Speakership: Wase Blames Gbajabiamila For Not Advising APC On Zoning

Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has been blamed for failing to advise the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the zoning of positions in the 10th National Assembly.

Idris Wase, the Deputy Speaker who has also entered the speakership race, took the blame in an interview with Channels Television on Friday.

Wase stated that Gbajabiamila should have shown the APC the “right” path to take on the issue of zoning 10th NASS principal positions.

Recall that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the party’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, endorsed Godswill Akpabio of the South-South as the candidate for Senate Presidency, with Senator Jibrin Barau of the North-West as his deputy.

While in the lower legislative chamber, Abbas Tajuddeen of the North-West was elected speaker, with Benjamin Kalu of the South East serving as his deputy.

The incumbent deputy Speaker, on the other hand, has stated that he will not feel betrayed by his principal actions, despite the fact that he consulted with him on his ambition before the party released its zoning preferences.

Wase stated that the party should have given him the right of first refusal, but he is not surprised by Gbajabiamila’s actions because politics is about defending one’s interests.

Wase claimed that his geopolitical zone, North-Central, merits consideration for one of the four top principal positions in the tenth national assembly.

He said;

I consulted with him (Gbajabiamila). We had a meeting at his house and I showed my interest.

I cannot feel betrayed, it is politics. Everybody is trying to protect his own interest. He told me that if the party zones it (speakership position) to my own area, he will definitely support me.

That has been his own words. Then, being in a position within the hierarchy of the party where discussions are held, I think it is his responsibility to guide the party properly and advise them that the procedure and process they want to take is not the right course. I don’t hold any malice. I don’t think I should do so.

I want to believe that the party has a good intention to unite Nigeria. In terms of contribution, why will the north-central not be considered, if the South East was considered? I think north-central deserves more.