The Nation Newspaper

Tag: House of Representatives

  • Reps condemn Presidency for starving first line charge agencies of funds

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday condemned the Presidency in strong terms for implementing the 2018 Appropriation Act in breach with regards to agencies of government on first line charge.

    The lawmakers took exception to the failure of the Executive to respect the provisions of the Constitution on first line charge for the Independent Natuonal Electoral Commission (INEC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Universal Basic Education (UBEC), the Public Complaints Commission (PCM)  and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

    As a result, the House urged President Muhammadu Buhari  to direct the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) to immediately fully implement the 2018 Appropriation Act with regards to statutory transfers to organizations that are on first line.

    To emphasise the importance of the  issue, the leadership of the National Assembly and the relevant Committees on Appropriation, Finance and Legislative Compliance have been directed to ensure compliance and report back to the House within two weeks.

    This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Edward Pwajok (PDP, Plateau), who noted that the 1999 Constitution as amended created and allocated separate powers to the three arms of Government.

    He said the  three arms of Government are co-equal and meant to operate  independently to guarantee the smooth working of the government under the Presidential Constitution.

    He however noted that the executive breached the Constitution  despite being aware that it was amended by the first Alteration Act, 2010 Act No 1 by altering Section 81(3) to place INEC, the National Assembly and the Judiciary on first line charge by stipulating that the amount standing to the credit of those agencies or arms of Government be paid directly to such bodies.

    “These bodies are captured in the annual appropriation Acts under Statutory Transfers.

    “It is worrisome that the Executive arm of Government is currently in breach of the Constitution by refusing or neglecting to implement the mandatory provisions of the Constitution regarding statutory transfers and first line charge requirements, by not releasing the funds to these bodies in line with the Appropriation Act 2013 and the Constitution.

    “In spite of a previous resolution of the House passed in 2018 on the above subject and the appearance of the Minister of Finance before an Ad hoc Committee, the matter has remained unresolved.

    “By the implication of the brazen flouting of the Appropriation Act 2018 and the Constitution, which may make the Legislature and the Judiciary to become subservient to the Executive thereby negating the letters and spirit of the Constitution and the law with dire consequences on the practice of Democracy in Nigeria,” he noted.

    The motion was unanimous adopted after a voice vote, while  the resolution is expected to be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.

  • Reps to investigate fish importation licences

    The House of Representatives is to investigate all licenses granted for fish importation within the last one year, it emerged on Tuesday.

    The lawmakers expressed concern over incessant issuance of fish importation licence by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, regretting that the situation is turning Nigeria into a dumping ground for fish products to the detriment of local fish farmers and economy.

    This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Jonathan Gaza (PDP, Nasarawa), who noted that there have been calls by various sections, including the National Assembly, to ban the importation of fish into the country as it has a negative effect on the economy.

    The ban becomes imperative because the effect of the imported fish on the  health of the Nigerian consumers cannot ascertained, since the total health status of all the fish imported into the country all the time could also not be determined, he noted.

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila empowers fish, vegetable farmers

    He said  the Minister of State for Agriculture during a meeting with the Ijebu Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR) in Abuja sometime in August 2017, stated the Federal Government will stop issuing fish importation quota to importers  because the venture was no longer sustainable.

    Deputy Speaker Lasun Yusuf (APC, Osun), who noted the importation is meant to fill the gap as a result of inability of local farmers to meet the demand of consumers, said: “We have production capacity of 1.2 million tonnes, but our need is about 4million tonnes.

    “That is the gap those given licences are supposed to fill.

    “As legislatives, all we can do is to talk, in the area where bills are being returned with speed of light. The executive must show the commitment”.

    He called on the Federal government to subsidize the agricultural sector by a minimum of 50 percent.

    On his part, Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) said: “Is there a shortage of fish in this country? Do we have a national plan to fill this gap? This is an investigative matter.

    “If demand is greater than supply, there is a shortfall and we need to investigate. When you suggest ban, it’s for local industry to thrive. This motion will unravel a lot. Policy formulation should start from the House.”

    Muhammed Monguno (APC, Borno), the Chairman Committee on Agriculture, recalled that there was plan by Federal government to end importation of fish.

