•Endorses Olatubosun
By Christiana Ekpa
The Arewa Progressive Congress has vowed to used all within its power to prevent the 9th elected members from voting for aspirants with criminal cases haging on their neck.
This was just as the group endorsed Hon. Olajide Olatubosun for the speakership position, saying he is the right man for the job, considering the fact that he has not be involve in any criminal activities or questionable character .
Briefing Journalists in Abuja at the weekend, the Chairman of Arewa Progressive Congress, Alhaji Ali Abacha, who spoke on behave of the group said there is a need for the members-elect of the 9th House of Representatives to elect a credible Speaker on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019.
He stressed that there is a need for President Muhammodu Buhari war against corruption to be enforce to avoid the members electing an unfit candidate for the job of law making for the country.
He said “First we congratulate President Muhmmadu Buhari on his well-deserved victory at the last Presidential election. His victory at the polls is essentially an endorsement of his hard work to reposition the country and place it on the track of development.
“We equally felicitate with incoming lawmakers both at the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“It is on record that the President predicates his agenda on the tripod of fighting insecurity, repositioning the economy and waging war against corruption.
“We are particularly impressed with the President’s zeal to extirpate corruption from the national polity. All hands must be on deck to support the President in this onerous task of fighting against corruption especially at the highest level” he said.
According to him, men of goodwill must rise against the possibility of an emergence of a Speaker with a questionable character.
“The President had done his best possible to improve the local and international perception of the country and such gains must not be dissipated with the enthronement of any individual with integrity question as the Speaker of the Ninth House of Representatives.
“Therefore, 11th of June is a date with history as members-elect would perform a historic duty to elect a Speaker who will be invested with the authority to steer their affairs for the next four years.
“Expectedly, one of the members elected on the platform of the majority party, All Progressives Congress (APC) is expected to emerge as the Speaker”
He added that the onus of choosing a Speaker rests solely on the 360 members-elect, but their choice should reflect the wishes of the majority of Nigerians who voted them into power.
“We are particularly concerned about who will eventually emerge the leader of the Green Chamber. As the day of decision inches closer, there is the need for the lawmakers to peruse the credentials of those presently angling for the exalted position.
“Yes, we agree that the ruling party had zoned the position to the South-west but the attempt to further micro-zone it to a particular individual must be vigorously resisted not only by the members-elect but by the generality of Nigerians.
“A close look at the antecedents of some of the contestants would suffice for the incoming lawmakers to make a choice that would not embarrass the country and make Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations.
“Regardless of the volume of money spent by any aspirant, what counts most as lawmakers take an important decision that will guide the destiny of the Green Chamber for the next four years should be the level of patriotism and integrity of whoever emerges as the Speaker.
“Electing a Speaker with a baggage of court cases is tantamount to mockery of our selection process.
He further restate “Having a Speaker with questionable past and tinted antecedents is not a reflection of the vision being espoused by President Muhammadu Buhari whose integrity, zeal for accountability and probity remain legendary. This ‘next level’ should excise men with blemish in the polity if the international community would take our fight against corruption seriously.
“It is with the foregoing that we enjoin members-elect to look at the direction of other aspirants, particularly from the South-west to which the Speakership slot had been zoned by the ruling party.
“There are members with impeccable records in private and public sectors contesting the Speakership. Hon. Olajide Olatubosun, an alumnus of the prestigious University of Lagos, who is also a
Chartered Accountant is in the race. I think he is the best from the South west who has no known report of criminality. Nigeria deserves a Speaker whose past will not hunt the House in particular and the country in general.
“He is one lawmaker with acceptable mien, ready to carry his colleagues along in the business of lawmaking for the progress and prosperity of the country.
“We are united by a common destiny and should not allow our destinies to be written for us, but by us” should resonate as lawmakers take the most important decision of selecting the Speaker that will control the destiny of the House for the next four years.
“We therefore endorse the candidature of Hon. Olajide Olatubosun for Speakership of the Ninth Assembly” he said.
