A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and one of the aspirants for the position of the speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th assembly, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi has revealed that the ruling All Progressives Congress was biased in its zoning arrangement.
Gagdi, who knocked the party, while speaking with some selected journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, disclosed that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu was not aware of the party’s endorsement, noting that Tinubu is a democrat, who believes in justice, equity and unity within the party.
APC had on Monday, May 8, presented the lawmaker representing Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna State in the North West, Hon.Tajudeen Abass and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who is representing Bende federal constituency of Abia State in the South East, as the party’s choices for speaker and deputy speaker of the incoming 10th National Assembly, respectively.
However, their endorsement has caused mixed feelings among the members of the green chamber, as some members vehemently rejected their endorsement, for lack of consultation, justice and equity amongst the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.
Gadgi, who is the Chairman, the Committee on Navy and member representing the Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau State in the House, insisted that the party’s zoning formula lacked equity, justice and fairness, especially in the North-central geo-political zone which he claimed, it contributed immensely to the victory of the party in the February 25 general elections, in Nigeria.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the party’s decision, the lawmaker revealed that it was not fair to ignore the North-central zone that produced 5 out of 6 governors for APC, 11 out of 18 Senators and gave the second highest number of votes to Tinubu, stressing that out of the 6 key offices in the executive and legislature, the zone was not rewarded with one.
“The principle of our president-elect whom I so much respect and up till today I don’t believe that what is happening today, the president-elect is aware of, or it is his idea. That is why we keep on challenging the party.
“Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has promised that he would reward loyalty and commitment. He would reward those who bring something to the table. He won only one local government in Kaduna state-Birnin Gwari because he visited them when bandits were attacking them. The man said he would stand with you through thick and thin.
“In a state that won only one local government, you are giving the Speaker’s seat to them. It negates even the commitment of the president-elect.
“What the party did has contradicted the promise and the commitment and the way of politics of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Zamfara gave the highest votes in the northwest and yet you are not giving them anything. You are giving to a state that gave you one local government. Are we rewarding disloyalty? Where is the principle of Asiwaju here that the party tore and threw away?
“We are not against Asiwaju. We have not heard anything from him about whether he has zoned or endorsed a particular candidate. Except that they can date particularly the one of the House of Representatives is the one and his co-travellers saying,” he said.
The lawmaker, who is among the aggrieved members called the G7, said that the group has Hon. Muktar Betara, deputy speaker, Hon. Ahmed Wase, House leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Sada Soli, Aminu Jaji and Miriam Onuoha and himself, still held the ace for the speakership.
According to him, the group was not founded on self-aggrandizing but purely on justice and fairness to the 6 geopolitical zones, noting that it was inappropriate to give two key legislative offices to the northwest
The lawmaker maintained that it was irrational to chant party supremacy where there is a gross injustice to its members, noting that party supremacy only exists, where all the party members are well informed and consulted on any decision, to be taken, within the party.
“I won’t respect party supremacy when it is against injustice. Why am I elected into the National Assembly? I am elected to represent Nigerians and to ensure justice. Then the party that I seek election under its platform will be aiding and abetting injustice and you expect me to respect that supremacy?
“I have analysed these things to you that even the deaf and dumb agrees that there is injustice and then you are talking about party supremacy. What are they talking about? Have you heard anybody from the north-central zone talking about party supremacy?
“Let them say it and see whether they would not sacrifice their political future in the north-central zone. North central governors and elected officials met and what was their resolution?
“Even our governors are saying yes they are loyal to the party but yet justice has not been done to us.
“I am a loyal party man, perhaps those people saying that have not done what I have done for APC to win”, he stated.