    He said: “It is true that there is deficit in our production, hence importation. Over the years the fishery sector has been neglected by successive governments.

    “It is true that licences have been given by Ministry of Agriculture, steps are being taken, as steps are taken to fill in the gap and stop importation in the next few years”.

    In its resolution, the House also requested the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Bank of Agriculture to provide incentives to local fish farmers that would boost up production.

    The ad hoc Committee was given two weeks to carry out the assignment and report back for further legislative action.

  • ‘Why South East should produce House of Reps Speaker’

    A group of APC supporters from the South East on the platform of APC South-East Renaissance Group said on Thursday that in the spirit of equity and justice and the promise by the President to run an all-inclusive government during his second term in office, the party leadership should cede the position of Speaker of House of Representatives to the region.

    The group said ceding the position to the South East will be the only way to tell them that they are still part of the Nigerian federation and give them the voice to dissuade agitators back home who are clamouring for a Biafra Republic, stressing that denying them the position will amount to silencing them as they will have nothing to take home.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja, Convener of the group, Hon. Chris-lance O. Onyemechara, said when the zone was denied the position of principal officer in 2015, it was on the premise that the APC did not have any ranking member from the zone, adding that in 2019, the party now have some ranking members from the zone.

    He said ordinarily, they expect the party to cede the position of Senate President to them, arguing that since the party has already zoned that position to the North East, they should follow the principles of federal character and cede the Speaker to the South East.

    He argued that it was injustice being meted out to people from the South East that led to the civil war, pointing out that at the end of the war, they were made to believe that there was no victor and no vanquish.

    He said: “Today, I bring to you the valid concerns of a people; and give voice to the utter trepidation of more than 20 million Nigerians of South-East extraction spread across the country. Many of these people love this country so dearly and have invested in this country with their blood and sweat.

    “They are eager to integrate into the mainstream as development partners of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). But we always find ways to throw up walls of barrier on their faces. We hardly ever give them a fair deal.

    Read also: Edo Speaker, predecessor bicker over sporadic shootings at legislative quarters

    “Such harsh scenarios saw our forefathers opting out of the union with such firm resolve that they were willing to go to war to challenge injustice, even at the cost of a million lives. Many did not desire war, but the system left them little or no choice.

    “When the dust of that war settled and the white flags were up, there were assurances and reassurances. The words went out: no victor, no vanquished.

    “And for whatever it was worth, we were asked to remain in the union for we were better as one nation. Not a few of our people believed that. Most told their children who passed it on through many generations that we are stronger together.

    “But many years down the line, the South-East and indeed the former eastern region and many others are still faced with rejection, denials, deprivations and exclusion, of political and socio-economic ramifications.”

  • 2019 elections: Reps probe killings of Poly lecturer, others in Rivers

    The House of Representatives, on Thursday, commenced investigations into the killings of Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic Lecturer, and others during the 2019 General Elections in Rivers.

    This was sequel to a motion under matters of public importance by Rep Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) at a plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara at the National Assembly, Abuja.

    The House, which condemned the killings, also observed a minute silence in honour of the departed souls.

    Moving the motion,  Chinda noted that during the elections, which was conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) there was palpable presence of heavily armed men of security agencies, including the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) and Nigerian Army in Rivers and across the country.

    He said the polls were characterised by clear cases of harassment and intimidation of voters and electoral officers, coupled with sporadic shootings by the security personnel aimed at instilling fear in the people.

    The lawmaker said it was disheartening that though government’s duty was to protect lives and property as enshrined in the constitution, the security agents allegedly resorted to killing the innocent, unarmed civilian voters.

    ”The House notes that during the said elections, there were reports and viral video clips of cases of intimidation, harassment, torture, and shooting to death of innocent, unarmed civilian voters.

    ”These were done by men of FSARS and the Nigerian Army in several parts of Rivers, including Bori, Abonnema in Akuku Toru, Bonny, Emohua, Ikwerre and Okrika Local Government Areas.

