TheCable

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo, says the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) nominations for national assembly leadership positions is not an imposition.

Uzodinma, who is the chairperson of the APC governors’ forum, spoke on Monday when he received some house of representatives members-elect at his residence in Abuja.

APC had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom, and Abbas Tajudeen, a house of representatives member from Kaduna, as presiding officers of the 10th national assembly.

While Akpabio was nominated for president of the senate, Tajudeen was endorsed as speaker of the house of representatives.

The party also nominated Barau Jibrin, a senator representing Kano north, as deputy senate president, and Benjamin Kalu, a lawmaker from Abia and current house spokesperson, as deputy speaker.

However, some lawmakers and stakeholders opposed the nominations, describing them as impositions.

Uzodinma said the APC has only made good choices for the national assembly.

“There’s no such thing as an imposition, it’s for the benefit of all of us and the synergy will help us to achieve more for our people back home,” he said.

“You certainly don’t want to go home after four years and tell your people you couldn’t achieve anything because you were not cooperating with the executive for their benefit, but when you work in harmony, you will reap the benefits of the cooperation and your people back home will be the better for it.”

Uzodinma asked Abbas and Kalu to reach out and persuade aggrieved aspirants to “see the reason” to agree with the governing party’s decisions.

“When you have a situation such as this, you will tell others your party is the best and in this instance, APC is in the majority and we have to demonstrate maturity by forging a common front in unity,” he said.

In his remarks, Abbas said the 10th house of representatives under his leadership will be productive and work in Nigeria’s interest.