The battle for the speakership of the House of Representatives has shifted to the Asokoro lodges of governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, in Abuja, where they read the Riot Act to lawmakers-elect to respect the party’s decision by electing Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola as speaker on Monday.

This is even as a rash of meetings of Reps zonal caucuses continued on Saturday to finalise strategies on the election of Speaker.

The life of the House under the superintendence of Mr. Dimeji Bankole ended on Saturday.

The contest for the exalted speakership seat has sharply divided the 360-member House, throwing up Adeola, Messrs Aminu Tambuwal and Muraino Ajibola, as aspirants.

The PDP leadership in league with its governors had endorsed Akande-Adeola as the party’s candidate after a meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

But a group of lawmakers led by Tambuwal, who is also aspiring for the most hallowed chair, has remained defiant, and vowed to contest the seat.

It was gathered that the adamant posture of the Tambuwal group, compelled the party to direct its PDP governors to individually reach out to their repsentatives to make them act in accord with the party position.

Consequently, PDP governors still in Abuja met the legislators last Friday to pressurize them to vote for the anointed candidate of the party.

One lawmaker outside the North, told Sunday Punch on Saturday that the governors called them to appeal and in some cases, intimidate, adding however, that they would still go ahead with the “Tambuwal project.”

He said, “The governors called us on Friday to read the Riot Act; but governors were not the ones that elected us. The electorate elected us.

“Our oath of allegiance is to the Constitution and not to any individual, mindful of the fact that the Constitution has no provision for either North or South, but one indivisible country called Nigeria.

“The important thing is that the Speaker of the House does not belong to the PDP alone, but also belongs to other political parties.

“Therefore, no amount of coercion, intimidation or threat will deter us from going ahead with our plan.”

Earlier, the South-West zonal plank of the PDP, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo had adopted Muraino as its candidate, but the party in Abuja and the legislators spurned the decision.

The caucuses of South-South zone led by Mr. Andrew Uchendu and North-East zone chaired by Mr. Jerry Manwe, on Saturday, issued a statement, backing Mulikat.

Uchendu, from Rivers State told one of our correspondents on the telephone that the South-South lawmakers believed in the supremacy of the party and that whomever the PDP supported would be adopted.

He said, “After we evaluated the candidates for the contest, we found out that Mulikat’s mien, conduct, educational background and humility prepared her well as a possible leader we need to support.

“We also believe in political compromise for the sustainability of our democracy and our country. No zone should be left out in the political equation of the country and for the stability of the country.

“We have told our colleagues that we should not question the PDP platform that brought us to Abuja.”

Also, Manwe stated, “The North-East caucus stands by the party’s decision. We are loyal party members.”

It is believed that Mulikat is pairing with Mr. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State, who until last Friday was the Chairman, House Services Committee.

The House has about 260 new members of the 360-member legislature, and the new lawmakers hold the power loop critical to the emergence of the speaker.

A thrice-elected lawmaker said, “These new members can easily listen to their governors than the ranking members who are supporting Tambuwal.

“If we take cognizance of the fact that the old members are about 100, it will be easy to appreciate that we don’t have what it takes to tilt the balance, only the new lawmakers can.”

Both Mulikat and Tambuwal have met former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu of Action Congress of Nigeria, in a bid to secure the support of the 70-member lawmakers of the party.

The two leading contestants in the race are lawyers, and Mulikat apart from enjoying the party’s support, is also being supported by President Goodluck Jonathan and his wfe, Patience.

nurabela:

The battle for the speakership of the House of Representatives has shifted to the Asokoro lodges of governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, in Abuja, where they read the Riot Act to lawmakers-elect to respect the party’s decision by electing Mrs. Mulikat Akande-Adeola as speaker on Monday.

This is even as a rash of meetings of Reps zonal caucuses continued on Saturday to finalise strategies on the election of Speaker.

The life of the House under the superintendence of Mr. Dimeji Bankole ended on Saturday.

The contest for the exalted speakership seat has sharply divided the 360-member House, throwing up Adeola, Messrs Aminu Tambuwal and Muraino Ajibola, as aspirants.

The PDP leadership in league with its governors had endorsed Akande-Adeola as the party’s candidate after a meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

But a group of lawmakers led by Tambuwal, who is also aspiring for the most hallowed chair, has remained defiant, and vowed to contest the seat.

It was gathered that the adamant posture of the Tambuwal group, compelled the party to direct its PDP governors to individually reach out to their repsentatives to make them act in accord with the party position.

