A professor of Law and Political Science, Mojeed Alabi, has formally declared his interest to contest for the post of Speaker of the incoming House of Representatives.
Alabi, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Ede North/ Ede South/ Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency, made the declaration on Thursday in an expression of interest letter released in Abuja at the ongoing induction programme for incoming members of the 8th National Assembly.
In it, the University don with vast practical and theoretical experience in lawmaking and parliamentary practice said ”The 8th House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is like no other. Majority of the Members are newly elected into the Green Chambers of the National Assembly, with the democratic dictate of having its way in the choice of the Speaker.
“While the Standing Orders of the House requires “legislative experience” in the National Assembly {Order II Rule 4(a)}, the Constitution permits the Members to elect the Speaker “from among themselves” {s 50(1)(b)}.”
The PhD holder in Political Science from University of Ibadan and PhD from University of Leicester added: “Honourable Members can, as a matter of necessity, avoid a possible collision between the majority ‘first timers’ and the returnees by electing a Speaker that not only meets the requirements of cognate legislative experience enshrined in the Rules but also capable of enjoying the confidence of his/her peers. Stability of the House requires nothing less.”
The former Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly stressed that ‘‘In the light of this, I hereby present myself to all the elected and re-elected members of the HRs, for an opportunity to serve you as Speaker, taking into cognizance my antecedents, viz:
“Training:
Lawyer, called to the Bar in 1993
Political Scientist: BSc (Ife), MSc (Ife), PhD (Ibadan)
Legal Expert: LLB (Ibadan), LLM (Ife), PhD (Leicester)
“Legislative Experience:
Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly (May 1999-May 2003)
Trainer of legislators across the African parliaments as Head, Parliamentary Capacity Building Programme, African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD), Morocco, 2008-2010
Speaking engagements as Resource Person/Facilitator/Trainer/Lead Presenter on legislative processes in the last 15 years by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Actionaid International Nigeria (AAIN), Africa Leadership Forum (ALF), African Union’s Citizens and Diaspora Office (CIDO), African Parliamentary Knowledge Network (APKN),etc.
