The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus has endorsed Yakubu Dogara, one of the leading All Progressives Congress members contending for the speakership of the House of Representatives.
Defending their stance on the endorsement, Samson Okwu, a re-elected member of the House from Benue State, explained that members were more disposed to working with a Speaker that would have a general appeal instead of someone who would likely be subservient to a godfather.
Okwu’s statement might be a veiled reference to another of the major contenders for the speaker position, Lagos lawmaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who has the backing of APC leader Bola Tinubu.
He said: “We are about 142 members out of 360 and as minority, we are going to determine the leadership of the House of Representatives, especially the Speaker.
“We are determined to do that and we want to do it in such a way that we will choose leaders that will have support across party lines and will also look out for the interest of the country and members.
“It is no longer about APC or PDP it is about the House of Representatives and what is happening is not a different thing. By the time the 8th House is inaugurated, we are going to elect a Speaker of our choice.
“Let no one make a mistake: the House has a precedence and a scenario that happened in the House since 1999. PDP wanted Salisu Buhari to become the Speaker, but he did not last because he was not the choice of the members.
“He lasted only two months and Ghali Na’Abba was elected. The same scenario played itself in 2003.
“The party wanted Matazu, who was even a returning member, but the members did not want him and then elected Aminu Bello Masari as Speaker. Similar thing happened in 2007 when Patricia Etteh was imposed on members.
“They accepted her, but after four months, they forced her out and Dimeji Bankole was elected. The same scenario or even worse than the previous ones happened in 2011.
“PDP tried to impose Mulikat Adeola-Akande and we did not want her. So we brought Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as our Speaker.
“If the party in power is thinking that things have changed, they will surely be proved wrong. It is not about the party, it is the attitude of the House of Representatives to always go its own way in choosing its leadership.
“If APC is thinking that members will abide by its zoning arrangement, the same scenario will play out because we are all the same members and nothing has changed.
“All along, it is the House that has been playing progressive roles that Nigerians are happy with. We are going to do same thing.
“We will bring a Speaker that we want. We are not undermining any party, but the House of
“We are solidly behind Yakubu Dogara as Speaker. And we are determined to deliver him come June.
“We want somebody who will rally all members behind him. Dogara is that person who will protect the interest of members and all Nigerians. He does not answer to any godfather.
“He does not take weekly briefings from a godfather who lives hundreds of kilometres from Abuja like a puppet. Dogara looks at the 359 constituencies as his own.”
