Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
A member representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency Benue State in the House of Representatives, John Dyegh, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the 9th Assembly Speaker to the North Central geopolitical zone.
Dyegh, who made the appeal in Abuja under the auspices of Wase Equity Project 2019 (WEP 2019), at an interactive session with newsmen, said that the group is promoting the aspiration of the member representing Wase Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Ahmed Idris Wase, for the position.
He further argued that Idris Wase is ably qualified for the speakership position based on his legislative experience, robust debate and as deputy leader in the present House.
He insisted that the North Central must be compensated for delivering the third largest votes to the second-term election of President Buhari on February 23.
“Let us look at it, against all odds and despite stiff opposition against the APC in the North Central, we were able to deliver five out of six states in our zone. We delivered Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau and Niger with Benue as the exception but we also had an appreciable impact.
“We believe that in the spirit of fairness, justice, equity and federal character, the position of the speakership should be zoned to the North Central. We are not just saying this but we believe that the Presidency and the leadership of our party will know that we have a genuine case.
“If you look at it critically, the North-West has Mr President, the South-West has the Vice President; the Senate President has been zoned to the North-East. We think that if the South-West that contributed the fourth largest votes already has the Vice President; we believe the North Central deserves the position of the Speaker and Ahmed Idris Wase rightly fits in going by his antecedents in the House and his wide acceptance by all,” the group’s director-general argued.
Dyegh further added that “there is a need for a National Assembly leadership that will not only work in harmony with the executive but also a leader that has temerity of purpose and capacity to work closely with Mr President for the deserved democratic dividends for all.
“We (House members) want to choose among ourselves a leader like Idris Wase who has the experience, maturity and the capacity to lead the House in the 9th Assembly. We, however, want the Presidency and the leadership of our great party to look into our case in the spirit of federal character,” Dyegh appealed.