9th ASSEMBLY INDUCTION AND ORIENTATION AMIDST CAMPAIGN FOR LEADERSHIP

Ineletuctable provisional convention to abreast the 9th assembly with legislative business after the elections and presentation of certificate of returns to both Senators and Hon. Members, Federal House of Representatives by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). NASS entreated the legislators to a dinner on 31st March followed by an induction and orientation seminar at Transcorp Hilton Abuja. The induction and orientation seminar, designed to acquaint and educate legislators especially first timers on rudimentary of legislation in accordance with world best practices aiming to deepen democracy and engender good governance in the country. The venue was however, flaunted with arrays of gifted items, standing flex banners and other campaign materials of persons and interested parties in the leadership of the 9th assembly. The exit of Dr. Dst. Sen. Bokola Saraki, panafricreporters.com gathered that senators elected on the platform of APC are already gearing up for the exalted seat to provide adequate leadership to cooporate and complement the expected policies and programs of the executive arm of government. Some political actors, Pundits and commentators are of the view that status quo stand , zoning of the Senate presidency should remain in the north Central, some opined that the Senate presidency should be zoned to the South South or South East while others argued that North East should be allowed to produce the next Senate president. In a similar vein, the tussle for the speakership of Federal House of Representatives gets tense as interested agitations filtered in from many quarters. Members who spoke to our reporters yesterday on anonymocity said ” we won’t accept muslem muslem leadership in the 9th assembly” while other school of thought among them held strongly on competency and party supremacy. A group yet to come out with a comprehensive name said that all the Geo political zones has produced speaker of the Fed. House of Reps. except the North Central therefore appeal to party leadership, other well meaning parliamentarians and Nigerians to support their struggle to birth justice and equity. In a reaction, the Hon. Member said ” a stand with north central to producing the next speaker is a stand for justice and equity. Remember, the All Progrocssive Congress as a party has give their total support and unflinching backing to Dist. Sen. Alhmed Lawal for Senate president and Hon. Femi Gbajamila for speaker, Fed. House of Reps. but the position of the ruling part does not deterred others from expressing and campaign for the office of the Senate president and speaker, Fed. House of Reps. respectively. The party will have it say but the majority will have their way as the case of Saraki and Dogara in 2015 if the situation is not well managed by the ruling party says commentator. Onwe Wisdom