The NASS Leadership Question

When I read that former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and now Senator-elect for Abia North Senatorial zone, had endorsed Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives, I had the feeling that, only half of the story had been told. It did not take long for […]

When I read that former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and now Senator-elect for Abia North Senatorial zone, had endorsed Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives, I had the feeling that, only half of the story had been told. It did not take long for the complete story to emerge. Indeed Dr. Kalu had endorsed Hon. Gbajabiamila on the premise that, as a loyal party man, he would abide by the decision of his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC which had tapped Senator Ahmed Lawan, from the North East Zone as candidate for the Senate President and Gbajabiamila, from the South West zone, as candidate for Speaker of House of Representatives. However, people tend to overlook the most significant aspect of Kalu’s comment, being that he would drop his ambition to be Deputy President of the Senate, if his party zoned the position of Speaker to the South East zone. This position is a stout rebuttal of the exponents of “winner-takes-all” politics who are ready to subvert the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and sacrifice national unity, equity and fair play on the jaundiced altar of personal greed, ethnic hegemony and sub-cultural nationalism which, by itself, is a recipe for instability and assured national paralysis. The position questions the integrity of those who have no qualms applying the federal character principle in areas where they are vulnerable while dismissing it in areas of their assumed superiority. That is as dishonest as can be.

I make this point with special reference to those who want to deny the South East the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives, on the dubious claim that the zone brought nothing to the table in terms of electoral support for the President. On the contrary, progressively, not only did the South East embrace the APC, President Buhari received at least 25 percent of the votes cast in three, out of the five South East states, as against only one in 2015.

As things stand, Kalu’s intervention, on the position of Speaker, challenges the sincerity of his party, the APC, as an honest agent of nation building and a custodian of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I believe that Kalu is sincere. For those who do not know Orji Kalu well, I believe he would not contemplate subjugating his ambition to any other person’s ambition if he was not certain that there is a candidate who possesses the qualities to fit the bill.

Does such a candidate exist in the South East? The answer is an emphatic YES; indeed, there are several candidates. But the emerging consensus favours Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba. Here is a young man who is familiar with Nigeria’s legislative processes. He was a member of the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 before stepping aside, in deference to the zoning arrangement, in his constituency. He then ran for Governor of Imo State, first on the platform of the ANPP in 2003 and the CPC in 2007. Ever since, he has been part of the country’s political process and is said to have played crucial roles in the negotiations and processes that led to the emergence of the APC. He has also served as chairman of the Board of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND.

Besides, in recent times, Hon. Nwajiuba has been the arrowhead of a number of strategic advocacy groups, aimed at advising government on policy issues and good governance. Highly cerebral, unassuming, introspective and disciplined, Hon. Nwajiuba is a self-effacing team player whose belief in the Nigeria project has endowed him with a social network that cuts across political, ethnic, religious and generational divides. He is an astute businessman, and an advocate of capitalism with a human face and a philanthropist who is more animated by service to humanity than competing for the klieg lights with leaders and celebrities. That explains the fact that whether in government or not, in and out of politics, his constituents in Imo State always feel his empowerment programs. I believe that Kalu has seen in him, a formidable political asset that the APC should leverage as the party consolidates on the progress made during the 2019 elections.

Like the Rotarians would want us to submit our actions to the Four Wheel Test, Nigerian politicians, especially the legislators should, in line with the Federal Character Principle of the 1999 Constitution, submit the zoning of leadership positions in the NASS to the following tests:

Will it promote the Federal Character of Nigeria? Will it promote national unity? Will it command national loyalty? Will it ensure that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states in the Government or any of its agencies? Will it ensure that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few ethnic groups in the Government or any of its agencies? Will it ensure that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few sectional groups in the Government or any of its agencies? Will it heal the gaping wounds in our polity, stem the dry the tears of excluded groups and usher in a new bonding that reduces the stress on our security and the sacrifices families of the members of our Armed Forces are making?

LAST LINE: It was reassuring watching the television footage of the President, beaming with smiles, as Senator Danjuma Goje announced that he had stepped down for Senator Ahmed Lawan who has been variously described as the President’s preferred candidate for the position of Speaker; reassuring because only recently, the President promised to run an inclusive administration. I believe him. And there is no way the Administration can be “inclusive” without the South East or any zone for that matter! Now, nobody should bother to tell us that the President will not interfere in the emergence of NASS leadership; please he should. If the President could be involved in resolving the Senate leadership impasse, he can do the same for the House of Representatives; in favour of the Federal Character requirement of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which he swore to uphold.

Agu was the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Champion Newspapers