Speakership: Ex-lawmaker Kwande canvasses support for Idris Wase

A former House of Representatives member who represented Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, has canvassed support for the candidature of Deputy Speaker Idris Wase for the Speakership of the 10th Assembly.

Mr Kwande, in a statement he personally signed on Thursday in Abuja, stressed that Mr Wase deserves to be the next Speaker of the green chamber, “looking at the quantum of experience he has gathered over time”.

He said: “For me personally if APC as a party and indeed House will deem it fit to zone the speakership to North Central, I will recommend Rt. Hon. Idris Wase to be the next speaker of the Honorable House looking at the quantum of experience he has gathered over time, his leadership qualities and his contribution to the growth and development of politics, democracy and governance in the country and beyond.

“It is my hope that the party and equally the House in its wisdom will consider and also utilize the potential in Rt. Hon. Idris Maje Wase with the assurance that he will not let the nation down.”

The former lawmaker recalled that the arrangements in Nigeria's politics were zoning of key leadership position across the country in fairness of representation and carrying every zone along over time has significantly brought equal participation in governance.

“The need to replicate same gesture in this present democratic situation as the nation in couple of months’ transit to a new government, zones that deserves certain political position should without any form of sentiment be considered as that is very important in the promotion of equity, fairness and Justice in Nigeria's democracy,” Mr Kwande noted.

According to him, the 10th Assembly speakership of the green chamber in the spirit of fairness, needs to be zoned to the appropriate and deserving zone.

“Justifying above point, the need to zone the speakership of the House of Representative to the North Central will bring a balance in Nigeria's democracy, looking at the history of the various zones that have enjoyed and benefited in the zoning formula since the inception of democratic government in Nigeria.

“The North Central only enjoyed the seat of speakership only for just Three Months by Hon. Chaha Biam, during the administration of President Shehu Shagari, ever since the zone have not enjoyed the privilege gesture of zoning the seat to the zone.

“Zoning the speakership to North Central is not enough to provide good governance, but bringing on board individual with the pedigree and experience to pilot the affairs of the house and complement in facilitating good governance in the country is sacrosanct.

“North Central is blessed with individuals with such attributes but the best among the best is what Nigerians are clamouring for,” he concluded.