As we shop for the 9th House Speaker

As Nigerians get set to usher in the 9th National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives in June, they await the emergence of a Speaker that would not only fit the number 4 citizen’s seat, but also someone that would make the Green Chamber a melting pot where the much-needed laws that would make life […]

As Nigerians get set to usher in the 9th National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives in June, they await the emergence of a Speaker that would not only fit the number 4 citizen’s seat, but also someone that would make the Green Chamber a melting pot where the much-needed laws that would make life better for the citizens through good governance are enacted, speedily so.

Majority of Nigerians would also want to see a Speaker that would ensure harmonious working relationship between the legislative and executive arms to achieve the ideals of the APC-led government in the next four years.

You need not go far. One man fits the bill, and he is Hon Ahmed Idris Wase, who has been representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State since 2007 in the Green Chamber.

Wase does not only possess the qualities of being a leader, he also has the prowess and finesse to handle every situation that may present itself.

APC as a party, with the help of the presidency, is set to zone the various leadership positions in the National Assembly. But truth be told, that zoning should be done with certain considerations.

First, the party should consider zoning the positions, especially that of speaker, to a region where it has lawmakers-elect with popular support. In this regard, Hon Ahmed Idris Wase has the support, cooperation and understanding of his colleagues as we would see in this piece.

Second, there is need for the party to consider zoning the position of speaker to a region that has never produced the Number 4 Citizen’s seat, which is the North central, where Wase comes from.

I write to support Wase because he has demonstrated to his constituents that good governance and quality representation are possible, hence his many programmes that have had positive impact on his constituents. His key areas of interest have been education, health, youth empowerment, infrastructural development and quality representation of the interest of his state at the national stage.

Due to his commitment to fatherland, Hon Wase was made the chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character in the 7th Assembly, retaining the same position during the current 8th Assembly until his elevation to become the Deputy House Leader late last year.

As the Chairman of the Federal Character Committee, he fought consistently to bridge the disparity and imbalances in various states and regions in terms of employment and infrastructural distribution to bring them in line with the constitutional requirement of federal character. He has distinguished himself as a man keen on justice, equity and fairness.

He became known as a go-getter for employment opportunities for members and staff of the National Assembly, a development that has endeared him to many of his colleagues and the staff of the federal legislature. His committee became the most active committee in the 7thand 8th Assembly, recording an unprecedented number of interactive meetings with MDAs exceeding 150 sessions per Assembly.

Apart from members and staff of the National Assembly, as chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, Wase  also assisted many other Nigerians in securing jobs in different government agencies. You don’t have to be from his Federal Constituency or Plateau before he could assist you. He most times personally placed calls to those whose CVs were submitted to him for them to go to particular agencies for job interviews and eventual employment. That is Wase for you.

On his contributions on the floor of the House during debates on major bills and motions, each time Wase stood up to speak, all you could hear is sense and experience. His contributions are always laced with wisdom from a man that has it in abundance.

Like an elder that he is, he always makes peace with his colleagues and ensures that everybody lives peacefully in the House. His facial looks portray a man full of humility, sagacity and vision. In the last 12 years that he has been serving as a lawmaker, there was never a time that any scandal cropped up around him.

Imram Muhammad Halilu wrote from Abuja

Be careful with today’s re-runs please

I wish to use this opportunity to plead with all the authorities concerned especially INEC, the federal government, securities agencies and the media to ensure that care is taken to make today’s governorship re-run elections peaceful in the states where they are being conducted. INEC leadership should realise that they have their names to protect and the country’s democratic process to develop, so they should be above board in their dealings. The Attahiru Jega-led INEC left a good legacy which should be maintained, instead of being destroyed, and Nigerians cannot accept anything less. The governorship re-runs should be conducted in a manner that would not further increase tension in the affected states.

Adeyemi Wakili, Akure

INEC, stop thisninconclusiveness

I write to advise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against continuing with the dangerous culture of inconclusive elections. This is because it not only casts doubts about the sincerity of the electoral body but also makes the eventual winners of re-run elections unpopular. It is being suspected that INEC declared governorship elections inconclusive in mostly states where the PDP was heading to victory to enable the APC grab power in those states. Though that is just a speculation, it would have been avoided if INEC was assertive in carrying out its responsibility and not seen as cowing to incumbency pressure, and we should guard against craving for power at all costs just for the sake of being in power and not for the benefit of the people.

Veronica Abulime, Benin

Keep the military out of politics

The alleged conduct of the military in the elections so far if true could make Nigeria a laughing stock in the international community, as it does not add value to the electoral process, just as those who were declared winners under such circumstances should not consider themselves true winners. When elections are held under duress, it impairs its credibility, and undermines the whole concept of demcracy. True democracy is when the people freely vote for people they want, not when they are manipulated or coerced to accept particular individuals. I am disturbed by the many stories of the involement of the military in some states and this should not be allowed to continue. It is equally disturbing that despite the presence of the military, electoral violence and malpractice still took place in some places, which should not be so.

Ibrahim Isa, Jos

Explore oil producing opportunity in Kogi

I wish to allign with the Kogi East senator, Isaac Alfa, who said he would sponsor a bill for the federal government to recognise Kogi as an oil-producing state. But before then, I would suggest that  oil exploration activities should be stepped up to enable  extraction of oil in Odolu, Kogi East.  The new senator should deploy his energy to  canvas attention to the area to not only help develop Kogi but increase Nigeria’s oil output.

Adavi Osimia, Okene