A coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis of Progressive Parliamentary Support Alliance (PPSA) on Thursday urged all House of Representatives members-elect in the 10th Assembly to unanimously cede the position of deputy speaker to a christian lawmaker from South-south region.
The Coalition’s position was conveyed in a statement jointly issued by its chairman, Bala Mohammed and secretary, Boboye Akinrefon and made available to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja.
They expressed solidarity for the incumbent deputy chairman, House committee on power Francis Waive
and member representing Ughelli North/ Ughelli South-Udu Federal Constituency of Delta State.
While stressing that the election of a christian deputy speaker will go a long way to balance religion, equity and justice in tandem with federal character principle in the 10th Assembly, the coalition revealed that Waive has all it takes to deputise a speaker in the 10th Assembly.
The Coalition specifically emphasised the need to ensure that Christians have adequate representation in the body of Principal Officers in the Green Chamber, while urging President-elect, Bola Tinubu to cede the position of deputy speaker in the 10th Assembly to Christians from the South-south geo-political zone in person of Waive.
The group argued that after diligent assessment of all the lawmakers from the South/south region, it found Waive worthy of being elected as the deputy speaker.
“We wish to put on record that we are not opposed to the choice of a Muslim Speaker in the 10th Assembly, but we wish to unequivocally demand for religious balancing especially among the two Principal Officers – Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
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“This becomes very germane to the principles of fairness and equity. Recall that Nigerians and Christian Community took it in good faith when the leadership of APC resorted to the Muslim-Muslim joint ticket in the 9th Assembly.
“And it is very expedient to point out that with the Muslim-Muslim joint ticket which was replicated with the choice of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kasim Shettima, the Parliament should reflect religious balancing.
“From series of assessment carried out on all the three geo-political zones – South South, South West and South East, we can attest to the character and personality of Honourable Reverend Francis Waive as the man fit for the job.
“Our assessment was premises on the proficiency and high sense of responsibility discharged by Hon. Francis Waive as Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Power.
“Looking at his pedigree in the 9th Assembly, we can authoritatively state that Honourable Francis Waive has demonstrated utmost diligence as member of various Standing Committees including: Finance, Banking & Currency, Capital Market, Housing & Habitat, North East Development Commission, Niger Delta Development Commission, Sustainable Development Goals, Steel and Mines Development, Pilgrim, Foreign Affairs, Privatisation & Commercialisation, Police Affairs and Host Communities.
“From all indications, Honourable Francis Waive is fit for the office of the Deputy Speaker, not only because of his performance in the aforementioned capacities, but as a Gentleman per excellence as well as his ability to coordinate the affairs of the Parliament.
“We strongly believe that Honourable Francis Waive has the capacity to provide the support for whosoever is nominated as the Speaker in the 10th Assembly and handle critical role of Committee of the Whole as well as Committee of the Supply at any give time,” the statement reads in part.