    ”The House is aware that government owes its citizens the duty of protecting and securing their lives as enshrined in SS. 14(2)(b) and 34(1)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

    ”The House is also aware that on or about March 9 at the Khana Local Government Area Collation Centre, Dr Ferry Gberegbe, a lecturer with the Ken  Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori in Rivers, was shot in his lower abdomen by men of the FSARS led by ACP Akin Fakorede and he died a few days later from the gunshot  wound.

    ”Also, at Degema, one Mrs. Ibisaki Amachree was shot dead by men of the Nigerian Army,” he said.

    Chinda, who said the Nigerian Army had no mandate to participate in elections, described the killings in Rivers as ”one too many in cases of extra-judicial killings across the country.”

    He said the killings, if not immediately checked, could lead to anarchy and cause despondency in the minds of teeming civilian Nigerian masses.

    He said the killings by these security agencies was not only callous and inhuman, but had reduced the image and reputation of the Nigerian army before the rest of the world and compromised the national security.

    When the motion was out on a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr. Dogara, the lawmakers unanimously adopted it.

    Dogara, therefore, mandated the House Committees on Army, Human Rights, Justice as well as Police Affairs to investigate the matter.

    He urged them to report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action. (NAN)

  • Speakership: Why I stepped down for Gbajabiamila , by Monguno

    The candidacy of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speakers of the 9th House got a boost on Thursday as Muhammad Monguno withdrew from the race.

    Monguno, one of the front line contenders, immediately declared support for Gbajabiamila based on the party’s decision and personal conviction.

    Monguno, who is Chairman Committee on Agricultural Productions and Services, said the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) supercedes personal ambitions.

    Besides being an advocate of party supremacy, Monguno said having zoned the Senate Presidency to the Northeast, fairness dictates that House members from the same region should naturally drop their ambition.

    Monguno, who represents Marte/Monguno/Nganzai Federal Constituency of Borno State, said there was no reason to disrespect the party’s decision.

    The lawmaker said Gbajabiamila ranks highest and most qualified among all contenders for the seat being very experienced and the most senior APC member in the House, having spent 16 years in the House since 2003.

    Read Also: My agenda for House of Reps, by Gbajabiamila

    He said: “I believe we should all rally round the party and give them the necessary support. I can’t continue with my ambition because the party has zoned the Senate President’s seat to my zone.

    “I’m a loyal party man and I should be the one to be calling on my colleagues to support the party on this. I decided to drop my ambition and support Femi to emerge.

    “If we’ll tell ourselves the truth, Femi is the most ranking among us, and he knows the job.

    “He has been a Principal officer since 2007. You can see that he has all it takes.

    “He led the opposition as the Minority Leader very well during the 7th Assembly and now we all can see how he has been able to bring us together as APC members in the majority party, being House Leader”.

  • Reps adopt Presidency’s MTEF/FSP as presented

    The House of Representatives has passed the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy  Paper (MTEF/FSP)  2019-2021 with a benchmark of  2.3 million barrels of oil production as daily production target.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara urged the Federal government to shelve the idea of increasing  taxation of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) if employment generation is a factor  for economic development.

    Other benchmarks adopted by the lawmakers include $60 per barrel of crude oil, N305 to $1 as official exchange rate, while a new borrowing to fund budget deficit for 2019 was fixed for N1.6 trillion.

    This followed the adoption of the report of joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations, Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Legislative Budget and Research and National Planning and Economic Development on the MTEF/FSP documents on Wednesday on the floor.

    House Committee on Finance chairman, Babangida Ibrahim, in his presentation also said the joint Committee recommended that the government increases the tempo of collectable revenues in all its Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) with a view to reducing budget deficit.

    On the N305 to $1 exchange rate, he said: “The CBN should be encouraged to vigorously develop strategies that would strengthen the naira and bridge the gap between the official and parallel market rates.

    Read Also: Reps angry with PenCom over N33b remittances

    “On debt management/new borrowing, the joint Committee adopted the recommndation of N1.64 trillion as new borrowing to fund the budget deficit and advise relevant agencies to continue exploring ways of generating additional revenues for government to bring down the fiscal deficit.

    “Also, the Federal Government should harness the full optimal potential of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in terms of revemte generation to minimise the level of new borrowing.

