NASS: Four Speaker contenders step down for Gbajabiamila

•Wase, Betara, Namdaz, Buba forego ambition for Gbajabiamila
•Senate rules slippery, House Standing Orders give Gbajabiamila edge
•Wase likely for Deputy Speaker amidst Christian-Muslim rivalry

PAST SPEAKERS

• Sir Frederic Metcalfe—1955- 19592.

• Jaja Wachuku (NCNC) (First indigenous Speaker of the

House of Reps in Nigeria)1959-1960 —Aba Division, Abia

• Ibrahim Jalo Waziri (NPC) 1960-1966 –Gombe/Kwami/

Funakaye Federal Constituency, Gombe State

• Edwin Ume- Ezeoke (NPN) 1979-1983—-Nnewi North/

South/Ekeusigo Federal Constituency, Anambra State

• Chacha Biam (NPN) 1983—-Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo

Federal Constituency, Benue State

• Salisu Buhari (PDP) 1999-2000—–Nasarawa Federal

Constituency, Kano State

• Ghali Umar Na’Abba (PDP) 2000-2003 —-Kano Municipal

Federal Constituency, Kano State

• Aminu Bello Masari (PDP) 2003-2007—–Malumfashi/

Kafur Federal Constituency, Katsina State

• Patricia Etteh (PDP) (First female Speaker of the House of

Reps)2007–Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole Federal

Constituency, Osun State

• Dimeji Bankole (PDP) 2007-2011 —-Abeokuta South

Federal Constituency, Ogun State.

• Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP) 2011-2015—-Kebbe/

Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State

• Yakubu Dogara 2015 till date APC/PDP —-Bogoro/

Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency, Bauchi State

PAST DEPUTY SPEAKERS

• Dr. Idris Ibrahim Kuta (Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Federal

Constituency, Niger State)—1979-1983.

• Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam
  Federal Constituency, Kano state)—-1992-1993.

• Chibudom Nwuche (Ahoada West/Ogba

EgbemaFederal Constituency, Rivers State)-1999-2003.

• Austin Opara (Port Harcourt 11Federal Constituency,

Rivers State )— 2003-2007

• Babangida Nguroje (Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna,

Federal Constituency, Taraba State)–une 2002-Oct 2007

• Usman Bayero Nafada (Dukku / Nafada Federal

Constituency, Gombe)—Oct 2007-June 2011

• Emeka Ihedioha (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal

Constituency, Imo State)–June 2011-2015.

• Yussuff Lasun (Irepodun/Olorunda/Osogbo/Orolu

Federal Constituency, Osun State)— 2015-2019.

The route to the Speakership of the 9th House of Representatives seems to be getting smoother for Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Surulere, Lagos State).

Four of his co-contestants for the position have pulled out of  the race for him ,The Nation gathered yesterday.

But two others are still in the contest with him.

The battle for the Senate Presidency remains a three-way affair for Dr. Ahmad Lawan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Alhaji  Danjuma Goje and a former Senate Leader, Alhaji  Ali Ndume.

Sources said Idris Ahmed Wase (Plateau), Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa), Aliyu Betara Mukhtar  (Borno), and Yusuf Yakubu Buba (Borno) have stood down their ambition for Gbajabiamila who is favoured by the APC hierarchy for the job.

Umar Mohammed Bago (Niger) and John Dyegh (Benue) are yet to withdraw from the race.

Although Wase has been adopted for the office of Deputy Speaker, he faces a fresh hurdle from the camp of   outgoing Speaker Yakubu Dogara which is demanding the slot for a Christian candidate.

But some members-elect are insisting that religion should not be a factor for Wase because, according to them, there had been a Christian-Christian mandate in the House in the past.

They said merit and capacity, rather than religion, should be the overriding factor.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the withdrawal of the four ranking Reps for Gbajabiamila is a fallout of  ongoing negotiation between  the  Gbajabiamila camp and critical stakeholders in the chambers.

A source called it a major breakthrough in the quest to install Gbajabiamila as the next Speaker.

The four have also agreed to join forces to work for Gbajabiamila whose party (APC) has over 226 of the 360 members-elect.

Gbajabiamila, who also has associates in PDP, needs about 181 votes (if there is a full house of elected members) to emerge as Speaker.

