The issue of the zone that would produce the Speaker of the Ninth House of Representatives has continued to generate heat, especially among lawmakers from the South East zone. Representative of Ideato South/North Federal constituency in Imo State, Austin Chukwukere, has said equity and fairness demand that the South East should produce the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He told reporters in Owerri yesterday that the All Progressives Congress (APC) should respect the federal character and support a balanced power sharing formula in the country. This also followed claims that APC leadership had endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila from the South West for the position. It was also gathered that the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had allegedly ordered all party lawmakers to support Gbajabiamila.
Chukwukere said: “I championed the campaign against marginalisation of the South East in the nation’s polity and I still maintain that there is the need for us to balance power sharing in Nigeria. “We must be seen to respect and uphold the federal character, which is enshrined in our constitution.”
In another development, Rep. Tony Nwoye (APC-Anambra) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) from the South East. Nwoye, who represents Anambra East and West Federal Constituency, stated this at an empowerment program in Nsugbe near Onitsha on Wednesday.
The lawmaker, also a former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said the gesture would help market the party in the region. “Our people are feeling that they are being marginalized. The Igbo people are critical to the Nigerian project; we cannot be marginalized perpetually because we did not vote for Buhari out of sheer sentiment. The South East deserves the SGF or Deputy Senate President.
“Mr. President, being a man with a large heart should give the Igbo people a sense of belonging and make them feel that they are part and parcel of the Nigerian project,” he said. He added that such appointment would help re-brand the APC so it can win future elections in the region. He commended the Federal Government for constructing four roads in his constituency as well as awarding contract for construction of another road valued at N320 million.
Nwoye disclosed that work will soon begin on the Anambra-Kogi-Abuja road project. “I got a commitment from the federal government that the project which has been reviewed to include seven bridges will be approved soon,” he said.
He further expressed confidence that the federal government would complete all ongoing projects in the area including the second Niger Bridge. On the empowerment program, Nwoye said the gesture was part of his commitment to improve the lives of members of his constituency.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 520 persons received cash donations of between N30,000 and N100,000 to either start or beef up their business during the event. The lawmaker also presented 120 motorcycles, 55 sewing machines, 50 power generating sets and 15 grinding machines to other beneficiaries at the event.
Earlier, the state APC chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike said Nwoye’s gesture was in line with the manifesto of the APC on poverty alleviation. Ejidike, who urged other stakeholders to emulate the gesture, said the party is not relenting in its efforts to reconcile aggrieved members in the state.
