‘He’s the most qualified’ — two PDP reps endorse Gbaja

Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the house of representatives have endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, for speaker in the 9th assembly.

Wole Oke and Jerry Alagbaso from Osun and Imo states respectively endorsed Gbajabiamila when the lawmaker declared interest in the position in Abuja on Sunday.

The APC, which is clearly ahead of PDP by 100 seats in the green chamber, is expected to produce the next speaker.

Oke said Gbajabiamila has years of experience and understands the workings of the house of representatives.

“Femi Gbajabiamila and my good self came to the house in 2003. We have worked together and I know him in and out,” he said.

“I can’t see anybody that is more qualified than him. He understands the house rules and constitution. Aside that, he is a very fair-minded person. A networker.

“We from the south-west are giving you one of our best. Honestly I will be with him all through.”

Alagbaso  said there is no doubt Gbajabiamila is the most qualified to replace Yakubu Dogara, current speaker of the house.

He said: “All of us know Femi Gbajabiamila but let me say, to all of you vying for speaker, I want to warn that some of you are behaving like some people promised police uniform but have started making arrests.

“My brother Femi, there is no doubt you are the most qualified to lead us, but it requires consultation. You need to see elders like us. You need to do the needful. Meet us so that all of us can work together.

“For me, I am going to support you provided, when you kill a cow, threw certain things you need to remove before sharing so that it will not cause trouble. So we need to see after this declaration.”

Abdulmumin Jibrin, lawmaker from Kano state and director-general of Gbajabiamila campaign organisation, said the lawmaker is in the race for the interest of Nigerians.

He said: “The candidacy of Femi is not about he himself but about our democracy; it is about sanitising and strengthening our democracy and bringing about global best practices.

“Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila stands out as the best candidate we can offer for this position; experience, brilliance, ability to relate with people.”

The leadership of the PDP has said its members will contest key positions in the national assembly.