2011 Post Election Updates - Reps May Downplay Religion, Ethnicity In Speakership Race

[TGD]

APPARENTLY to ensure quality leadership in the House of Representatives, some lawmakers yesterday began moves to play down the religion and ethnicity factors that had characterised the tussle for the Speakership slot.

Rising from a closed-door meeting in Abuja, the group of lawmakers described as unproductive the attempt to restrict the contest to religion and ethnicity.

A lawmaker told The Guardian On Saturday that plans had been concluded to re-orientate in-coming and re-elected members about the need to strengthen parliament and democracy by electing persons of strong character and rich legislative background irrespective of their religion or ethnicity.

He confirmed that the party had been urged to prevail on those lawmakers who are working against its preferred candidates.

"We are seeking that the leadership of our party and the leadership of the House should meet all lawmakers beating the drum of religion and ethnicity and advise them to reverse their steps. It is not good that while we call ourselves leaders in this country, we are at the same time planting the seed of discord and disunity among our children and grand children," he declared.

The group of lawmakers, it was gathered, endorsed the candidature of Representative Yakubu Dogara (PDP, Bauchi State) for the position of deputy speaker.

He has been cleared by the PDP to run with Ajibola Muraina whose speakership ambition has equally received the blessing of the party.

Religious and ethnic sentiments overtook the speakership race in the House immediately it became public that the PDP had endorsed the continuation of David Mark and Ike Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the PDP is experiencing difficulties in persuading its members in the House who are routing for persons other than those chosen by the party to change their minds.

Some lawmakers from the North West Geo-political zone have been working with some others from the Southeast to back Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto State) as speaker.

The group believes that the choice of leaders in the House should not be based on zoning as canvassed by the PDP but based on the fact that the House was an independent legislative organ.

The choice of Dogara has created unease in the Tambuwal camp, which prides itself as the continuity group because the incumbent chief whip, Emeka Ihedioha, and the deputy chief whip, Tambuwal, belonged to that group.

Dogara is a member of the kitchen cabinet of the present House leadership under Dimeji Bankole and chairman of the House Services Committee.

Source: Reps May Downplay Religion, Ethnicity In Speakership Race