New Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara said that his emergence as Speaker was a demonstration of the commitment of the lawmakers’ resolve to sustain the independence of the legislature.
Dogara edged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Femi Gbajabiamila, 182-174 votes to emerge the speaker. Dogara too is a member of the APC from Bauchi state.
“What has been demonstrated here today is the resolve of members of the House to assert the independence of the legislature as co-equal arm of government.
“My dear colleagues, by electing me as speaker, you have demonstrated to the world that our legislature is living up to the dreams and aspirations of our founding fathers.
“You are leaving a legacy of an accountable, autonomous, focused, progressive and united House, capable of playing its role as the stabilising force in our polity.
“We have shown once again that this is a House of the Nigerian people.’’
The speaker urged members of the 8th National Assembly to unite against the challenges confronting the country.
“We are poised to use our new office to wage a mortal combat with the cancer of corruption, incompetence, insecurity, bad governance and infrastructural decay.
“We shall wage an unrelenting legislative war on insecurity, unemployment, poverty, lack of power supply, educational inadequacies, health problems and social decay.
“After 16 years of unbroken experiment in constitutional democracy, it is right to say that the Nigerian legislature has come of age.
“The House continues to remain the repository of the democratic hopes and ambitious of our people.
“This is a truly representative chamber that can be relied upon to rise to the occasion when duty calls.’’
Dogara represents Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro Bass, Tafawa Belewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.
Gbajabiamila, who served as the House Minority Leader in the 7th assembly, congratulated Dogara with a hug before the result was announced by clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Salisu Maikasuwa on the floor of the House.
Dogara’s emergence followed his nomination for the position by Rep. Abdulmumini Jibrin (Kano-APC).
However, two votes were voided, while two members did not participate in the election, Maikasuwa said.