The jostle for the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly became more interesting on Monday with the emergence of a pressure group known as ‘New Dawn’, positioning themselves to take over juicy leadership positions.
The organisation said it was profiling all the aspirants for Speakership and other positions and would thereafter take a decision as a block to give votes to who will become the Speaker.
The PUNCH reported that ‘New Dawn’ is being spearheaded by the newly elected members of the House of Representatives and its membership cuts across political divides.
They said they were determined and unanimous in working with every member of the House of Representatives to birth a new Nigeria through robust legislation that would impact the lives of the Nigerian citizens.
The notice of meeting signed by the House of Representatives member-elect for AMAC/Bwari federal constituency,
Joshua Chinedu Obika, and obtained by Journalists on Monday indicated that the meeting was held at Transcorp Hilton in the nation’s capital.
The ‘New Dawn’ was convened by a House of Representatives member–elect for Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben federal constituency and also Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Marcus Onobun.
Other notable members of the organisation included Hon Ukodhiko Jonathan Ajirioghene (Isoko South federal constituency of Delta State), Hon Yusuf Kure Naraje (Bosso/Paiko federal constituency of Niger State) and Hon Jafaru Gambo for Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa federal constituency of Bauchi State.
Onobun said the idea behind the formation of the group was to chart a new course that would foster unity of Nigeria through purposeful legislative engagement for the house.
According to him, the group is concerned about true federalism and constitutional review that failed to scale through in the 9th National Assembly.
He said, “New Dawn caucus of the 10th Assembly is a group of intellectuals from different political parties, APC, PDP, APGA, LP, SDP, NNPP, ADC, YPP and others. This New Dawn consists of new members-elect who are just coming into the National Assembly and has done well in their various fields of endeavours, regardless of political affiliations or religious background to be able to chart a new course for Nigeria.
“It is also in terms of legislation, making Bills, policy drive and welfare for members. We will also look out at areas where Nigerians have yearned for legislation and champion those courses. For instance, the area of true federalism and part of the constitutional review of the firth alteration that the 9th Assembly couldn’t push through.
“We hope to resurrect those Bills in the 10th National Assembly and also engage the Executive to give assent to the Bill. And above, we will choose a leader of the 10th Assembly in the House of Representatives, regardless of party. Even though we understand that the APC forms a majority in terms of numbers, the other political parties are put together to form a greater majority.
“It means that the New Dawn caucus wants to be part and parcel of choosing the leadership of the House and we are trying to look at the North. But profiling all the aspirants for Speakership and other positions and taking a decision as a block to give votes to who will become the speaker.”
The member-elect for Oron/Mbo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Hon Martins Esin, also corroborated the convener’s position, saying that the membership was passionate about effecting positive change in the House of Representatives.
“We are a group of new members elected that are passionate about the development of this country and these are people that have come together to say they want to see Bills, and the 10th Assembly will represent the exact yearning of Nigerians and our membership is across party lines. It is not a group that is subjected to ethnic or religious bias”, he said.
A member-elect for Akwanga/Wamba Nasarawa Eggon federal constituency of Nasarawa State, Hon Jeremiah Umaru, said the new group was poised to support leadership that will do the bidding of the Nigerian people.
A member-elect for the Apa/Agatu federal constituency of Benue State Pastor Ojema Ojotu said the last election has shown clearly that Nigerians were tired of the status quo.
He said, “We are conscious of the fact that our people seem to be tired of the status quo and there is a strong desire for a shift. If you look at the pattern of voting and the way and manner we came in, you will discover that there is no better way to explain that desire than that.
“A House where over 300 people were voted out and 360 voted in as new members, that singular action of our electorates would convey to you that they are not comfortable with the way things are being done. What that means is that Nigerians are more committed to change than ever before.
“So, we, as ‘New Dawn’ want to remove the idea of money politics and we have told ourselves that we are not going to collect money from any aspirants but look at somebody with humility, integrity, capacity and blueprint.”
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