Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers state has said that members of the House of Representatives from the State will throw their weight behind any candidate unanimously presented by the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the position of Speaker.
He, however, insisted that nominees as principal officers of the House of Representatives must be individuals with the requisite experience to steer the legislature.
Wike made these known when the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase, led a delegation of other lawmakers to pay him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt, Monday.
Wike explained that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won 11 out of the 13 federal constituencies in the State, adding that Rivers lawmakers will back whoever the national leadership of APC presents as their sole candidate for the Speakership of the House of Representatives.
“The way we are now, the truth must be told that we are going to support the leadership of your party at the national level. I am not going to support anybody that is coming from anywhere.”
The governor, however, insisted that only those with the requisite experience and the capacity to stabilise the country should be presented as principal officers of the 10th House of Representatives.
“You (Wase) are an experienced person. What we require now is experience as far as the legislature is concerned. Experience will stabilise the house. So, you don’t require a greenhorn.”
Governor Wike reiterated that he remains grateful to the APC governors and other leaders of the party for zoning the party’s presidential ticket to the South. According to him, by this decision, the APC leaders have demonstrated their firm belief in the inclusivity of every section of Nigeria in the scheme of things.
The Rivers State governor maintained that the decision of the APC to zone the presidency to the South is in sync with the fundamental objectives of the PDP G-5 governors for equity, fairness and justice.
Governor Wike congratulated Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase for winning the Wase federal constituency of Plateau State in the February 25, 2023, National Assembly election.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase told governor Wike that he was in Port Harcourt with his delegation that cut across various political parties to solicit his support ahead of the election of the Speaker of the 10th House.
Wase commended Governor Wike for his stance on power shift to the South. According to him, by this, the governor has distinguished himself as a man of character and a firm believer in the unity of the country.
