Speakership hopeful: I’m one of the best talents Tinubu will find to partner with

Yusuf Gagdi, a member of the house of representatives aspiring to become the speaker of the 10th assembly, says he is one of the “best talents” President-elect Bola Tinubu will find to partner with.

Gagdi spoke on Saturday when he officially announced his intention to run for the speaker of the lower legislative chamber.

The Plateau federal lawmaker asked Tinubu to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the speakership position to the north-central.

He said the north-central has not produced a speaker since 1999, noting that for equity and fairness, the number four seat should be orbited to the geo-political zone.

“I am confident that our President-elect, a talent hunter, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Asiwanu, will take Nigeria to the promised land,” Gagdi said.

“Our President-elect is a talent hunter and I declare to all Nigerians that Asiwaju will find one of the best talents in Yusuf Adamu Gagdi to partner with.

“I call on our President-elect, who is a talent hunter and a democrat, to support the party to zone the speakership to the north and in the same spirit of justice, equity and fairness.

“Let it be zone to the north and let the north-central that has never produced a speaker from 1999 to date be given that privilege of justice, equity and fairness to produce the speaker.

“Let the members-elect be allowed to choose whosoever they feel can deliver dividends of democracy and good governance to the Nigerian people.”

Gagdi also unveiled a manifesto he plans to achieve if elected speaker.

The speaker hopeful said he would ensure transparency in the running of the affairs of the house of representatives and make the lawmakers more accountable to the people.

“The manifesto I am presenting to you today articulates the internal reforms of the house of representatives I intend to pursue as speaker, as well as the policy priorities I intend to champion through the legislative process,” he said.

“I am presenting this document today because I want to initiate a national conversation about what the proper function of parliament in our country ought to be.

“It is also my desire to ensure that the campaign for the speakership of the 10th house of representatives is informed by considerations of the substantial issues of our nationhood rather than the pedestrian concerns that too often influence our politics.

“We need to open the operations of the house of representatives to the Nigerian people so that they understand why we exist and why it is worthwhile to expend scarce resources on our operations.”

Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau, currently chairs the committee on the navy.