As the momentum of the race for positions of presiding officers in the 9th Assembly hots-up, MOSES ORJIME examines the effects of zoning and balance on the power sharing formula
Since the inception of Nigeria’s fourth republic, political awareness has triggered a zoning formula amongst the six geo-political zones, with a view to ensure balance in the polity.
The narrative of faith based interest has also crept into the power equation. Before now, the religious factor was only considered as factor in states with huge population of Christian and Muslims but often ignored in states with huge Muslim or Christian population.
Interestingly, this narrative is now being introduced into the power sharing formula at National Assembly. Although, the leadership structure of the two chambers in the National Assembly has at different times respected religious biases, it was never a major consideration in the scramble for positions.
For instance, between 2007 and 2015, the Senate President, David Mark who is Christian from Benue state led the Senate with a Christian deputy, Ike Ekwerenmadu from Enugu State.
Also, in the House of Representatives, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole, a Muslim from Ogun State led the Green Chamber with a Muslim deputy, Usman Bayero Nafada from Gombe state.
Therefore, demands by faith based organisations and lobbyists may not apply to leadership of the National Assembly.
However, a factor that may be uneasy to ignore is the geopolitical spread of political positions, particularly in the House of Representatives, where a member from the South-west zone seems to be leading the contest.
In the Senate almost all the contenders for the position of Senate President are from the North-east zone, while the position of deputy senate president is being jostled for by senators from other zones, particularly South-east, South-south and South-west zones.
Apparently, it is more likely that a senator from the North-east will clinch the exalted position of the Senate President, as the three contestants so far; Ahmed Lawan (Yobe state), Ali Ndume (Borno state) and Danjuma Goje (Gombe) are from the zone.
The situation however appears complicated in the House of Representatives, where a ranking member from the South-west appears to be the leading contender.
Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who is the current majority leader of the House, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he clinches the position. He is also enjoying strong back-up of the APC structure and unalloyed support from the National Leader of the party, Ashiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
However, going by recent antecedents of the Green Chamber, the party’s choice may not emerge. This foundation was laid in 2011 when the then ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) zoned the Speakership position to the South-west and announced preference for a former majority leader, Hon Mulikat Akande-Adeola. Gbajabiamila and his cohorts then of the ACN and backed a recalcitrant Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who is now the Governor of Sokoto State, to emerge as Speaker as against the preferred candidate of the PDP.
History repeated itself in 2015, and Gbajabiamila was paid in his own coin. Some members of the ruling APC teamed-up against Gbajabiamila who was favored by the party. With this arrangement, the incumbent speaker, Yakubu Dogara emerged and Gbajabiamila became the Majority Leader.
The same fate may await the very experienced lawmaker as the seed of discord sown by him and others in 2011 has germinated and blossomed.
This time around, there is a justifiable reason to turn the table against Gbajabiamila, as the North-central zone which has not been represented in the current power equation is mounting pressure to produce the Speaker.
Read Also:
Although, North-central zone had retained the position of deputy senate president for about seven years, senate president for 12 uninterrupted years, during the period, other geopolitical zones had a fair share in the power deal.
Giving the contribution of the zone to the election success of the APC, the zone considers it unfair to be rewarded with the position of deputy speaker.
The North-central lawmakers are particularly appalled that the South-west which contributed meagre votes to the APC wants to take the Speakership position, after the zone has produced the vice president. At best, the South-west should produce the deputy senate president or deputy speaker of the House.
Speaking on behalf of the North-central caucus, a member from Benue state, John Dyegh noted that the call was in the spirit of equity and justice.
“We, the members of the North-central Caucus of the All Progressives Congress in the House of Representatives, called this briefing to express our position with respect to the leadership position of the ninth Assembly.
“You are not unaware of the interest the issue of the leadership of the next assembly has generated in the public space. We want to use this medium to acknowledge the supremacy of our party, the APC, in addressing the issue of zoning of positions in an equitable, just and fair manner that will foster unity and cordial relations among members of our party and our colleagues from the other political divides,” Gyegh stated.
While it is incontrovertible that Gbajabiamila posesses all the qualities of a speaker, he does command the influence to whittle down the agitation from the North-central zone. Yet, Gbajabiamila chose to appoint a new entrant from Kwara State, Hon. Tunji Ajuloopin as the North-central Coordinator of his campaign organisation.
Gbajabiamila would have to work hard to get the position as there are suitable personality from the North-central zone who command loyalty and respect of members across the geopolitical zones.
Hon. Idris Wase has demonstrated good leadership qualities among his colleagues and to his constituents, which earned him the current position as the deputy majority leader of the House, following the demise of former deputy leader Buba Jubril.
Due to his commitment to the fairness and federal character principle, Wase, was made the chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character in the 7th Assembly, retaining the same position during the current 8th Assembly until his elevation to become the Deputy House Leader late last year.
As the Chairman of the Federal Character Committee, he fought consistently to bridge the disparity and imbalances in various states and regions in terms of employment and infrastructural distribution to bring them in line with the constitutional requirement of federal character. He has distinguished himself as a man keen on justice, equity and fairness.
He became known as a go-getter for employment opportunities for members and staff of the National Assembly, a development that has endeared him to many of his colleagues and the staff of the federal legislature. This has brought him close to almost all members in both the 7th and 8th Assembly, since he was considered as an instrument against geopolitical oppression.
Wase is not the only lawmaker from North-central gunning for the Speakership position. His closest contender from the zone, Umar Bago from Niger State might not have as robust a patronage as Wase. Still, it does not rule Bago out of contention as he is known to have the capacity to pull his political weight.
In the spirit of zoning, contenders for the Speakership position from other zones, in exemption of Gbajabiamila may be raising their stakes to negotiate a fair deal in the 9th House of Representatives.
Without prejudice to the likes of Hon Aliyu Betara from Borno State who undoubtedly commands influence and respect of his colleagues, he may not be considered for the position if his zone produces the Senate President.