    “The Federal Government should consider reducing the granting of waivers and exemptions while ensuring that the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) personnel at all oil terminals for accoutability, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) should consider increasing tax on luxury goods and services.

    “20 per cent  operating surplus to be remitted by Government owned enterprises should be deducted at source.

    “On special intervention, that N500billion is dopted and enjoin the cooperation of relevant Committees and other relevant  MDAs in ensuring that the funds are judiciously utilised to provide a positive tangible impact of the funds on the Nigerian people.”

    Dogara in his remarks said the government should rather consider lowering tax on SMEs to boost the economy.

    According to him, increasing tax on SMEs would lead to unemployment as the sectors has the capacity to create more employment if the business  environment is conducive.

    On the other hand, he said lowering tax would boost the capacity of the sector to generate  more employment.

    This would translate to more taxable people for the government, thereby boosting government revenue and economic activities, he added.

    The bill was passed without any dissenting voice when it was put to vote by Dogara, who chaired the Committee on Supply.

  • N1trn projects: ICPC to probe Senators, Reps

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) yesterday said senators and members of the House of Representatives who failed to execute constituency projects will be prosecuted.

    Also, all companies engaged for the failed or abandoned projects will face trial.

    But the commission, however, opposed to plea bargain by corrupt elements because the nation’s laws allow it.

    Over N1trillion has been released by the Federal Government for constituency projects since 1999. The funds include the N200 billion by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari from 2015 to 2017.

    More than 2,345 senators and representatives have benefitted from constituency projects since 1999.

    About 37 per cent to 40 per cent of the projects have either been completed or ongoing in the last 20 years.

    Many senators and representatives were found to have diverted the funds, using their personal companies. Some abandoned the projects.

    Of the 2,516 projects tracked by BudgIT Nigeria between 2015 and 2017, 918 were not done, 395 are ongoing and 214 cannot be located.

    The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, yesterday said the anti-graft commission had demanded a list of all constituency projects and presented budgets to make senators and representatives account for the funds they got.

    Owasanoye, who spoke at the launch of Constituency Projects Tracking Group (CPTG), said ICPC will also publish the names of those behind the project failures.

    Read also: ICPC praises PTAD on fight against scammers

    The tracking will cover outgoing senators and Representatives in the 8th National Assembly.

    He said ICPC was collaborating with the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) to evaluate whether or not the projects executed were commensurate with the budgetary allocations.

    The ICPC chairman said: “We are mindful of the fact that this is a Herculean task as constituency projects dot the entire landscape but we will overcome the challenges one way or another.

    “Where contractors and or politically-exposed persons have diverted funds for projects, we will pursue them to either complete the projects as initiated, return the funds or face prosecution.

    “Affected companies and their directors will also be prosecuted. We also hope to publish the names of those behind the project failures for possible social sanctions in their communities.”

    Owasanoye regretted that constituency projects had been turned into avenues of corruption.

    He added: “Constituency projects are intended for developmental projects, such as provision of water, rural electrification, rural clinics, schools, community centres and bursary for indigent students.

    “In the light of annual budgetary allocations to constituency projects and based on actual releases by the government, it is firmly believed that the impact of constituency projects on the lives of ordinary Nigerians ought to be more visible.

    “Regrettably, available statistics from open sources paint a bleak picture of the level of performance or delivery of constituency projects.

    “Over the years, constituency projects have become enmeshed in controversy among non-state actors, the promoters of the projects and the communities that are supposed to benefit from the projects.

    “The concern is that in Nigeria, rather than address the needs of constituents; many constituency projects have become avenues of corruption.”

    Owasanoye gave some three-year statistics which revealed how senators and Representatives have paid lip service to constituency projects.

    He said: “The level of implementation of constituency projects in 16 focus states for 2015 is revealing. Out of 436 constituency projects for the year that were tracked, 145 were completed, 77 ongoing while 211 were not executed at all.

    “For 2016, out of a total of 852 constituency projects in 20 states in the 2016 Budget that were tracked, 350 were completed, 118 were ongoing, 41 locations not specified in the budget and 343 not done or performed.

