Zoning: NASS shouldn’t be treated as govt department – Yusuf Gagdi

Chairman House Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has said that the National Assembly should not be treated like a department of government.

This is coming after the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party yesterday officially announced the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godwin Akpabio, as its consensus candidate for the position of senate president in the 10th Assembly.

Akpabio according to the zoning formula released by APC is to be assisted by the chairman of the senate committee on appropriation, senator Jibrin Barau, who would be the new deputy senate president.

Also, in the green chamber, the seat of speaker of the house of representatives was zoned to popular Kaduna lawmaker, Tajudeen Abass, while the rep-elect from Southeast clinched the deputy speaker slot.

Gagdi who is aspiring for the speakership of the 10th house of representatives while responding to the position of the National Working Committee of his party, said he was not worried about the zoning of positions of principal officers of the 10th National Assembly because he was a victim of such, yet finally won.

In an interview on Channels TV’s Sunrise Daily Gagdi said, “I don’t think it is something that I need to be bothered or worried about.

“Moreso I was a victim of that. I contested for deputy speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly. Government had its candidate but members elected me and such things have been happening in the National Assembly.

“I don’t think anybody needs to be worried that party has zoned positions. I don’t even see that as zoning. I see that as party appointing people to preside over affairs of the National Assembly and National Assembly for any reason should not be treated like a department of government.”

Gagdi alleged that the APC’s zoning was meant to intimidate members, adding that the party’s NWC were acting the script of some individuals.

“It meant to intimidate the entire members and you will see it in the unfolding event, from the news going round before this decision you know definitely the NWC of APC are acting the script of the few individuals.

“I have heard news on social media prior to this moment that some people particularly around the President-elect prefer some certain personalities. So I say it to all Nigerians without any apology to anybody if NWC signed that position of zoning and issued it out they are acting the script of few individuals,” he added.