NANS Visit: There is no going Back – Hon. Bago

_Says student body must speak to issues of leadership not just endorsement_

Hon. Umaru Mohammed Bago, an aspirant for the  office of the speakership of the House of Representatives yesterday received the leadership of students’ apex body in the nation; National Association of Nigerian Students NANS led by her president, Comrade Bamidele Danielson Akpan in his campaign secretariat in Abuja.

The group which represents the interest of students across all tertiary institution in the country expressed admiration of the honorable member impressive academic and career credentials who they said had not only excelled in Politics but had lived an impressive lifestyle worthy of emulation. 

The President, Danielson Akpan in his speech expressed that the student body is convinced of the capacity and virtues of Hon. Bago to lead the 9th assembly at the Lower chamber of the National Assembly successfully. He said the national executives are thus prepared to mobilize her members to reach out to their representatives in the green chamber across the country to buy into the vision of electing the relatable, youthful and experienced member as the next speaker of the National assembly.

In his response, Umaru Bago appreciated the leadership of the student body for deeming it fit to identify with one of theirs. He stated that his aspiration is fueled by the need to ensure equity and fairness among the six geo-political zones of the country, protect the interest of the North-Central in ensuring the zone gets fair share and not denied representation.

Bago, who has been elected for third term having joined the House in 2011, said the unilateral decision by a section of the party, All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the office of the speaker to the South-West was undemocratic and unfair to other geo-political zones. He is convinced that excluding a zone that gave the APC the third highest votes at the Presidential election will not be fair and just.

“The party was jointly-built by pragmatic efforts of several Nigerians to change the status-quo, the issue of one individual, who wants to take a decision for the 9th assembly is unacceptable. There is no retreat, no surrender. Honestly speaking, we are in for this game and it is non-negotiable,” Bago said.

He emphasized the need for balancing in government, giving all the geo-political zones sense of belonging in leadership while also maintaining the independence of the parliament. Bago stated that his candidacy is one which would further stamp the desire of President Muhammadu Buhari administration to ensure a youth-inclusive government if he becomes the speaker of the House of Representatives.

The 45 years-old Niger state-born lawmaker therefore urged the NANS officials to seek more to correct the public opinion which have demonized the parliament and also remind the public of the need to have an independent but cooperative national assembly for the benefit of the nation’s growth and the people.

It would be noted that out of the six geo-political zones in the country, five of them have produced either the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House at different times since 1999 with the exception North-Central zone only, where Hon. Bago hails from.