Students body must speaks on issues of leadership beyond mere endorsement says Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago, an aspirant for the office of the speakership, Fed. House of Representatives yesterday when he received the leadership of students’ apex body in the nation, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by her president, Comrade Bamidele Danielson Akpan in his campaign secretariat Abuja.
The group which represents the interest of students across all tertiary institutions in the country expressed admiration of the honorable member impressive academic and career credentials who they said had not only excelled in Politics but had lived an impressive lifestyle worthy of emulation and assured Nigerians of Hon. Bago’s capacity to lead the green chamber.
The President, Danielson Akpan in his speech expressed the conviction of students’ body on his potency, virtues and prowess to lead the 9th assembly at the Lower chamber successfully. The national executives are thus prepared to mobilize her members to reach out to their representatives in the green chamber across the country to buy into the vision of electing the relatable, youthful and experienced member as the next speaker of the National assembly, says the president.
In his response, Umaru Bago appreciated the leadership of the student body for deeming it fit to identify with one of theirs. He stated that his aspiration is fueled by the need to ensure equity and fairness among the six geo-political zones of the country, protect the interest of the North-Central in ensuring the zone gets fair share and not denied representation as well provide best leadership for the green chamber.
Bago, who has been elected for third term having joined the House in 2011, said the unilateral decision by a section of the party, All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the office of the speaker to the South-West was undemocratic, lacking equity and unfair to other geo-political zones. He is convinced that excluding a zone that gave the APC the third highest votes at the Presidential election will not be fair and just.
“The party was jointly-built by pragmatic efforts of several Nigerians to change the status-quo, the issue of one individual, who wants to take a decision for the 9th assembly is unacceptable. There is no retreat, no surrender. Honestly speaking, we are in for this game and it is non-negotiable,” Bago said.
He emphasized the need for balancing in government, giving all the geo-political zones a sense of belonging in leadership position while also maintaining the independence of the parliament. Bago stated that his candidacy is one which would further stamp the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure a youth-inclusive government if he becomes the speaker of the House of Representatives.
The 45 years-old Niger state-born lawmaker therefore urged the NANS officials to seek more toward correcting the public opinion which have demonized the parliament and also remind the public of the need to have an independent but cooperative national assembly for the benefit of the nation’s growth and the people.
It would be noted that out of the six geo-political zones in the country, five of them have produced either the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House at different times since 1999 with the exception of North-Central zone , where Hon. Bago hails from.
It is not about me but about Nigeria and Nigerians says the third term Niger born lower chamber parliamentarian of the Nigeria National Assembly.
