House of Representative Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has met with members interested in succeeding him.
Those at the meeting included Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase; Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Aliyu Mukthar Betara; Chairman, House Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi; Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Benjamin Kalu; and Chairman, House Committee in Land Transport, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
Others included Chairman, House Committee on Disaster Preparedness, Hon. Abdulraheem Olawuyi; Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli Jibia; Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman and Hon. Sani Jaji.
They were joined at the meeting by Deputy House Leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason.
The Speaker, who announced the meeting on his Twitter handle @femigbaja, said he believed each of the nine aspirants at the meeting had the capacity to lead the House and build on the legacies of the ninth Assembly.
He said: “Yesterday (Thursday), I met with aspirants for the office of the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives in the coming 10th Assembly. All 9 aspirants I have known and worked with for many years and I have no doubt will do well in continuing and building on the legacy of the 9th Assembly”.
But sources close to the Speaker said the meeting was reconciliatory to ensure the aspirants work in harmony for the common good of the House and their party, the All Progressives Congress.
The source said: “I think the meeting was to forge the way forward and to find a way of avoiding a rancour-free campaign for them and to avoid things that can impede the integrity of the House.
“You are aware that the party has to speak out first on the zoning arrangement for the position. On the other hand, the Speaker cannot impose any of the aspirants on the others. So, the meeting is to find a way of ensuring that they work together in the interest of all.
“It is also to ensure that the aspirants does not make any commend or statement that is negative about each other as they go about their campaign.
“He believe in the capacity of these men, having worked with them for a while now. But the party must speak out first before anyone can begin to take position”.
