Sequel to the zoning of the 10th House of Representatives speaker, Ahmed Wase and Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, has promised to protect the legislature’s independence with a resolve to push ahead with their aspirations.

Mr Wase is the incumbent deputy speaker, while Mr Ado-Doguwa is the leader of the house, both belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Reacting immediately after the speaker and deputy speaker seats zoning by the National Working Committee of the APC, Mr Wase stated, “I want to add that we are here to ensure the independence of the parliament. To ensure that we work together. Every parliamentarian must rise to the occasion.”

He added, “When you say you have a consensus candidate, the language for consensus is that there have been mass consultations, people go to the table for discussion, there is agreement.”

Mr Wase added, “In this case, we are hearing that some people have been made consensus candidates. I don’t know whether that is the meaning of consensus. This place (NASS) is very sacred. We must be honourable in our action in defence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Mr Ado-Doguwa said the parliament must always be allowed to choose its leaders, adding that it is not for outsiders to decide who leads the legislature.

“One message I want to send across is that the parliament is one institution that must always be allowed to choose its own leaders. The business of our leadership should be solely our business and no other person’s business,” Mr Ado-Doguwa stressed.

The APC legislator further stressed that a situation where “you have some people in whatsoever guise trying to decide our leadership, to form our leadership from outside without consulting us I think that should be seen as a mere failure.”

(NAN)