    “In 2017, a total of 1,228 constituency projects in the budget were tracked for performance as at June 2018. Out of these, 478 were completed, 173 in unspecified location, 200 ongoing, 13 abandoned and 364 not started. The level of performance of constituency projects is therefore disputable.”

    The ICPC chairman unfolded plans to collaborate with the media and Civil Society Organisations to fight corruption.

    But he warned against reckless whistleblowing and declared that the commission will deal with anyone who misleads it.

    He said: “We hope to have a robust relationship with the media and civil society. Not just in Constituency Project Monitoring and role of CSOs and media as partners in giving credible intelligence and evidence of corruption rather than generalised accusations or allegations of wrongdoing but specifics that help to make investigation seamless.

    “We also want to caution CSOs to avoid misleading ICPC with intelligence that have no foundation in the name of whistleblowing. We have had one or two experiences of reckless and irresponsible allegations of wrongdoing against prominent citizens provided by CSOs.

    “But for the cautious approach of the commission, the outcomes would have been embarrassing. We want to say loud and clear that there will be dire consequences in accordance with the law for anyone that misleads the commission.”

     

  • ‘I will provide democracy dividends for all my constituents’

    A House of Representatives member-elect on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, said his emergence to represent Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1 in the National Assembly has conferred on him a responsibility for the entire members of his constituency, irrespective of party affiliation.

    His words: “My emergence has shown that my responsibility is to take care of the whole constituency. I will take care of those who voted for me and those who did not vote for me. My opponent and those who voted for me are my responsibility. The whole domain is my constituency. I have a responsibility to extend dividend of democracy to everybody; it was not only the APC that voted for me, it was the electorate that voted for me.”

    Speaking to reporters in Lagos, Johnson said he would serve the people, provide dividends of democracy by empowering the youths, through skill acquisition and provision of soft loans to kick off.

    He also promised to attend to the elderly, students and improve on the infrastructural needs of the constituents by lobbying the executives and other stakeholders.

    Read also: APC House of Reps elect Dies in Kano

    While appreciating the electorate for their support in the first election and the rerun election, he pointed out that the APC had a relationship with Lagosians. He the party’s clinching of all the 40 seats at the House of Assembly simply means that it had a connection with the people and that as a party its word was its bond.

    Expressing confidence in the electoral process, he commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a successful election, noting that there was improvement over the last presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He said that all the lapses of the first elections were improved upon, like lateness in delivery of election materials and card reader failures. He said that he was very hopeful that in the next election there would be much improvement and people would continue to have confidence in the nation’s democracy.

  • Why I want to be Speaker – Gbajabiamila

    Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Sunday made his official declaration to contest for Speaker of the Lower Chamber.

    According him: “I seek the office of the Speaker to bring our tendencies together and unite us as a country.  I seek the office of the Speaker to bring governance even closer to the people. I seek the office of the Speaker to mentor the next generation.

    “I seek the office of the Speaker come I can use the bully pulpit to galvanise Honourable members to make life more abundant every Nigerian irrespective of tribe, religious background or political persuasion.

    “There is so much work to be done by way of legislation in many areas of our life including but not limited to education, health, power, infrastructure and alleviation of poverty.

    “I believe many of these deficits can be addressed through meaningful and impactful legislation.”

    Gbajabiamila said after wide consultations, he formally declared “service to constituents and Nigerians.”

    He said he will foster the relationship between executive and legislature without surrendering the independence to the latter.

    “Having been in opposition and moved to majority, placed me in a unique position of know the workings of both and that’s what I bring to the table.

    “I did my best to stabilise the House and know how legislature can maximise potentials that is why the theme “Nation building, a joint task.”

    “The Speaker must be for the people to fulfill their hopes and aspirations,” he said.

    Abdulmumin Jibrin, the Campaign DG. of the House Leader’s candidacy, said Gbajabiamila’s ambition is not about himself but about “our democracy sanitising, civility and in global best practice.”

    According to him, the party must be Supreme as is the practice in advance democracies.

    He said Nigerians look up to advance democracies in the practice of our democracy.

