening gulf among All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives members became noticeable on Wednesday, when an aspirant for the post of speaker, Rep. John Dyegh, declared that he would proceed with his ambition to lead the House, in spite of the insistence by the party that it has zoned the position to the South West and has equally adopted Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila as its preferred candidate.

Formally announcing his intention to vie for the House exalted office, Rep. Dyegh, at a press briefing in Abuja, said that the North Central remains unconvinced about the APC’s postulations that the post of speaker has been zoned to the South West and as such is final.

“I am here today to update you on the latest development regarding the contest for the office of speaker of the 9th National Assembly. My party, the APC in her wisdom zoned the position of speaker to the South West and even micro-zoned it.

“I am a party man and my loyalty to the APC is 100 per cent. However, the North Central zone hasn’t been convinced nor given reasons why their votes should not count and why we should not run and we feel very strongly that there is still room for negotiation because we believe it is not over until it is over.

“We are therefore, appealing to the party to have a rethink and rezone the speakership to the North Central for justice and fair play. We pray to God Almighty to touch the hearts of our leaders to reconsider us favourably,” the House member stated.

Rep. Dyegh added that he is encouraged by the provisions of Section 14 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which states that: “The composition of the government of the federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria

and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that government or in any of its agencies.”

It will only be fair, he argued therefore, for the position of speaker to be given to the North Central, since the APC has zoned the Senate President’s seat to the North East.

Moreover, he said “it is instructive to note that the North Central has neither produced the speaker nor the deputy speaker since 1999.

We are saying that reward in politics is based on what you bring to the table and the North Central brought the third highest number of votes in making President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term a reality and enabling the APC to form the federal government.”

Speaking on his agenda if elected as speaker, the House member from Benue State, revealed that he will advocate for a six- year -tenure for the legislature by amending the constitution instead of the current four- year practice.

Rep. Dyegh disclosed that this is to ensure that there is an adequate and experienced pool of lawmakers in the parliament at every point in time.

“We intend to initiate and implement a 7-point evidence-based legislative agenda that includes, amendment of the constitution of the to ensure legislative experience counts, by extending the four- year-tenure to six- year- tenure for the legislature,” he stated.

According to him, there is the need to train and retrain lawmakers and their support staff to enable them pass national priority laws in critical sectors like security, employment and productivity, power and agriculture.

Other areas of interest as enunciated in his agenda are ensuring openness in the financial operations of the National Assembly to guarantee accountability, transparency and responsiveness, as well as initiate legislative measures and laws to promote national unity, equal opportunities to all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, political, social and religious affiliation.

“To create effective collaboration with non-governmental organizations, civil society groups and development partners for active participation of all sectors of the society in law making and legislative processes and sustain and deepen independence of the National Assembly and ensure harmonious independent working relationship with the executive arm of government without undermining the principles of separation of powers,” he added.

He assured that his aspiration is not driven by selfish motives, but is a pan- Nigerian project, that is envisioned along the principle of transforming the legislature and deepening the bastion of democracy