A group of House of Representatives members on Friday, revealed how Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu reached out to those who contested the House leadership positions with them in the spirit of sportsmanship.
The group which called itself Like-minds Legislators Forum is led by the member representing Ideato federal constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere.
According to Ugochinyere, Abbas and Kalu demonstrated a unique brand of leadership by making their opponents in the contest, chairmen of standing committees.
The group also made up of Jafaru Gambo (Bauchi), Sadiq Abdullahi (Kaduna), Anthony Adepoju (Oyo) and Ali Mustapha (Kaduna) said that Abbas and Kalu have, by their gesture, fulfilled the pledge to lead a united House.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the convener of the Forum, Ugochinyere said that the major challengers of Abbas who according to him were Ahmed Wase, Aliyu Betara, Aminu Jaji, Yusuf Gagdi, Ado Doguwa and Miriam Onuoha have been named chairmen of standing committees.
Ugochinyere who was also made the chairman of the Petroleum Resources (Downstream) said, “Majority of the members have commended the Speaker and his deputy for being able to carry all interests along in the decision that led to the composition of the principal officers and the chairmanship of the standing committees. So, the parliament is now more united than ever.
“You saw a composition that cut across different interests including those who fought him or those who didn’t even agree with him. There was no winner, no vanquished. Hon. Betara was given the FCT Development committee, Wase is Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Gagdi is Chairman, Committee on Navy, Jaji is Chairman, Committee on Ecological Funds, Onuoha was made chairman of TETFUND and Doguwa, Chairman of Petroleum Resources (Upstream).
“Even those who ran for deputy speaker were adequately represented. Those who even were frontline supporters of our other colleagues who had those aspirations were also adequately represented. Their key supporters were represented and are chairmen of committees. So that has shown the kind of men that Abbas and Benjamin Kalu are.
“They are people who do not draw a line, people who see parliament as one. So, the composition is a reflection of one parliament that they promised us, focusing on delivering people-driven legislation. And that’s why you can see the unity, the oneness, and all is set for the full business of the parliament by the time we come back in 6 weeks’ time.”
Ugochinyere further urged Nigerians to shun the “over-dramatization” of the committees, stressing all members are equal and enjoy the same status and privileges.
