Anamero Dekeri, a House Representative member-elect from Edo State, has appealed to fellow lawmakers to respect the zoning formula adopted by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ongoing Speakership race. The APC had already announced Tajudeen Abbas from Kaduna and Benjamin Kalu from Abia State as their preferred choices for the speaker and deputy speaker positions of the 10th House of Representatives, respectively. However, six aspirants disputed the decision of the APC, insisting on continuing with their bids.
In the midst of the conflict, Mr Dekeri urged his colleagues to sheathe their swords and endorse the party’s preferred candidates. He commended the APC for endorsing Mr Abbas, whom he considered eminently qualified for the role. Mr Dekeri stressed that respecting the endorsement of preferred candidates by political parties is not an unusual practice in political history and urged his colleagues to uphold party supremacy.
Mr Dekeri praised Hon. Abbas Tajudeen’s rich legislative experience, versatility, capacity, and unmatched skill in human relations. According to him, Mr Tajudeen’s 40-year career spanned as a teacher, private sector operator, and finally a lawmaker, presenting him with over ten motions and a remarkable record of 73 bills, of which 21 have already been assented to by the President. As a third-term lawmaker soon to be elected to his fourth term, Hon Tajudeen had also chaired essential House committees such as legislative compliance, solid minerals, and land transport, including chairmanship of several ad hoc committees between 2015 and 2022.
Mr Dekeri further declared that should Mr Tajudeen emerge as Speaker, there would be a remarkable improvement in the performance of the House of Representatives. He noted that the house under Mr. Abbas would enhance service delivery, strengthen the conduct of legislative duties, and promote transparency. Mr Dekeri believes that the people of Nigeria would take pride in a people-parliament under Mr Abbas’s leadership, which is in line with the vision of APC’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It is essential that the members-elect understand the critical nature of the Speakership position and the importance of cooperating in promoting the best interest of the Nigerian people. Therefore, respecting party supremacy, as advocated by Mr Dekeri, would ensure a smooth legislature-executive relationship and advancement in Nigeria’s democratic practices.
