House of Reps must defend and protect its rules and procedures — Group

From Yusufu Idegu, Jos

A Plateau group known as Vanguards Against Enemies of Democracy (VAED) has urged members of the House of Representatives to stand firmly in defense of House rules and procedures.

The group warned that issues that have to do with House rules and procedures should not be politicised or handled with political sentiments.

It described the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, as a lover of all Nigerians and a detribalised Nigerian.

Mr Tongzum Barde, Director of Public Communications of the group, who spoke at a press conference in Jos on Thursday, expressed dismay over he called “legislative disputation on procedure between the Deputy Speaker Wase and Hon. Gbilah which has been hijacked by political opportunists.”

Barde noted that the Rt. Hon. Wase “is a seasoned legislator and a consecutively fourth term Member of the House of Representatives with nearly 16 years of legislative experience to his credit.”

The group described the Reps Deputy Speaker as an experienced Member who enjoys a wide range of admiration and solidarity from his people in Plateau State and other well-meaning Nigerians.

It called on Nigerians to respect the country’s democracy and stay clear of ridiculing the process.

VAED also charged all patriotic Nigerians to channel their energy at uniting the people, especially in the current challenges facing the country.

The group expressed worry over the recent happenings in the National Assembly involving the Speaker and a Member noting that ethnic profiling should not be an issue.

It observed that the petition did not carry a defined person or traceable entity as it is contained in the house rules, hence the action of the Deputy Speaker which they said was the right thing to do.

VAED called on the leadership of the National Assembly “to be united and stand for the cause of all Nigerians at this period thereby enriching the country’s democracy.”