House Speakership: should one’s religion matter?

Arguably for the first time since independence, northern Christians and Muslims voted for the same party and presidential candidateSome of us (northern Muslims) have given up hope of seeing a united north as envisioned by the late sage Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. However, the 2015 elections have rekindled that hope that in […]

Arguably for the first time since independence, northern Christians and Muslims voted for the same party and presidential candidate
Some of us (northern Muslims) have given up hope of seeing a united north as envisioned by the late sage Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto. However, the 2015 elections have rekindled that hope that in our life time, Sardauna`s dreams have come to reality.
But happenings in the leadership struggle in the National Assembly are threatening to roll back the modest gains. This is why Engineer Buba Galadima Senator Saidu Dansadau and many other people recently frowned at what have emerged as attempts to scheme out certain members from contention as Speaker of the House of the Representatives.
Former Minister of Defence, Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) alluded to that disturbing trend when he appeared to voice concern that northern Christians were often than not at risk of being humiliated out of public office.
The race for the Senate Presidency is likely to be won by Muslim. That is why it is the most reasonable and sensible thing to do to zone the Speakership to the North East, since there is a ranking northern minority Christian member from that region contesting for the position and fit enough to occupy it.
However, if the APC as a political party does not want to do zoning like the People`s Democratic Party (PDP), does officially, it still behoves on the leaders to facilitate and encourage the emergence of a northern Christian as Speaker.
This is the surest way of ensuring that northern Christians and minority tribes are not edged out in the scheme of things.
 There are implications and consequences if the present political leaders of the APC fail to adhere to words of wisdom uttered by the two elder statesmen and other well-meaning Nigerians.
However, while i appreciate the efforts of some APC leaders who are working tirelessly to ensure that these segments of the Nigerian society are carried along, some few others that can best be described as disgruntled elements are hell-bent on ruining the fragile arrangement.
 Having gone through “hell” under the Goodluck Jonathan administration in the last five years, when Nigerians especially northerners were deliberately and intentionally divided along ethnic, religious and sectional lines, it is expected that by now, no right thinking person would contemplate treading that discredited path again.
 I am not advocating that merit be sacrificed on the altar of political compensation, as in this instance, there is coincidence of merit, competence and the need for political compensation.
As it is now, a son of the North East, in the person of Hon. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi state is in the race for the Speakership and he is ably qualified. As I read in the newspapers, he is a ranking member of the House of Representatives and a lawyer with 22 years’ experience in legal practice. This makes him to be qualified for the number four position in the land.
 Coming from an ethnic minority, Dogara certainly feels the pulse of the masses and also identifies with the yearnings of the ethnic nationalities. Hence he is strategically positioned to serve the interest of the generality of Nigerians.

Mohammed Abubakar, Club Road, Bompai, Kano