Consequently, PDP governors still in Abuja met the legislators last Friday to pressurize them to vote for the anointed candidate of the party.

One lawmaker outside the North, told Sunday Punch on Saturday that the governors called them to appeal and in some cases, intimidate, adding however, that they would still go ahead with the “Tambuwal project.”

He said, “The governors called us on Friday to read the Riot Act; but governors were not the ones that elected us. The electorate elected us.

“Our oath of allegiance is to the Constitution and not to any individual, mindful of the fact that the Constitution has no provision for either North or South, but one indivisible country called Nigeria.

“The important thing is that the Speaker of the House does not belong to the PDP alone, but also belongs to other political parties.

“Therefore, no amount of coercion, intimidation or threat will deter us from going ahead with our plan.”

Earlier, the South-West zonal plank of the PDP, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo had adopted Muraino as its candidate, but the party in Abuja and the legislators spurned the decision.

The caucuses of South-South zone led by Mr. Andrew Uchendu and North-East zone chaired by Mr. Jerry Manwe, on Saturday, issued a statement, backing Mulikat.

Uchendu, from Rivers State told one of our correspondents on the telephone that the South-South lawmakers believed in the supremacy of the party and that whomever the PDP supported would be adopted.

He said, “After we evaluated the candidates for the contest, we found out that Mulikat’s mien, conduct, educational background and humility prepared her well as a possible leader we need to support.

“We also believe in political compromise for the sustainability of our democracy and our country. No zone should be left out in the political equation of the country and for the stability of the country.

“We have told our colleagues that we should not question the PDP platform that brought us to Abuja.”

Also, Manwe stated, “The North-East caucus stands by the party’s decision. We are loyal party members.”

It is believed that Mulikat is pairing with Mr. Yakubu Dogara from Bauchi State, who until last Friday was the Chairman, House Services Committee.

The House has about 260 new members of the 360-member legislature, and the new lawmakers hold the power loop critical to the emergence of the speaker.

A thrice-elected lawmaker said, “These new members can easily listen to their governors than the ranking members who are supporting Tambuwal.

“If we take cognizance of the fact that the old members are about 100, it will be easy to appreciate that we don’t have what it takes to tilt the balance, only the new lawmakers can.”

Both Mulikat and Tambuwal have met former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu of Action Congress of Nigeria, in a bid to secure the support of the 70-member lawmakers of the party.

The two leading contestants in the race are lawyers, and Mulikat apart from enjoying the party’s support, is also being supported by President Goodluck Jonathan and his wfe, Patience.

Tinubu!!! Tinubu!!! Tinubu!!

The same Tinubu who banned courtesy visits to all PDP governors on local, state or federal government levels is now the one being visited by lawmakers. Na wa o.

I guess we will see on Monday whether or not ACN is fully involved in the "Government of National Unity" or not.

I wonder on what merit these two contestants are being anointed as Speakers of the House.

Enough of this already

jensinmi:


Tinubu!!! Tinubu!!! Tinubu!!

The same Tinubu who banned courtesy visits to all PDP governors on local, state or federal government levels is now the one being visited by lawmakers. Na wa o.

I guess we will see on Monday whether or not ACN is fully involved in the "Government of National Unity" or not.
I wonder on what merit these two contestants are being anointed as Speakers of the House.

Man mi, instead of attacking Tinubu automatically why not digest what is written so that we can see you understand the structure of Nigerian politics? Can you tell me what this has to do with GNU ? These are PDP candidates for the speaker of the lower House seeking the electoral support of the 70 ACN legislators through negotiating with the boss of their Party. Perfectly acceptable political practice even if you choose to interprete it it as GNU. Do you not understand that the ACN , via legislative and gubernatorial positions, are part of Nigerian Governance ?

So, any time ACN reps/senators/Governors negotiate with their counterparts from the PDP, as they are legitimately allowed to do, that is GNU to you?  GNU is a concept mainly affecting the executive arm of Government where GEJ has the discretion to include other Parties in Government . The Nigerian people chose their own legislators . Those legislators must then vote for their own leaders. There is nothing concerning GNU here and Tinubu has done nothing wrong so please stop trying desperately to give him a bad name to hang him. He did not ask the PDP Speaker candidates to come to him . They are the one seeking his support in hoping he can influence the way ACN reps vote. Abeg criticise fairly and objectively.  Stop trying , desperately IMO, to conjure up wrongdoing where there is none.