A well-placed  source  said: “So far, the campaign for the office of the Speaker is taking  a good shape for Gbajabiamila with the withdrawal of these four heavyweights from the race.

“We are however not taking things for granted. There is a little relief in the APC camp because the PDP appears not keen any more for the office of Speaker because of the intense lobbying from Gbajabiamila’s friends, associates and strategists.

“About three weeks to the election of principal officers, most PDP lawmakers-elect are still awaiting directive on who to vote for. Instead of losing out, some of them have decided to align with Gbajabiamila to be in good stead for the House politics.

“Notwithstanding, the campaign team of Gbajabiamila has sustained its outreach by paying more attention to his sterling legislative qualities than sentiments around his recommendation for the office by the party.

“We have spent quality time to clarify the godfather allegation being circulated to prove that Gbajabiamila is a cosmopolitan candidate.”

On Umar Mohammed Bago and John Dyegh who are still in the race, another source – a returning Rep – said: “The APC and its leaders at all levels are trying to prevail on these two candidates to step down. We will still take advantage of the next three weeks to lobby them accordingly.

“We are hopeful that they will defer to the APC and concede the slot to Gbajabiamila.

“Alternatively, if all entreaties fail, we will go ahead for outright election between Gbajabiamila and the two candidates. We know their limit but we are only appeasing them to have a united House.

“Take the case of Bago, he does not enjoy the backing of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and all members-elect from Niger State. His best bet is to face the reality of the futility of his aspiration.

“In the case of John Dyegh, he is the only elected member of the House from Benue State. Where does he draw his electoral strength from? We cannot afford to ignore him but he has not come to terms with the pervasiveness of the ongoing intrigues in favour of Gbajabiamila.”

Responding to a question, the source admitted that although Wase has been adopted for the office of Deputy Speaker, he faces a fresh hurdle from the camp of outgoing Speaker, Yakubu Dogara which wants a Christian for the position.

“Some forces are trying to give religious colouration to the race for the office of Deputy Speaker to stop Wase but the parliament is not made for such sentiments,” he said.

“We are always broader in our perspectives. Of the 12 Speakers we have had six were   Christians and six were Muslims. They all came on merit without religious imputations.

“The Deputy Speakers so far have been eight with five Muslims and three Christians without animosity. Many political factors, including zoning by parties, interplay more than ethno-religious indices.  We hope those promoting religious division in the legislature will stop it.

“Wase has sacrificed by stepping down for Gbajabiamila despite the fact that he is also a strong candidate for the Speaker slot. We will not allow mischief-makers to whip up religious sentiments.”

It’s still Lawan,Goje, Ndume for Senate Presidency

The story is a bit different in the Senate where ex-Governor Danjuma Goje and a former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume have refused to step down for Dr. Ahmed Lawan.

There are fears that should  Goje and Ndume continue to be  adamant, they could split the votes of  APC Senators-elect and  pave the way for the emergence of a Senate President from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

PDP, which has 46 out of 108 Senators-elect, is waiting in the wings for a major crack in APC to determine the next Senate President.

Lawan group on the other hand is making an inroad into the PDP to be able to get a simple majority.

While the Senate rules say a Senate President can emerge with a simple majority of the votes cast during the election of principal officers, the House of Representatives Standing Orders require a candidate for Speaker or any office to have half of the votes of the number of members-elect at the inaugural session.

A Senator-elect from North-West said: “Both Goje and Ndume have continued with their campaign although that of Ndume has been more obvious.

“So far, Ndume appears determined to see through the election on the floor on the inauguration day.

“In spite of the fact that Goje has not set up a structure, we know he has a ready-made platform he might use if he eventually makes up his mind to defy APC directive.

“We are not deterred at all. Where we should accord the ex-governor respect, Lawan has done so. The Senate leader met Goje about two weeks ago at the wedding of his daughter. Some emissaries, including ex-governors, have also had audience with Goje on behalf of Lawan.

“As for Ndume, he has  drawn the battle line from the beginning but even at that some governors have interfaced with him to allow Lawan to be.”

A governor who is involved in some talks with Goje, said: “We are still persuading the former governor to allow Lawan to have his way. Typical of lobbying in any legislature, he came up with a few issues which are resolvable.

“I will not tell you the issues/ grouses/ terms as may be applicable. We think we can mutually agree on a few things and keep our house in order for a smooth 9th Senate.”