A leading caucus in the 10th green chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly, House of Representatives and the convener of the Nationalists Forum, has promised that the forum will soon reveal its zoning formula for the position of Speaker and other principal offices.
Chief Philip Agbese, the convener of the group, with over 200 membership of members-elect drawn across different parties, made this known on Thursday during an interview on TVC News.
Agbese said the forum will make public its template for Nigerians after a meeting with President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Giving a hint on what to expect, the lawmaker-elect representing Ado / Okpokwu / Ogbadibo federal constituency said the caucus is focused on competency and merit.
He, however, assured Nigerians that the most qualified candidate will emerge as Speaker for the people and the sentiments of ethnicity, tribe, and religion will be relegated to the background.
“We intend to do things differently and avoid the pitfall that legislators have experienced in the past. It is time to put behind party differences, ethnic and religious bias,” Agbese said.
“The Nationalists Forum galvanized members from different political parties. This is the most complex assembly in the history of Nigeria. We are working together for the good of the Nigerian masses.”
Asked about his thoughts on zoning, he added: “We are going to swap the offices, those in the north will go to the south and vice versa.
“We have come up with our zoning formula and we have looked at all these indices. We want a Nigerian Speaker for the Nigerian people. We are focused on the competency test. In the next few days, we will meet with the President-Elect and present our zoning formula.”
On the possibility of adopting a consensus candidate, Agbese said: “At the Nationalists Forum, we look at the merits of the aspirants that have presented themselves and then we put them through votes in our larger caucuse.
“Anyone who emerges will be put forward as our candidate. Zoning, party politics, and most important competency will be considered. We will then suggest to the President-elect.
“For the first time, we are having a President of the Nigerian people. At the Nationalists Forum, we are about competence and merits over sentiments. This is the time for healing. ” He said.
Source: Ochonu William