Follow Us on Google
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, have faulted the choice of the chairman, House Committee on Land Transport Tajudeen Abass by the All Progressives Congress ( APC) as its consensus candidate for speakership of the 10th House.
Wase, who spoke at the formal declaration of the chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Muktar Betara, for the speakership of the House, on Monday, in Abuja, called on lawmakers not to allow the parliament to be hijacked.
Apart from Wase, other speakership contenders present at the were House leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Sada Soli, Yusuf Gadgi and Miriam Onuoha, which was attended by scores of serving and
The deputy speaker noted that while consensus requires discussion by critical stakeholders and wide consultations, none of that was done.
“Again, I want to add that we are here to ensure the independence of the parliament. To ensure that we work together. Every Parliamentarian must rise to the occasion
“We will work as a term. We will not allow this parliament to be hijacked. We will not allow this parliament to be made a lame duck. I believe we are loyal to our country first. Loyal to our party and loyal to our people.
“When say you you have a consensus candidate, the language for consensus is that there have been mass consultations, people go to table for discussion. There is agreement. In this case, we just saw and we are hearing rumors, speculations that some people have been made consensus candidates.
“I don’t know whether that is the meaning of consensus. This place is very sacred. We must be Honourable in our action in defence of the federal republic if Nigeria.”
On his part, Doguwa said the parliament must always be allowed to choose its leaders, noting that it is not for outsiders to decide who leads the House.
According to him, “One message I want to our across is that the parliament is one institution that must always be allowed to choose own leaders.
“The business of our leadership should be solely our business and no other person’s business. In a situation where you have some people in whatsoever guise trying to decide our leadership, to form our leadership from outside without consulting us I think that should be seen as a mere failure.
“I remain available for consultations until that is done , every one will answer his father’s name.”
