10th Assembly Leadership: Legislators insist on competence, acceptability not zoning

By Musa Baba Adamu

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June, newly elected legislators especially of the House of representatives are insisting on having a credible and democratic leadership based on credibility, competence and acceptability.
The members said the issue of zoning will not be a determining factor in the emergence of the new legislature because they want to have a stable house built on mutual respect, separation of powers and that which values the independence of the apex legislature.
Speaking separately in Abuja at the weekend, a group of Members-Elect said in their various joint meetings since their election last month, no issue of zoning has been given any credence above that of competence and general acceptability of those seeking to lead them.
Recall that Premium Times had reported the alleged plot by some Apc governors to cow their elected legislators into submitting to zoning few days ago.
But reacting , a Member-Elect, Hon Dr Ali JC Isa ( Biliri/ Ballanga Federal Constituency of Gombe State said they will do the needful for the sake of the image of the legislature and the legislators.
“ I can tell you for free that we are too experienced not to kniw what to do. We cannot be dragged backward by zoning. We are here as colleagues, duely elected legislators to work for our country and not for any party. Yes we belong to different parties but the nature of our work demands internal collaboration, cooperation and mutual understanding and respect to succeed. It’s when we agree among ourselves that the input is felt outside. So therefore we must do what can bring about this in-house cooperation before we relate with the other two arms of government. We must put our house in order before anything succeeds so therefore zoning cannot be a consideration for such an Assemblage. If its an Assembly of a party, we can sit in our various party secretariats to take such decisions based on zoning but we belong to different political parties. Whoever is bringing that to the table must be ready for shock amd surprises. We have learned alot from previous experiences and would not want to repeat such “ , a returning lawmaker said.
According to Hon Ali,”All of those who are contesting the Speakership have gone far mobilising support using their resources to seek for the votes of their colleagues and it will be very unfair amd immoral for either the Apc and PDP to seek to undermine this by showing selective favouritism innthe name of zoning. Why didn’t they announced the zoning before the general elections. From history we all know that the most stable and most productive legislatures all over the world are those build on mutual understanding where members vote from among themselves their leaders and not imposed from the executive. Such practices are no longer fashionable because of the ill wind the blow on democracy “.
Other Members-Elect opined that the legislature on Nigeria has come of age and therefore it will be primitive and a set back to continue to introduce zoning which has caused more harm than good to legislative progress.
A cross section of the legislators interviewed from all the political parties are of the opinion that the executive should respect the independence of the legislature and not try to ridicule the foundation of the 10th National Assembly by such miscalculations.
“ Besides you that the composition of the 10th National Assembly especially that of the house of representatives is very unique. We have about 162 elected Apc members and 163 of the other parties put together. We are waiting for the remaing 30 or so members to join us amd who knows which party will be higher in number. We must be allowed by our respective parties being ruling or opposition to take our decisions regarding our leadership. We can only respect our own leadership. Any person brought to us through zoning means that person is most likely deficient and can only use zoning to ascend to that position. We want those that can do the job. We want those that can be more conscious of their mandate and not those to be teleguided”