    “Without being immodest he (Gbajabiamila) stands out the best,

    “He has experience, brilliance, astuteness, building relationships, bridges etc. We will not take things for granted because within and without others are interested,” he emphasised.

    He said Gbajabiamila’s campaign organisation “won’t throw muds, no rumours blackmail, we plead, for the interest of country, run clean, issue-based campaign, he charged the other candidates.

    Read also: Reps leadership: North-West new members adopt Kawu Sumaila

    “Since everyone is qualified, just be clean. We will lobby and campaign and win hearts.

    “How do you explain a minority aspiring to be Speaker. What if a majority party vied for minority leader, sponsored and supported by us, how would it be?

    “But we’ll engage them and a large number of them are convinced that today they may be in minority but tomorrow night be in the majority, so they’ll reason for the need to protect the institution.

    “They should come and join us and I guarantee Gbaja will be a Speaker for all and ensure the independence and interdependence of the legislature,” Jibrin said.

    Hon. Da’u Aliyu Magaji, who moderated the event, declared over 170 members across party line from the House attended the declaration.

  • Ex-lawmakers to ruling party: handle NASS leadership issue with tact

    The Forum of Former Members of the House of Representatives who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have asked the leadership of the party to be tactful in handling the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly.

    This, they said, was necessary to avoid a repeat of the 2015 mistake which became costly for the party in terms of executive/legislative relationship.

    The group believe that the leadership of the party must move fast to douse the likely tension that will emerge if the varied interests in the leadership are not streamlined on time and individuals are allowed to take positions like they did in 2015.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja, spokesman of the Forum, Idris Yahuza Yakubu, said it was high time the party took a decision on the zones where each of the principal officers should come from before it becomes too late.

    While pledging to making themselves available to assist the party at all times, the former lawmakers believe that the party must be guided to toe the line of equity and fairness, suggesting that the cognate experience, party loyalty and acceptability among colleagues should be considered.

    They said the party should consider the fact that the North West and South West have already produced the President and Vice President, while the North East has been given the position of Senate President, hence the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives should go to the North Central zone.

    The forum said “As the APC tries to consolidate on its recent successes, the party must not lose focus but do all it can to stay on track by putting in place a structure that will support its programmes for improving on the lot of the people.

    “The eye of the public and indeed the international community is on us to see if we can translate this victory into something tangible for the entire nation and, more importantly, if we are able to put our act together to create the enabling environment.

    Read also: 9th NASS: APC zones Senate key offices

    “The foundation for building a cohesive and united Nigeria stands on the tripod of equity, justice and fairness, and this is where those of us who have been elected to the House of Representatives in the past, who have seen how the different arms of government are run, have decided to advise our beloved party on how best it can go about addressing the current agitations for geopolitical balancing in allocating the remaining top positions that would determine the shape of the next administration and engender a harmonious executive-legislature relationship for the good of the nation.

    “You will recall that in 2015, the APC made the mistake of not paying enough attention in the election of the leadership of the National Assembly and how the party nearly paid dearly for it by having to constantly battle with a hostile legislature since its leaders were not products of the party’s internal democratic arrangement.

    “The APC as the ruling party cannot afford to make that mistake again by leaving the choice of those to assume leadership positions in the National assembly to chance.

    “It is our strong view that the party must step forward to provide political direction to its elected members at the National Assembly by zoning all the leadership positions to the specific zones and, where possible, states.

    “This, we believe, will douse the unnecessary tension being generated in the bid by individual members from the different geopolitical divides of the country to aspire to those positions and avoid further digging of trenches which the party cannot afford to allow at this stage.

    “It is high time the party took a decision on this to make its stand known to the members of the party on time so as to prevent a repeat of the 2015 scenario where it was unable to stop vested interests who had gone too far in their campaigns by the time the party decided to step in.

    “If the varied interests are not streamlined on time and individuals are allowed to take hard line positions, it will be difficult for the party to make them reverse without causing further frictions. The former members of the House of Representatives, APC, said they were ready to support the APC in ways that could be considered fair and just by all within the party.

    “As a way of guiding the party to toe the line of equity and fairness, we suggest consideration be given to cognate experience, party loyalty and acceptability among colleagues.