Speakership race: Respect your Party’s decision …… Group counsels Bago, Olatubosun , Dyegh
By Sunday Oladapo
………..urges them to step down for Gbajabiamila
Barely 24 hours to the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly, a group of 72 non members of the ruling All Progressives lawmakers in the Assembly Assembly, has called on three contenders for the Speakership position of the House of Representatives, Hon. Umar Muhammed Bago, John Dyegh and Olajide Olatunbosun to respect the position of the All Progressive Congress,APC and stepped down from the race in line with best practices in legislatures across the world.
The Progressive Group which is made up mainly of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP, stated this in a statement made available to news men in Abuja by its leader, Hon Oluwole Oke, representing Obukun/Oriade Federal Constituency of OSUN State.
While acknowledging the constitutional rights of the three law makers to vie for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Group however noted that ,”the main contender Hon Femi Gbajabiamila stands a better chance in view of the cognate experience he has garnered in his previous roles as minority leader and Leader of the House in the 7th and 8th Assembly respectively.
According to be statement, Other factors identified by the Progressive Group in favour of Hon Gbajabiamila “are readiness to work through a broad coalition of parties represented in the House of Representatives, level headedness, and ability to sustain meaningful engagement with the Executive arm of government in the overall interest of the country”.
The group noted that since the APC had a good majority of members in the Ninth House of Representatives , Hon Bago and others would be well positioned to play other leading roles if they step down from the speakership contest and align with the popular wish of his party and majority of non APC members-elect and the returning members.
The Group lauded other aspirants who had earlier stepped down from the contest in respect of democratic ethoes and in deference to wise counsel of party leaders and stakeholders in the National Assembly.
The Progressive Group further added that its support for Hon Femi Gbajabiamila was basically in the best interest of the country and in line with its desire to make sure that the 9th Assembly starts on a rancour-free, stable and focused note.
