A staunch member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and somehow a controversial figure, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has a few hours ago, endorsed Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila of the ruling Party of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the seat of Speaker of the House of Representatives, as names are being thrown around for the position.
Chief Femi Fani-Kayode did his endorsement on his social media page, where he said he has known Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila for 40-years, and can attest to his character that he is a very good man and someone who has what it takes to lead the House as Speaker.
Taking to his Twitter handle, he said:
“I have known Femi Gbajabiamila
for 40 years and I can assure you that he will make a great Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives” he said
On their political differences, he had this to say about that:
“We may disagree politically but I must confess that he is a profoundly good man representing a great constituency.I wish him well” he said.
This might have come as a surprise to many, given what has happened between the PDP and APC and how parties would want their members to always speak and be on the side of their political parties no matter what. But Chief Femi Fani-Kayode seems not to be bothered about all the party discipline preaching, as he voices out his choice for the Speakership which is still a debate within APC, while PDP looks on.
Honourbale Femi Gbajabiamila no doubts, has all the qualities and trust of his party, but with the current Speaker, Speaker Yakubu Dogara returning to the House after winning a re-election, can he (Femi) be able to convince Dogara that he can lead the House?
Some people might also want to argue that APC got this and that, so, the Speakership will be solely be decided by them…whether or not we like it, who ever that is likely to emerge the next Speaker, will definitely need the support of Speaker Yakubu Dogara to emerge, irrespective of party zoning.
Another point also, is the issue of zoning. The north would want the seat of the Speakership, even when they already have the Presidency. Given their numbers in the House, they can easily decide who becomes what or not in the House. This is why Femi should not depend solely on the words of the APC National Leadership, as it is a different ball game when comes to members picking their Speaker and other leaders of the House.
The House went against party zoinig in 2015, and same thing could happen this time around. The same 2015 scenerio could play out again, as the North and East could form alliance for both the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, thereby killing the ambition of the South West to produce the Speaker, and South South Deputy Speaker.
…we are watching and waiting…lol