Gbajabiamila Declares Amidst Protests *PDP members vow to replay 2015 scenario

*Gets North-west's backing, North-central kicks

At last, after a long time of widespread speculations, the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila representing Surulere I federal constituency, Lagos State on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, has declared interest in contesting the speakership of the 9th assembly, but there are indications that he would still need to contest against the incumbent Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, who defeated him in the 2015 race.

There are however indications that just as in 2015, his 2019 ambition is still faced with antagonism from various camps among lawmakers in the assembly, particularly lawmakers from the North-Central who are protesting that they are better positioned to take the Speaker seat.

Gbajabiamila, in an elaborate event held at the Lagos-Osun Hall, Transcop Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Sunday joined the leagues of the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Hon. Yusuf and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon Abdulrazak Namdas , who have all openly stated their ambitions to become the next Speaker. 

Though fifth term Lagos lawmaker (Gbajabiamila), who attracted 170 old and newly elected members to his official declaration is most favoured for the position, as he enjoys the backing of the party leadership, which hopes to zone the speakership to the South-west where he comes from, but THISDAY can authoritatively confirm that his ambition will face yet another litmus test as some members are prepared to square up with him.

Addressing the gathering yesterday, Gbajabiamila said he is seeking the office of the Speaker to bring tendencies together and unite Nigeria as a country, stating that “I seek the office of the Speaker to bring governance even closer to the people, to mentor the next generation and galvanise Honourable members to make life more abundant for every Nigerian.”

According to him, “I seek this office with a rich legislative background and pedigree and having just won a historic fifth term mandate to the House. I have in the last 16 years dedicated my life to the service of my constituents and Nigeria. I have studied and understood the intricate workings of the legislature, a critical arm of government and I have come to understand the imperative of striking a delicate balance in the relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of government without compromising the latter's independence. Indeed there is an essential need for a symbiotic relationship between all arms and all tiers of government if we are to make progress in nation building.

“In these 16 years I have been a principal officer for 12 years. I have occupied the office of leader of the opposition and successfully my party from opposition to majority in the House and thereafter assumed the position of house leader, placing me in a uniquely advantageous position of understanding the nuances and intricacies of this very critical arm of government and the need to for its independence and at the same time interdependence with the executive

Even though members drawn from across party lines, including the ruling APC, opposition Poeples Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Action Congress (AAC), the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) and other parties such as Wole Oke of and Jerry Alagbaoso of the PDP declared support for Gbajabiamila candidacy, some aggrieved lawmakers and interest groups said if proper considerations are not taken, the Gbajabiamila agenda may not see the light of the day.

For instance, APC member, Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi representing Ogo-Oluwa federal constituency, Oyo State, who is also eyeing the speakership seat, said his party will be making a major mistake if the national leadership of APC does not give all aspirants a level-playing field to vie for the position.

Stating that Gbajabiamila has not been named as the party candidate, he said: “These rumours are everywhere. I am a member of the APC and up till now, nobody has ever given a public announcement officially, that there is a micro zoning of the leadership of the House. There is none. Even rumours have it that they may likely zone it to the South-west, which means every qualified member from the zone can express their intention to contest.

"So, up till today, unless you can give me the fact, I have never got the information. I was at the meeting called by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and nothing of such was mentioned.

“If the party zones the positions, there are loose cannons - the new members who are coming in, who are susceptible to being influenced by other members to go against the party's wish. What is the party doing about them?”

He said: “There is a way to achieving it, even if the party has interests. It is just a matter of inviting the leadership of the APC caucus in the House and we will give them the way to go about it. Nobody has said anything about lobbying. Influencing members is part of the politics of the National Assembly. Lobbying is a major activity in the National Assembly. So, any new member that is coming in must also be aware that he would lobby and they would lobby him.”

While several other lawmakers have confided in some journalists that their displeasure about the way and manner the APC is going about the emergence of the leadership of the 9th Assembly, a PDP lawmaker, Hon. Timothy representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanm of Plateau State, said the ruling party is on the verge of making similar mistake it made in 2015.

Referring to the APC National Chairman who said his party’s lawmakers should go ahead to dominate the 9th assembly, Golu said: “He is talking rubbish, I am telling you. He is just talking rubbish. None of them is a member of parliament and when the election will take place, none of them will be there. They are only talking to impress so that the president will say this man is loyal. They are just playing to the gallery. As far as I am concerned, Oshiomhole is playing to the gallery. He doesn’t know what happens in here. They don’t feel forms to do this election.