There is currently disagreement by members-elect who constituted minority caucuses in the House of Representatives over the ruling of party’s zoning arrangement for the positions of the speaker of the 10th Assembly.
At the inauguration of the pressure group called ‘Joint Task – 10th Assembly’ held in Abuja at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja about 60 lawmakers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the seven opposition parties were in attendance.
On the other hand, other PDP Members-elect who are reportedly opposed to the APC zoning arrangement attended the PDP Caucus meeting scheduled for 2pm at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, with the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagun and other members of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).
The meeting was also attended by a handful of Members-elect drawn from the six minority parties namely: Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Young Progressive Party (YPP).
Speaking at the inauguration of the Joint task – 10th Assembly, the incumbent Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Usman Kumo (APC-Gombe) argued that the meeting was for the inauguration of the Executive members of the Forum as well as chairmen of various zonal and state caucuses.
While responding to a question on whether any of the aspirants who have formally indicated interest in vying for the various elective positions are members of the Forum, Hon. Kumo answered in the negative, in the bid to ensure that no one can blame the Group for supporting any candidate.
He also dismissed reports that the ‘Joint Task 10th Assembly’ Forum was initiated at the instance of the incumbent Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila considering the caliber of lawmakers and members of his Media Team who attended the inauguration.
He said: “On the question whether Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is the one sponsoring what we are doing, the answer is capital no. but mind you, Femi is an elected member belonging to the 10th national Assembly as we are speaking now.
He also dismissed reports that the ‘Joint Task 10th Assembly’ Forum was initiated at the instance of the incumbent Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila considering the caliber of lawmakers and members of his Media Team who attended the inauguration.
He said: “On the question whether Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila is the one sponsoring what we are doing, the answer is capital no. but mind you, Femi is an elected member belonging to the 10th national Assembly as we are speaking now.
“He’s a Nigerian and it is his franchise to tow any line he wishes. As we are speaking by the Assembly of gentlemen you are seeing here, take it for free, nobody, and I repeat in capital letters, that can manipulate all of us here; no that individual.
“The combination you are seeing here, if you carefully observe, we have people from all the six geopolitical zone, and we have members of all the political parties – eight of them and each of them, everyone of us here won his election on merit and before we partake and won the election, we rose through the ladder of prosperity gradually and patiently. And it is in view of this that I’m telling you Femi did not constitute this group; Femi is not behind this group, not to my knowledge.
“In the 10th Assembly we have men of integrity that are perceived to be the wise men in every Assembly. And these wise men might not naturally opt for any positions but they would stay behind, provide direction and ensure that it’s a stable house”.
Source: Tribune
