Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th National Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila has told lawmakers that will form the 10th National assembly that the President-Elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will issue a directive to all contestants for the position of speaker to withdraw from the race and support Tajudeen Abbass. But this has met with stiff opposition from members elect who insist that they should be allowed to choose who becomes the speaker of the lower chamber and not have candidates imposed on them by political parties.
Femi Gbajabiamila addressed members and Members elect in Abuja on Tuesday Night at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, the speaker was accompanied by Tajudeen Abbass whom he says is the preferred choice of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
He says the President Elect will prevail on other contestants to step-down for the candidate he has endorsed to become speaker.
Gbajabiamila told the Lawmakers that he had met with the President Elect on Tuesday to hold talks about the leadership of the 10th National assembly, he says Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has promised to invite Muktar Betara who is a leading contestant for the position of speaker and instruct him to step-down for Tajudeen Abass who is his most preferred choice for the position of Speaker.
This decision has caused so much discontent among lawmakers, many of who claim the move on undemocratic and it will also impede on the independence of the legislature, and promote the existence of a rubber stamp national assembly.
The lawmakers say they are united behind the choice of a popular candidate because they believe he has the best credentials fit for the office of speaker and he also enjoys tremendous support from other lawmakers in the parliarment.
Members that addressed the press after the meeting say they are unhappy with the manner with which Femi Gbajabiamila is handling the national assembly, having also contested for the position of speaker three times in the past, against the principle of zoning.
The lawmakers committed to support the emergence of a popular candidate and appealed to the President Elect not to attempt to truncate the democratic selection of the leadership of the national assembly. They insist that facts are there to show that Honourable Muktar Betara has been the stabilising force in the 9th National Assembly, and is a natural choice for the position of speaker.
They advised the President-Elect not to be misled by Femi Gbajabiamila’s but should consult widely among lawmakers to know the facts on ground.