Gbawe:

Man mi, instead of attacking Tinubu automatically why not digest what is written so that we can see you understand the structure of Nigerian politics? Can you tell me what this has to do with GNU ? These are PDP candidates for the speaker of the lower House seeking the electoral support of the 70 ACN legislators through negotiating with the boss of their Party. Perfectly acceptable political practice even if you choose to interprete it it as GNU. Do you not understand that the ACN , via legislative and gubernatorial positions, are part of Nigerian Governance ?

So, any time ACN reps/senators/Governors negotiate with their counterparts from the PDP, as they are legitimately allowed to do, that is GNU to you?  GNU is a concept mainly affecting the executive arm of Government where GEJ has the discretion to include other Parties in Government . The Nigerian people chose their own legislators . Those legislators must then vote for their own leaders. There is nothing concerning GNU here and Tinubu has done nothing wrong so please stop trying desperately to give him a bad name to hang him. He did not ask the PDP Speaker candidates to come to him . They are the one seeking his support in hoping he can influence the way ACN reps vote. Abeg criticise fairly and objectively.  Stop trying , desperately IMO, to conjure up wrongdoing where there is none.

@Gbawe:

Chairman. There is nothing to digest here. This is PDP doing what they do best - Dividing the nation amidst ethnic and religious lines, and at the same time causing commotion.

For ACN howewer, they said last month that there would be no cooperation with PDP. There would be no courtesy visits.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201105113293557

Don’t cooperate with PDP, ACN warns N’Assembly members-elect
By Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
 


The Action Congress of Nigeria on Tuesday read out what could be considered as a code of conduct for its newly elected National Assembly members.

One, they must not cooperate with the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in their legislative duties; and two, they are not to accept ministerial or other appointments from the PDP while still card-carrying members of the ACN.

The party told the legislators-elect during their induction ceremony at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja that as opposition lawmakers, they must ensure that their voices “rang out loud” in order to make the difference expected of them.

Although the party admitted that every of its member had a right to accept an offer from any quarter, it vowed not to allow any to use it to achieve personal ambition.

Another condition, which was read out to the 53 new House of Representative members and 18 senators by the ACN National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is that they should not pay courtesy visits.

Mohammed said, “The ACN bans cooperation at any level with any government. It is the right of members to associate and the President can nominate anybody, but the position of the party is that, if any member decides to accept an appointment, such a member must resign and not use the ACN for his or her ambition.

“Nigeria and Nigerians are looking up to our party and the success at the general elections. Nigerians want to see a difference and our members in the National Assembly must draw up an agenda to make the party different.”

Before Mohammed spoke, the ACN National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, had said that the party would not be part of the Government of National Unity proposed by Jonathan.

He added that the GNU, if operational would not only turn the country into a one-party state, would negate all that democracy stands for.

Akande said, “If the PDP appoints you, you are on your own. What we are saying is that don’t use our logo or party to seek appointment. If we want to have one party state, why did we conduct an election?

“If we want to maintain good democracy; we should be able to stay apart as the opposition and the voices of members of the National Assembly must ring a bell.”

A former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, also advised the lawmakers to push for fiscal federalism by ensuring that the existing revenue sharing formula was reviewed to favour the states and local governments.

Tinubu said, “In the last 20 years, I have not heard of a review of the revenue formula; we have a lopsided revenue formula.

“A situation where the Federal Government has over 52 per cent of the allocation cannot be accepted; the real people are there in the states and the local government areas.

“In the federal principle, it is the states that cede power and trust to the Federal Government to own certain aspects; and without states there can be no federal government.”

He said the country had not been running a federal system of government but a unitary system, adding that “this has to stop.” “You have to work hard at this when you get there next month. The Federal Government must not take more than 25 per cent,” Tinubu said.

A member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, advised the new lawmakers to work as a team.

“Integrity should be our watchword, we should hit the ground running and work with unity of purpose. With these, our party will meet peoples’ expectations,” Dabiri-Erewa, who is the House Diapora Committee chairman said.

Others at the event included Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and former governors of Anambra and Benue States, Dr. Chris Ngige and Mrs George Akume.

I wonder what bell they are ringing when they start rubber-stamping PDP decisions that are never based on merit.

No worries we'll all know whether there is GNU or not when Tinubu nominates a few members of cabinet.     

, by this time tomorrow this should be closed out,