Rep Yusuf Gagdi, an aspirant for the position of House of Representatives speaker, has vowed not to respect party supremacy when it is against justice.
Gagdi was reacting to the endorsement of Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker and Benjamin Kalu as Deputy Speaker by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Abbas represents Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna State in the North West and Kalu represents Bende federal constituency of Abia State in the South East.
But speaking with some select journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Gadgi, who represents Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke federal constituency of Plateau State, said the APC zoning formula lacked equity, justice and fairness especially to the North-Central which he said contributed immensely to the victory of the party in the February 25 general elections.
Gagdi, the Chairman of House Committer on Navy, is also a member of G7, a group of aggrieved speakership aspirants. Others in the G7 are Reps Muktar Betara, Ahmed Wase, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Sada Soli, Aminu Jaji and Miriam Onuoha.
The 42-year-old lawmaker said it was not fair to ignore the North-central zone that produced 5 out of 6 governors for APC, 11 out of 18 Senators and gave the second highest number of votes to Tinubu. He added that out of the six key offices in the executive and legislature, the zone was not rewarded with one.
He said: “Our President -elect Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has promised that he would reward loyalty and commitment. He would reward those who bring something to the table. He won only one local government in Kaduna State -Birnin Gwari because he visited them when bandits were attacking them. The man said he would stand with you through thick and thin.
“In a state that won only one local government you are giving the Speaker’s seat to them. It negates even the commitment of the president -elect. What the party did has contradicted the promise and the commitment and the way of politics of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Zamfara gave the highest votes in the North West and yet you are not giving them anything. You are giving to a state that gave you one local government. Are we rewarding disloyalty? Where is the principle of Asiwaju here that the party tore and threw away?”
“We are not against Asiwaju. We have not heard anything from him whether he has zoned or endorsed a particular candidate. Except that the candidate , particularly the one of the House of Representatives is the one and his co-travellers saying”.
Gadgi, while insisting that it was unacceptable to give two key legislative offices to North West, further said that it was illogical to chant party supremacy where there is gross injustice to its members.
“I won’t respect party supremacy when it is against justice. Why am I elected in the national Assembly? I am elected to represent Nigerians and to ensure justice. Then the party that I seek election under its platform will be aiding and abetting injustice and you expect me to respect that supremacy?
“I have analysed these things to you that even the deaf and dumb agrees that there is injustice and then you are talking about party supremacy. What are they talking about? Have you heard anybody from the north central zone talking about party supremacy?
“Let them say it and see whether they would not sacrifice their political future in the north central zone. North central governors and elected officials met and what was their resolution?
“Even our governors are saying yes they are loyal to the party but yet justice has not been done to us. I am a loyal party man, perhaps those people saying that have not done what I have done for APC to win”, Gagdi said, according to Vanguard newspaper.
