A member of the House of Representatives of the Nigerian National Assembly, Kingsley Chinda, a re-elected federal legislator in the 2023 general elections in Rivers State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Friday said that the Joint Task Force Coalition for the election of the presiding officers of the Lower Chamber is working to give the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the opportunity to deliver on his mandate good governance to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
Chinda, speaking on Channels Television “Politics Today” on Friday night, monitored by National Daily from Lagos, said that the Joint Task Force Coalition comprising members-elect of all political parties, including old and new legislators in the House, is working to ensure fairness and equity in the allocation of the offices of the presiding and principal officers of the 10th National Assembly. He said the members of the House are giving the leadership of the APC to zone the Speaker position before the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, saying that once that is done, the lawmakers will cooperate to ensure that the beneficiary zone produces the speaker. According to him, this is to ensure peace in the House.
Chinda stated that the Coalition goal is to give the ruling APC the opportunity to determine zoning, if that is done, members of the House will cooperate for peace and unity.” He maintained that the Coalition arrangement does not affect the Opposition role of the PDP, declaring that “the Opposition will stand firm, will be critical, criticise responsibly and reasonably. Opposition will not only be critical, but will provide alternatives.”
Chinda maintained that the Coalition, after the APD leaders have zones the position of speaker, will encourage only members from the beneficiary zone should be allowed to contest, those outside the zone should not be allowed; reiterating that only those from the zone would contest. He insisted that in determining zoning, APC leaders must consider fairness and equity, including Federal Character.
Another member of the House of Representatives, a returning lawmaker on the platform of the APC, Ibrahim Isiaka, also speaking on the same Politics Today programme on Channels Television on Friday, monitored by National Daily, affirmed that the goal of the Coalition of the Old and New members of the House across party lines is ensure justice and equity and inclusiveness in the incoming government. Hr observed that the incoming president is from southwest Nigeria, vice president from northeast, adding that the presiding officers of the National Assembly should be zones to other geo-political entities for inclusiveness in the government.
According to Isiaka, “the Coalition is working towards the general expectation for better, improved governance in the country. Nigeria is in the threshold of greatness to properly compete in the international arena.”
Isiaka maintained that the Coalition will wait for the APC leadership to decide on zoning of the speaker, then, the lawmakers will ensure that the zone will present its candidate(s) for election by the legislators. He asserted that members of the Joint Task Force Coalition will support and vote in the House in accordance with the zoning decision of the APC leaders.
Isiaka dismissed the possibility of internal resistance to the decision of the APC leadership, saying that the party gave all of them ticket nine months to the 2023 general elections, which they won with the support of the party. He noted that those who revolted against the decision of the APC leaders in the 9th National Assembly, many of them did not come back to the National Assembly after the elections. He said that some lost in the party’s primary election. He dismissed allegations or fears of “rubber stamp” National Assembly installed by the party government in the next administration.
Chinda also speaking on the House leadership arrangement, declared: “we will allow you to take that position on zoning to reflect federal character. A lot of our leaders are beginning to see the need for Nigeria to move forward. We don’t want anybody to give excuses.”
Chinda disclosed that both APC and PDP governors are involved in the Coalition initiatives and support the Coalition cardinal principle for the new leadership of the APC, insisting that the ruling party must zone.
Chinda debunked the insinuation that he is involved in the Joint Task Force Coalition in return to become the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives. He said that becoming minority leader is not his primary purpose of being elected into the National Assembly. “My primary duty of being elected into the House is to make laws for good governance and development.” He said that the primary goal is not for personal benefit, but for peace in the National Assembly.
According to him, “we want to give government of the Tinubu administration the opportunity to deliver on his mandate for good governance to meet the expectations of the people. The party must ensure peace and fairness in the sharing of positions in the country.”