The Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Idris Wase has formally declared his intention to run for Speakership of the 10th Assembly.
He made the declaration in Abuja amid large crowd of lawmakers and supporters.
He said that the presence of lawmakers in large numbers demonstrates and reinforces not only his personal conviction, but also their collective goal and aspiration to rally round a thorough-bred lawmaker who is imbued with national spirit to lead the assembly of the representatives of Nigerians in a renewed energy to achieve their development goals as a nation.
“ This event has implications for our democratic journey to growth and development because the parliament is the bastion of democratic governance where the representatives of our people coalesce to plot agenda for progress and development that we all Nigerians need to achieve our goals and aspirations as a nation and as individuals.
“Fellow Nigerians, and my colleagues in the House of Representatives in particular, today marks the day of making a choice in our determination to continue to build hope in our people by our deliberate option to ensure that our path to greatness that we started charting since democratic governance returned to Nigeria in 1979 is no longer truncated, but must be widened in our determined efforts to build on the successes we have achieved in our democratic journey for a corporate and collective goals as a nation for the prosperity of her people,” Wase said.
He noted that there is no doubt that they are all aware of the daunting challenges that confront Nigeria today as a nation.
“The roads are rough and the tasks are tough, but the challenges are not unsurmountable. What we need is a deliberate choice to poach for the right people with fervent patriotism, energy of the spirit, commitment, competence and focus, to lead the charge in our determined journey to national redemption,” he said.
He also told the gathering that ” Today, we face various daunting challenges that task our vision, capacity, patriotic spirit, competence and resolve to confront these challenges head-on in the most deliberate manner to achieve the success that we all need to build hope in our people that a better Nigeria is possible and achievable. Indeed, the task before us is to overcome all the tribulations that threaten our heritage of honour, hard work, enterprise and development in the context of Nigeria’s leadership in Africa and her prime place in world affairs. We are mindful of these challenges, and with the collective responsibility of all Nigerians, and the leadership in particular, we shall continue in our efforts towards growing Nigeria to a prosperous nation by eliminating all the threats on our path and ensuring that the challenges that had been defeated so far are not reversed to threaten our existence all over again”.
Wase saud that since the campaigns for the Speakership of the House of Assembly began, many of his colleagues have signified their intentions to seek the votes of members to be elected as Speaker and described the gesture as a positive development in the dispensation of democratic governance.
“Honestly, I cannot single out anyone of them that is not capable of leading the House. However, it must be noted that in the wisdom of party leadership and by the sheer authority of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the means by which top national offices shall be shared among the federating units in the country has been explicitly stated in Section 14 sub-section 3 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended. It states, inter alia:”The composition of the government of the federation or any of its agencies shall be carried out in a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few ethnic or sectional groups in that government or any of its agencies, in order to command loyalty and peaceful coexistence.
“Flowing from this, therefore, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has strengthened my resolve to aspire to the Speakership of the House of Representatives as a Nigerian from the North Central geo-political zone of the country, to lend my vision, competences, patriotism and loyalty to the nation’s constitution and my party’s ideals in the collective mission to build a prosperous nation founded on the pedestals of justice and equality. It must also be noted that it is only the North Central in the entire country that has not produced the Speaker in 24 years after the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999. Fellow Nigerians, Nigeria is built on the supremacy of the law and the sacredness of the Constitution for justice to reign and to keep the peace in the country”.
He promised that As Speaker, he hopes to build a solid coalition of interests of national importance to achieve a common goal.
” While the primacy of national interest will be of utmost importance, I shall be guided by the six-point agenda of my party (APC) while also actively supporting in the most honest manner the opposition parties as they strife to support legislations that seek to address the concerns of their constituents and other Nigerians in general. Our legislative agenda will always address other matters of interest. Generally speaking, my conduct will be motivated by an avowed commitment to national integration to build a society where justice reigns.
We need to build on the successes recorded so far within the context of national laws and support Nigerian international commitments that seek to promote national interest and welfare of all Nigerian citizens”. Wase said.
He used the opportunity to thank his leaders, colleagues and supporters that have made the project a sort of advocacy in the last few months among Nigerians, in order to lend their support for his aspiration.
” I appreciate the maturity and patriotism by my fellow lawmakers, including Rt.Hon Mukhtar Betara of Borno State; Rt.Hon Jaji from Zamfara State; Rt. Hon Sada Soli (Katsina State); Rt. Hon Ado Doguwa of Kano State; and Rt. Hon Princess Mariam Onouha of Imo State, My brother Hon. Yusuf Gagdi. in their approach to this campaign.
As campaigns leading to the contest for the Speakership begin, I seek your support for justice to reign. On my part, all my experiences and competences that I have garnered since 2007 in the House of Representatives shall be applied in the most honest and transparent manner to raise the quality of leadership for optimum performance. I will live up to my words in the assignment I hope to hold in trust for Nigerians,” he promised.
Ten Points Agenda
He also outlined a 10-point Agenda for the 10th Assembly which will focus on these 10 thematic areas:
1. General Orientation and Image Rebranding for the National Assembly
2. Ensuring a true People’s Parliament
3. Creating an Efficient and Innovative Parliament
4. Approaching Nation Building as a Joint Task irrespective of your political affiliation, Tribe or Religion.
5. Strong and Independent Parliament
6. Law and Order
7. Strong Legislative Oversight
8. Security
9. Fiscal Discipline and Economic Prosperity
10. Social Welfare Schemes and Programmes.
Confidence Okwuchi
