The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will install Speaker of the incoming 9th Assembly, Timothy Golu (PDP plateau) has declared.
He boasted that the party has all it takes to win the speakership slot having done it so well in the past.
He dismissed the majority strength of the All Progressives Party (APC), saying it won’t count during the election.
Golu, who spoke with reporters in the National Assembly Complex on Sunday, said: “When Jonathan wanted Mulikat, the members voted for Tambuwal; when Buhari wanted Femi Gbajabiamila, the same thing.
“So, this time around, they are going to do the same thing to shoot the candidate of the presidency out.
“They would have kept quiet. Coming out to do this thing was even the worst of strategy for the APC.
“They have exposed themselves. In fact, to me now the way I see it, the candidacy of Ahmed Lawal and Femi Gbajabiamila are dead on arrival.”
He faulted APC chieftains for endorsing candidates for NASS leadership, saying imposition will not work where lawmakers are concerned.
“None of them is a member of parliament and when the election will take place none of them will be there.
“They are only talking to impress so that the president will say this man is loyal. They are just playing to the gallery.
“As far as I am concerned, Oshiomhole is playing to the gallery. He doesn’t know what happens in here. They don’t feel forms to do this election.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is not involved where he can manipulate. It is the members themselves; nobody filled form. So, somebody can wake up that day and contest.”
He added: “So, it is not possible because apart from the presiding officers, that are the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker and his deputy, which can go to any political party, there are offices reserved constitutionally for all parties; majority party and the minority party.
“But for the presiding officers, anybody can be. That is why today you have Ekweremadu as deputy senate president.
“We had wanted to make Leo Ogor as the Deputy Speaker of the House that time but we didn’t want to breach the friendship agreement we initially initiated.
“If not, the same people who voted for Dogara; the same number, were ready to vote for Leo Ogor and so we would have had the
same situation we have in the Senate.”
He argued majority will not help APC to win the NASS leadership, stating: “when Dogara came out, how many APC people voted for him?
“Only about 40 and he became Speaker. That is why they refer to him as PDP Speaker.
“Bukola Saraki, how many APC people voted for him? Only about 15 and that is why they say he is PDP Senate President.
“So, this time around they will see the PDP person in his own real colour because the way they are going about it, they are trying to intimidate – they are doing it to harass.
“Meanwhile, PDP has about 42 Senators, they only need an APC man who will bring 15 Senator and that is all.
“And if you are in their shoes would you subscribe to an Ahmed Lawan that is being imposed by the presidency over a party to come and become your Senate President?
“No! People like Goje and the rest of them can go into the race, just get 10 or 15. PDP is ready to go one block.
“This is not Federal Executive Council (FEC) where they have their chamber there. This is the National Assembly where we have gallery.
“Everybody sits down there and then watch what will happen. It is not FEC where they ask everybody to go out and then they take a decision and it is final.”
He said the APC is at a disadvantage because it cannot penalize lawmakers for voting against its directives.
Golu explained: “There is no decision that can be taken here. No APC man or party can sack an elected APC Senator.
“People know these things. After their elections, it is the party that will start begging them.
“It is the presidency that will start begging them. They don’t know how they won the election. It is just under the party.”
Golu said what APC is saying outside is to cow. “You can’t cow anybody at this level.”
He added: “I am telling you. Except the National Assembly is not inaugurated and what the president only has to do is that the National Assembly is going to be inaugurated on this day.
“He would not be there! He doesn’t have a vote! The Vice President doesn’t have a vote. No minister has a vote. Oshiomhole cannot come close. So why saying this type of thing?
“You people will be there. You will see how it goes. How are you going to announce that nobody should contest?
“You cannot block anybody from coming here, that it is meant for Femi Gbajabiamila, that it is meant for Lawan. This is child’s play. I don’t know why they take national issues as childish as that. It is not!”
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