The Civil Society Groups for Good Governance has called on the All Progressive Congress (APC) to zone the office of Speaker of the House of representative to the south-east, so as to reflect federal character and support a balance power sharing formula in the country.
The President of CSGGG Chief Dominic Ogakwu who disclosed this during a press briefing in Abuja, believed that House Committee on Media and Publicity Affairs honorable Benjamin Kalu is competent to lead the 10th house in the next democratic dispensation.
In his Words “as members of civil society we hold the view without equivocation that equity and fairness demand that southeast should produce the next Speaker of the House of representative.”
“As we have stated earlier our clamour for the speaker ship from the south-east is not premised on equity and inclusion alone, but because there is capacity, ability and widespread consensus that honourable Benjamin Kalu is suited for the job.”
Further speaking, Ogakwu said at present, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the cusp of history to demonstrate that equity, inclusivity, and justice are the principles on which the party is built as it reaches a decision on the zoning of key officers for the 10th National Assembly, especially for the House of Representatives.
Therefore, as a second-term lawmaker with resounding mandate from his people, Hon. Kalu, the Cicero of the House has demonstrated panache, zest, ability and capacity as Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs. Time and time again, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the member representing Bende federal constituency of Abia State, has passed across resolutions and decisions of the House without reason to second guess or be misquoted.
Records indicate that since the return of democratic rule in 1999, the Southeast geopolitical zone is the only zone yet to have the opportunity to produce a Speaker of the House of Representatives. The nearest the zone has come is Deputy Speaker between 2011 and 2015.
For the avoidance of doubt, from 1999 to 2007, the position of Speaker was zoned to the North West with Rt. Hon. Salisu Buhari, Ghali Umar Na’Abba and Aminu Bello Masari as Speakers.
Also, from 2007 to 2011, the South West produced Rt. Hon. Patricia Etteh and Dimeji Bankole presiding; and the North West taking another chance between 2011 and 2015, with Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker and Emeka Ihedioha as Deputy. In 2015, the North East produced Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. By 2019, it returned to the South West again with the current speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
However, Chief Ogakwu stress that in demonstration of their support to the realization of a speaker of Kalu project, they are set to mobilize Youths from all the geopolitical zones to lobby and galvanized supports with their contact so as to leverage in this regard
“We are mobilizing resources and goodwill so that a lawmaker who has lead by example, demonstrated integrity, communicated effectively with his fellow lawmakers and the media should ascend the pinnacle of speakership for our collective progress and in the spirit of equity and balance
By Ure Caleb Danjuma
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