There are strong indications that the chances of Hon. Emeka Nwajiuba from Imo state, emerging the next Speaker, House of Representatives is now brightened, following allegations by the Coalition of United Political Parties(CUPP) that Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who was positioned to clinch the seat had earlier been convicted for “willful dishonesty” by the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia in the United States of America.
The CUPP, through its spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Wednesday said in a press conference in Abuja that Hon. Gbajabiamila’s choice for speaker, was “morally, politically and constitutionally wrong” because of allegations of conviction and perjury against him.
The CUPP spokesman also disclosed that the Action Peoples Party (APP) had commenced criminal proceedings against Gbajabiamila before Grade I Area Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Karshi.
Declaring more support for Nwajiuba on Thursday in Abuja, the South-east Equity Alliance headed by a former commissioner in Imo state, Dr Orikeze Ajumbe and the Chuba Okadigbo Rainbow Organization led by Dr. James Okoroma have joined the campaign for the emergence of Imo born lawmaker as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
In a statement made available to Blueprint, the National Chairman of the Chuba Okadigbo Rainbow Organization, Okoroma said that Nwajiuba’s election as speaker would give the South-east a sense of belonging in the country.
He said that any arrangement in the National Assembly that excludes the South-east would generate feelings of Igbo marginalization.
He appealed to the national leadership of APC led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to balance the polity by ensuring that all ethnic nationalities are represented in the sharing of leadership positions to curb restiveness . He added that since the southwest has produced the vice president, the South-East should also be allowed to produce the speaker for fairness and balance.
He further expressed the view that the race for the speakership should be left to the South-east and the North-central which he said appear short changed at the top most level of the Nation’s political leadership.
