The deputy national youth leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Afeez Mobolaji Repete has advocated for the zoning of the speakership position of the House of Representatives to Oyo state.
Repete, as he is fondly called, spoke with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
According to Repete, who doubles as the special adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on sport and youth development, conceding the position to the pace-setter State will accord the state a sense of recognition of its immense contributions to the progress, development and unity of the country.
This is just as Repete also congratulated the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari for his victory at the polls, saying that the victory belongs to all Nigerians because the contest was between the majority of the masses and few elites.
OYO INSIGHT recalled that the party secured victory in 9 out of the 14 federal constituencies and 2 out of the 3 senatorial district in the state.
He premised his demand for the speakership position on the the fact that the state has long been denied the position despite being the political headquarters of the South West.
He explained that during the 7th Assembly, Oyo state lost the position of speakership, adding that there are lots of lessons learnt from it.
Urging the party to ensure that the position comes to Oyo state this time around, he lamented that in the past Oyo state has suffered discrimination and apathy, stressing that now is the time to accord the state its rightful dues.
”Yes, something better this time around, Oyo state is blessed with many responsible politicians, majority are in APC, the state is endowed with people that have dedicated themselves to the service of humanity, so we are expecting nothing less than the speakership of the National Assembly and I think we deserve it and we can achieve it.
”I believe having the position of speakership would help us a lot and not only the state alone it would also influence the development of other states in the Southwest, in the areas of infrastructural development, federal government projects, employment opportunities and others. At the National Assembly there is always a consideration for the principal officers before others and that will help the state”, he explained.
While expressing warm appreciation to Nigerians for re-electing Buhari, Repete rejoiced with Nigerians for bringing back a government that means well for them and the country at large. He added that they deserved to be commended because they worked for it.
He said ”if you look at the composition of the National Assembly now we have the overwhelming majority and this will help the party to deliver its promises to the people because there will be harmonious working relationship between the legislature and the executive arm of government, so we are happy for this and I believe that we will make use of this opportunity to redeem the perception of people about the APC government.”
