Even as the All Progressives Congress (APC) was yet to approve a zoning formula, a socio-political group, Gateway for Empowerment and Justice for Peace Initiative, has drummed support for Hon. Pally Iriase as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The Chairman of the group, Obemiasor Olusegun Abebe, in a press briefing in Abuja, yesterday said Iriase, who represents Owan East/West Constituency of Edo State from the South-south zone, deserves to be the next speaker because of his achievements and valuable contributions on the floor of the parliament in the last four years.
While calling on the leadership of the APC and other lawmakers in the House of Representatives to support Iriase’s ambition, Abebe maintained that if Iriase becomes the speaker, his leadership would impact positively in the implementation of government policies and programmes and the consolidation of the APC as the majority in the National Assembly.
He maintained that because Iriase is a confirmed, tested and trusted team player, he will bring on board the synergy needed to work in tandem with whoever emerges as the next Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Abebe said: “We are not being sentimental on this cause; we are not supporting Iriase because he is from a particular geopolitical zone. We are supporting him to be the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, because we believe that he merits and deserves it. Iriase is one of the lawmakers with the most diversified working experience both in the private and public sectors, capped with cognate hands-on political experience both at the grassroots level and top leadership positions.
“It is no longer news that the South-south geopolitical zone of the country was hitherto predominantly PDP zone and a no-go area for the opposition, but as a grass roots politician, Hon. Iriase did not only win his election under the new opposition, he also ensured that his party scored the highest votes during the presidential and even the last gubernatorial elections that returned Governor Adams Oshiomhole for second term.
“Given this leadership position, we are very optimistic that Hon. Iriase will be the key arrowhead to bring the whole zone into the fold of the APC,” he said.
Abebe said that Iriase’s experience is so rich and diverse that there is no better candidate for the speaker, which has been zoned to the South-south by the leadership of the new ruling party, the APC.
“Hon. Pally Iriase has been an Assistant Controller at Omega Bank Plc (now fused into Enterprise Bank) from where he resigned and joined politics in 1998.
He has been Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly 1999 to 2003, with the distinction of being the only Speaker/Deputy Speaker to have served the full tenure of four years without being impeached in Edo State so far.
“He has been Chairman of Owan East local government council and doubled as ALGON chairman of Edo State from 2003 to 2007. He has been Secretary to Edo State Government, (SSG) 2008 to 2011, from where he resigned and successfully contested for membership of the House of Representatives in 2011.
“He was a ranking member of the group of politicians who took Edo State away from the PDP to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in 2007 general election. He is a member of the National Strategy Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Chairmanship of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State.
“ The cerebral team includes Chief John Oyegun, Alhaji Garuba Gadi, Mallam Nasir El rufai, senators Osita Izunaso and Adetunmbi, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Hadiza Bala Usman and Jimi Lawal,”he said.
Hon. Pally Iriase
