₦airaland Forum

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bayero Nafada has warned against imposition of leaders in the National Assembly.

He told Leadership Newspaper in an interview that past experiences, particularly in the House of Representatives, had shown that leaders imposed on legislators never lasted and that such leaders brought about rancour in the legislature.

“The House of Representatives is the more vibrant chamber of the legislature,” the Senator-elect said.

“What I think they should do is try to elect those that are capable; those that can manage the House. They should forget about sentiments. When they elect a speaker that is capable, there won’t be any rancour in the House.

“But if the leadership is imposed on the House, then there will be rancour. If you notice, from 1999 up until today, any leadership that was imposed by other quarters did not last. It is the House that ends up determining who will become what.

“They must get those who can manage the members- presiding on the floor is one thing- but managing members is another. If you cannot manage people, then it is a problem.

“If you look at the present Speaker, he is one of the most active speakers that we have ever had in Nigeria. If you cannot manage the members, then you cannot lead the House,” he noted.

Speaking on the upper chamber, Nafada noted that the number of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators meant that they may make or mar the election of a new Senate President.

He said unless the All Progressives Congress (APC) made a categorical pronouncement on its preferred candidate, the party may lose the Senate leadership to the PDP.

His words: “I think it is the responsibility of the party to zone the senate presidency. If it’s being zoned by the party, I want to believe that the senators will adhere to the party’s decision”.

“What I think they should do is try to elect those that are capable; those that can manage the House. They should forget about sentiments. When they elect a speaker that is capable, there won’t be any rancour in the House

Islie:
Who are that can manage the House