The jostle for the Speakership of the 10th National Assembly intensified last week when newly elected members of the House of Representatives formed a pressure group under the aegis of the ‘New Dawn’.
The group said it was positioned to take the front row in charting the course for a new leadership of the 10th Assembly.
The 120-member group with membersship cutting across political divides, also said it was determined and unanimous in working with every member of the 10th House of Representatives to birth a new Nigeria through robust legislations that will impact on the lives of the Nigerian citizens.
Convener of the group, House of Representatives member–elect for Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben federal constituency of Edo State and also the outgoing Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun, in Benin City, said the idea behind the formation of the group was to chart a new course that will foster unity of Nigeria through purposeful legislative engagement for the House.
He also pointed out that the group was concerned about true federalism and constitution review exercise that failed to scale through in the 9th National Assembly.
Onobun, ahead of the official launch of the group, said: “New Dawn caucus of the 10th Assembly is a group of intellectuals from different political parties, APC, PDP, APGA, LP, SDP, NNPP, ADC, YPP and others. This New Dawn consists of new members-elect who are just coming into the National Assembly who have done well in their various fields of endeavours regardless of political affiliations or religious background to be able to chart a new course for Nigeria.
“And also in terms of legislations, making Bills, policy drive and welfare for members and also look out at areas where Nigerians have yearned for legislations and champion those courses. For instance, the area of true federalism and part of the constitution review of the firth alteration that the 9th Assembly couldn’t push through.
“We hope to resurrect those Bills in the 10th Assembly and also engage the executive to give assent to the Bills. And above all to choose a leader of the 10th Assembly in the House of Representatives regardless of party even though we understand that APC has a majority in terms of number, the other political parties put together form a greater majority.
“It means that the New Dawn caucus wants to be part and parcel of choosing the leadership of the House and we are trying to look at the North but profiling all the aspirants for Speakership and other positions and taking a decision as a bloc to give votes to who will become the Speaker.”
Speaking in the same vein, the member-elect for Oron/Mbo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko federal constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Hon. Martins Esin, also corroborated the convener’s positions and noted that the membership was passionate to effect positive change in the House.
On his part, Hon. Jeremiah Umaru, member–elect for Akwanga/Wamba Nasarawa Eggon Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State, said the new group was poised to support leadership that will do the bidding of the Nigerian people.
Also, Pastor Ojema Ojotu, member-elect, Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State, said the last elections have shown clearly that Nigerians were tired of the status quo.
“We are conscious of the fact that our people seem to be tired of the status quo and there is a strong desire for a shift. If you look at the pattern of voting and the way and manner we came in, you will discover that there is no better way to explain that desire than that.
“A House where over 300 people were voted out and 300 voted in as new members, that singular action of our electorate would convey to you that they are not comfortable with the way things are being done. What that means is that Nigerians are more committed to change more than ever before.
“So, we, as New Dawn want to remove the idea of money politics and we have told ourselves that we are not going to collect money from any aspirants but look at somebody with humility, integrity, capacity and blueprint.”
Other notable members of the group, who also expressed same view, include; Hon. Engr. Ukodhiko Jonathan Ajirioghene, for Isoko South Federal Constituency of Delta State; Hon. Yusuf Kure Naraje for Bosso/Paiko Federal Constituency of Niger State, and Hon. Jafaru Gambo for Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State, among others.
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