Speakership Tussle: Groups Mobilise Support for Kazaure

Onyebuchi Ezigbo As the contest for the principal offices of the National Assembly continues to generate interests, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kazaure/Gwiwa and Yan Kwashi Federal Constituency in Jigawa State, Hon. Muhammad Gudaji Kazaure, has received the endorsement of women and student groups urging him to join the race.

Although the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not indicated whether it will support the application of a ranking order in the sharing of positions in the incoming National Assembly, or not, THISDAY gathered that the party is deliberately slowing down the controversy the matter is generating to allow for amicable resolution of the issue.

But in expressing support for Kazaure, many groups, including, the Conference of Nigerian Students in Defence of Democracy and Women Frontline Mobilisation and National Coalition for Good Governance described him as man of courage and vision who stir the ship of next House of Representatives successfully.

Hon. Kazaure had earlier declare his intention to vie for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, describing the restrictions placed on new entrants to the assembly as unjust and violation of the constitution.

Kazaure told journslists in Abuja that first time legislators constitute about 80 per cent majority in the House of Representatives with most of them possessing the capability and experience to steer the ship of the legislative chambers.

He said it would amount to rewarding inefficiency and against the change slogan of APC to allow seniority other than merit to guide appointments in the incoming legislature.

“We must do away with selective injustice in the election of the leadership of the National Assembly. A lot of good brains are here to constitute the eighth assembly, some coming for the first time and others were there. In this respect, let’s not dash the hopes of young and vibrant legislators newly elected to form the leadership of the assembly,” he said.