Seven Speakership aspirants under the aegis of G7 have warned their party, the All Progressives Congress, (APC), to jettison the zoning arrangement for National Assembly leadership positions or risk facing disloyalty.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) had on Monday zoned the Offices of Senate President and the deputy, Speaker of the House of Reps to the South-South, North West and South East, respectively.
However, at a meeting with the APC NWC members at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, the G7 lawmakers vowed to oppose any attempts by outside forces to impose a leadership on the 10th House of Representatives.
They described the zoning arrangement as unjust, unfair and inequitable, adding that it was unacceptable.
The members of the G7 are: Rt. Hon. Mukhtar Aliyu Betara; Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon Ahmed Idris Wase; Majority Leader, Rt. Hon. Al Hassan Doguwa; Hon. Yusuf Gagdi; Hon. Sada Soli; Hon. Mariam Onuoha and Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji.
Addressing Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, APC National Chairman, Betara said, “I need to tell everybody here that when we were going in for the election, I supported every member of the APC and I supported some of our leaders even contesting for elections. I was shocked, when I was hearing that I did anti-party. My unit is in Biu, my result is in INEC you can request for my result for my unit if I did anti-party.
“Another thing I need to clear here, sir, somebody told me that the same group are saying, I gave monies to a presidential aspirant. So if there is any transfer to anybody, the banks are there. I want to still tell you as leaders if I should give money to a presidential aspirant and he wins, what is he going to give me? I want to become Speaker in my party. If another party wins, can I become Speaker? No! So, we don’t need to blackmail ourselves. Politics is about give and take.”
Speaking also, Hon. Gagdi emphasized that the proposed arrangement by the NWC was wrong because the National Assembly is an independent body that cannot be turned to the Presidency’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) where people are picked at will.
“When we elect our leaders, all of you will not be there, it is we and our conscience and the covenant of the people of Nigeria that will be in the hallowed chamber. So it is better, it is not late, let the wrongs be righted. Unless this is done, sir, our party should not hope that our loyalty will be guaranteed at the detriment of justice, peace and fairness.
“We will respect justice, unity and equity in the chamber, but only if your instruction is in line with the principle of this party. Sir, do not hope that we have come here to succumb to any instruction and directive given to us.’’
