By Kemi Yesufu
Deputy Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Pally Iriase (Owan Federal Constituency. Edo State) has said that the Leader of the House. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila would have won the June 10 Speakership contest even if the party has not pin-pointed him as a choice candidate.
According to Iriase, the lawmaker’s experience and support base amongst his colleagues would have seen him through.
He said: ‘’Let me say right away that the House is a self-regulating one. The constitution gives the House the ability and authority to amongst themselves, chose or elect their presiding officers, first of which is the Speaker.
“So, if that is the position of the Constitution, then, the House historically, has always been able to determine who is the best amongst several people who will put interest forward.
“It’s not a crime for any elected member, particularly re-elected members to want to give the speakership a shot. But whether he would win is for the entire membership of the House to decide.
He said that the party went ahead to be person-specific after zoning the speakership position to the South-west was unnecessary.
“From the outset, let me say that It was totally unnecessary. We’ve passed this road before, I don’t know why we don’t learn from history, but I pray that this time around, history does not repeat itself and I don’t wish it.
“Because, from the outset, let truth be told, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, by himself, has paid the dues in this House of Representatives, he has proved his onions, he is very cerebral, he is totally well prepared, in fact, over prepared to take the mantle of leadership as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“So, to me then, the House is unnecessarily heated up by the party now making a statement as if they can and will ride roughshod on the membership of the 9th Assembly. That is why everybody was saying ah, what are we going to run into.
“Gbajabiamila comes across as an agreeable, approachable leader who will be able to cope with the demands of the office of the Speaker. So, why then are we meddlesomely making it look like it’s our voice that will give it to him?
“So, that is the real problem and the poor man is sweating all over the place, unnecessarily, I must say. And I don’t envy him, I can say from my heart that he is eminently qualified, and would have been able to muster enough support based on the love that his personality engendered.”
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