Tension is reportedly running high in the All Progressives Congress ahead of the inauguration of the new House of Representatives in June.
SaharaReporters gathered that some serving and newly elected members of the House have shrugged off the ambition of current Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, to succeed Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker.
The newly elected members said Wase had no chance whatsoever of leading the lower legislative house in the 10th National Assembly.
Ahead of the inauguration of the National Assembly in June, some returning and new members have begun to lobby their colleagues for the country’s fourth most-coveted position.
Among those touted to be in the race is Wase, the outgoing Deputy Speaker.
The newly elected members said Wase had no chance whatsoever of leading the lower legislative house in the 10th National Assembly.
Ahead of the inauguration of the National Assembly in June, some returning and new members have begun to lobby their colleagues for the country’s fourth most-coveted position.
Among those touted to be in the race is Wase, the outgoing Deputy Speaker.
However, the opposition parties, which have about 186 of the 360 representatives-elect were said to be rooting for Abdulmumin Jibrin of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
According to sources, the quest of Wase who is said to be the preferred candidate of some top officials of the ruling party seems to have suffered a snag over his personality issues.
A member-elect, who doesn’t want his name to be revealed described Wase as a “religious fanatic, a bigot and ethnic chauvinist that doesn’t fit into current day Nigerian reality.”
He told SaharaReporters that the Deputy Speaker had often shown to have dictatorial tendencies with a low tolerance for contrary views.
“Even though Wase is an experienced lawmaker, who has been in the hallowed chamber for more than a decade, his sectarian views always get the better of him whenever any issue is discussed in the Chamber,” the lawmaker said.
“Wase is notorious for involving himself in debates which he should not do as a presiding officer, and swaying debates or foisting a position on the House.
“This man is a known bigot. He is an extremist whose years in the House are all about controversies. No wonder, it was reported that Gbajabiamila opposed his ambition. Who won’t?
“As Chairman of the House Committee of the Whole, bills, motions, and petitions pass through him. Order 7 Rule 2(2) of the House states that ‘the Deputy Speaker shall be the chairman of the whole House’.
“However, Wase used this office against perceived enemies. His depravity came to the fore during the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill and Petroleum Industry Bill, routinely showing a low tolerance for dissenting voices.
“Under the guise of guiding the House, Mr. Wase involves himself in disputes which he should not do as a presiding officer, swaying debates or foisting a position on the House.”
Another source added that Wase was like a bad commodity that the ruling party could not sell to opposition representatives no matter how well they packaged him.
The source added that a coalition by the opposition parties might deny the APC the chance of producing the next Speaker.
Many Nigerians will recall how he refused to allow a petition by the Mutual Union of Tivs in America (MUTA) over the killings by suspected Fulani herders in Benue State. Now he wants the support of the Benue people,” he said.
“He once blatantly refused his colleague Shina Peller from raising a point of order to discuss the EndSARS protest that was raging across the country. There are countless other examples of his high-handedness and disregard for the Constitution.
“In fact, each time the Deputy Speaker perceives a threat to the interest of the North, he is quick to latch on to House Orders, which are not relevant to the subject of discourse. Even our party knows that serious opposition awaits should they try to impose Wase. He is a bad product.
“For the interest of the nation, Wase should just forget this futile mission. What is needed is a detribalised Nigerian with an unblemished record and a history of honesty, integrity, and equity. We need a unifier and not a bigot.
“To produce Speaker, you need the votes of 181 Representatives, but APC is not united. It may be difficult for it to secure 181 unless it presents someone else apart from Wase.”
