South-East Young Professionals, a pressure group, has canvassed support for House of Representatives member-elect, Ibe Osonwa (LP-Abia), to run for the office of the Speaker of the House.

The Group’s Coordinator, Uzor Ngoladi, made the position known when he led members of the association on a courtesy visit to the member-elect in Abuja on Friday.

The group said it was endorsing Mr Osonwa, who is to represent Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia in the 10th House of Representatives, because he is vocal and vibrant.

Mr Ngoladi said: “We are here to encourage you to join the speakership race; we are here to congratulate Osonwa who has been elected member of the House of Representatives.

“We are here to engage and encourage him. As he begins his legislative duties there are issues that are bothering young people.

“Osonwa is a vibrant young politician. He will make sure that the issues of southerners are not left behind in this new administration, especially in the National Assembly.”

He, however, urged the lawmaker-elect to formulate laws that would favour all Nigerians.

On ranking and zoning, Mr Ngoladi said that it would be jettisoned, adding that “we saw in the last election; in all the political parties that zoning formula was jettisoned.

“So it can also be jettisoned in the National Assembly. It’s not constitutional.

“There is no where it is written that if you have not been in the National Assembly and you are a first timer that you cannot vie for speakership.”

In his remarks, Mr Osonwa who appreciated the group for the visit said that it was an honour for the group to believe that he was qualified to vie for speakership.

He said: “We are taking everything into consideration while speaking to the leadership of the House and the South-East caucus.

“This is moving sand. No positions have been taken. We do not get to elect the speaker until June 13.

“While the Constitution does not recognise ranking members but the House Standing Rules does, we will consult to know what our issues are.

“We are going to embark on a mission of national integration. Diversity should not be our weak point but our strength and we must harness it,” he said.

Mr Osonwa, who said that the security of lives and property was paramount, promised to come up with bills and motions that would be security-centred.

He also said that there were endless possibilities in Nigeria if the country developed technologically. 

(NAN)