9th NASS leadership: Buhari prefers Gbajabiamila, Lawan – North-central APC chairman

The National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Noth-central zone, Hon. Ahmed Suleiman Wambi, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari and other party leaders have shown interests in the candidacies of Femi Gbajabiamila as the next Speaker and the Sen. Ahmed Lawan as the next Senate President.

Wambi admitted that the selection might not based on religion  equity  but the ruling party took the decision for Nigeria to move forward. 

Speaking during an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the North-central national vice chairman said excellence, loyalty and past experiences of Hon. Gbajabiamila and Sen. Lawan attracted them to the president. 

“We have not given Ahmed Lawan the position of Senate President because he is from North-east or Gbajabiamila Speaker because he is from South-west but base on the performance of the party, base on the contribution and loyalty. There was a Tim Mr. President  sent budget to the National  Assembly  and that proposal was kept there for about seven months, these Gbabiamila and Lawan were the ones fighting and because  of that they received a lot of frustration,  traumatisation and intimidation from the present leadership of the National Assembly. 

“So, do you think the party and Mr. President  should  not reward those people? No. We said that despite the fact that the North-west has the president,  the South-west has the Vice President, the Senate President is zoned to the North-east, Mr. President felt we should  reward Femi Gbajabiamila base on the compelling loyalty and his experience. 

“Mr. President prefer these people because of their past experiences. We are not saying that there is nobody in the North-central that is qualify, no. But the issue is that there are certain considerations. We fought for the zone to get Deputy Speaker in the House of Reps and also Senate Majority Leader in the Senate.” 

When asked whether the ruling APC put the religion  balancing into the consideration,  bearing in mind that the president anointed candidates (Lawan and Gbajabiamila) are also Muslims,  the APC chieftain said: “You do not understand the political dynamism of our country.  Do you think if we concentrate on religion  this country will move forward? We go for excellence sometime, We go for those people  who can key into the project of change and deliver. 

“What do you mean by sensitivity? Between  APC and PDP which party is more sensitive? Do you think Muslim or Christianity can provide solutions to 9th problems of Nigeria? Until Nigerians become aware and key into excellence. We should no longer say discriminate against anybody who has something to offer. The moment a nation  start thinking about where someone comes from or the religion he or she practice such a nation is doomed.” 

When reminded that some of his members from North-central are skimming to take the position of speaker, Wambai said the South-west should be allowed to produc the next Speaker. 

“I share the assertion that things should be given to any region based on their contribution and acceptance of mantra. But in politics, you may not get what you sometimes think it is yours because of certain pecuniary reason and expediency. 
But as far as I am concerned, the consideration should be given based on merit. Having produced the senate president for the past 12 years, the North-central should allow other zones to produce the Speaker since we are not the only zone. 

“Recall that in 2015, the post of Speaker and Senate President were zoned to South-west and North East respectively. Ahmed Lawan from the North-east and Femi Gbajabiamila from the South-west were favoured but there was internal coup which truncated the process.” 

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