Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, Hon Yusuff Gagdi yesterday insisted he would continue to resist the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning that is unjust to the political interest of the North Central geo-political zone.
Gagdi also insisted that enforcement of Hon Tajudeen Abbas as the All Progressives Congress (APC) preferred candidate for speaker of the 10th Assembly was an arrangement of the incumbent speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and using the mercenaries of the party.
“I won’t respect party supremacy when it is against injustice. Why am I elected in the National Assembly? I am elected to represent Nigerians and to ensure justice. Then the party that I seek election under its platform will be aiding and abetting injustice and you expect me to respect that supremacy?
“I have analyzed these things to you that even the deaf and dumb agree that there is injustice and then you are talking about party supremacy. What are they talking about? Have you heard anybody from the north central zone talking about party supremacy?
“Let them say it and see whether they would not sacrifice their political future in the north central zone. North central governors and elected officials met and what was their resolution?
“Even our governors are saying yes they are loyal to the party but yet justice has not been done to us.”
I am a loyal party man, perhaps those people saying that I have not done what I have done for the APC to win.”
Gagdi also expressed doubts that the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was part of the endorsement.
According to him, Tinubu political antecedents would not fall for the arrangements being peddled around.
He, however, assured that the protesting group of seven aspirants G-7 would be willing to meet with the President-elect as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
“I don’t believe that the President-elect is aware, and I don’t believe this is his idea”, he submitted.
Gagdi argued that Tinubu who is a true democrat would not have taken sides with injustice and those who did not work for his victory at the polls.
The member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke Federal Constituency of Plateau State made this assertion at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.
He lamented that the North-central geo-political zone of the country has been unfairly treated and shortchanged in the zoning arrangement of the principal officers of the National Assembly.
Gagdi wondered that the North-central zone with five out of six governors for APC, 11 out of 18 Senators, and that contributed the second highest number of votes to Tinubu got none of the six key offices in the executive and legislature.
He said the call on him, alongside six other aspirants for the speakership seat to respect party supremacy would definitely not stand as it portend injustice.
“The principle of our president -elect whom I so much respect and up till today I don’t believe that what is happening today the president -elect is aware of, or it is his own idea. That is why we keep on attacking and challenging the party.
“Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has promised that he would reward loyalty and commitment. He would reward those who bring something to the table. He won only one local government in Kaduna state -Birnin Gwari because he visited them when bandits were attacking them. The man said he would stand with you through thick and thin.
“In a state that won only one local government you are giving the Speaker seat to them. It negates even the commitment of the president -elect. What the party did has contradicted the promise and the commitment and the way of politics of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Zamfara gave the highest votes in the north west and yet you are not giving them anything. You are giving to a state that gave you one local government. Are we rewarding disloyalty? Where is the principle of Asiwaju here that the party tore and threw away?”
“We are not against Asiwaju. We have not heard anything from him whether he has zoned or endorsed a particular candidate. Except that the candidate , particularly the one of the House of Representatives is the one and his co-travellers saying,” Gagdi said.
The G-7 group consisting of himself, Muktar Betara, deputy speaker Ahmed Wase, House leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Sada Soli, Aminu Jaji and Miriam Onuoha would determine whoever emerges the next Speaker of the House.
