The Nigerian Unity Project (NUP), a coalition of 500 Pro-Democracy Civil Society Organisations devoted to the entrenchment of democracy in Nigeria, has endorsed Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau State, for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th National Assembly.
The Coalition, which made the endorsement at a press conference addressed by its Convener, Okwa Dan, on Wednesday, added that among the House Speakership aspirants, Gagdi stands tall.
It noted that purposeful leadership is necessary for Nigeria, given the prevailing circumstances and the need for the incoming administration to hit the ground running towards translating the people’s hopes into tangibles.
“The elections have come and gone, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emerged as the winner. However, that is the first leg of our quest towards making Nigeria great again. The second leg is the election of principal officers of the Legislative arm of government, which is an essential factor in the governance of the country.
“As a coalition of pro-democracy civil society organizations, we believe that the legislature and executive are two important political institutions in presidential democratic regimes. They have a very critical task to play in promoting good governance. However, the achievement of this task depends on whether the relationship between these institutions is constructive or conflictive.
”Consequently, the quest for good governance in Nigeria has been threatened more by the unending conflicts between the legislature and executive, who are often entangled in a constant battle for supremacy and control of the policy-making and implementation process, thereby jettisoning the tenets of the principles of separation of powers which clearly states that the three arms of government namely, legislature, executive and judiciary shall be independent of the control of each other.
“We must agree that the above has been a challenge that has constituted a clog in the wheels of progress in the country hence the need to get it right with the choice of principal officers in the incoming 10th National Assembly.
“As concerned stakeholders in the Nigerian project, we are constrained to lend our voice to the debate on the suitability of candidates for the speakership of the 10th Assembly because it is of utmost importance that we get it right with the leadership of the National Assembly.
The name Hon Yusuf Gagdi has continually rang a bell in the race for the speakership of the Federal House of Representatives. It didn’t come as a surprise to lovers of democracy because he has exhibited a passion and commitment to the Nigerian Project’s success during his political career, culminating in his election as a member of the Federal House of Representatives,” the groups said.
They added that Yusuf Gagdi is a legislator and a leader whose grasp of issues surpasses his age, adding that he is a reliable and competent lawmaker with all it takes to lead the Federal House of Representatives, given his cosmopolitan nature and the tremendous respect he commands from colleagues, party leaders and other concerned stakeholders.
“There is no doubt that Hon Yusuf Gagdi is a pacesetter whose contributions on the floor of the Federal House of Representatives have been noteworthy and indeed worthy of emulation. He has sponsored bills that got presidential assent as a first-time Federal House of Representatives lawmaker. This is aside from his laudable achievements as a member and Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.
“Hon Yusuf Gagdi is a lesson in leadership. It reinforces our stance that leadership is not about age, ethnicity or religion. It is about capacity, experience and competence, all of which Hon Yusuf Gagdi has exhibited on several fronts and occasions.
“The Nigerian Unity Project is endorsing Hon Yusuf Gagdi for the speakership position because, from the list of lawmakers that have indicated an interest in the position, none of them could match the enviable records of Hon Yusuf Gagdi in several areas, such as a passion for serving the people, commitment to the Nigerian Project, loyalty to the party and the constituted authorities, and his broad disposition to issues of national concern.
“Hon Yusuf Gagdi is a unifier that would bring his expertise to bear in ensuring the unity of the lower chamber, as well as eliciting the necessary support for the executive arm of government in the governance process in the country.
“As a coalition, we are using this medium to solicit the support of relevant stakeholders in the Nigerian project to lend their support to the candidacy of Hon Yusuf Gagdi in our quest for a better Nigeria that we would be proud of. The time is now for purposeful leadership in the Federal House of Representatives, and Hon Yusuf Gagdi fits the bill,” the coalition stated.
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