By Barr. Yusufu Shehu Usman, mni

Just when at the time we are complaining that Nasarawa State is the dark horse of the North Central zone, receiving the short end of the stick in terms of zonal political appointments, we again found ourselves in a darker light of local politics as recently demonstrated to whole world by the way and manner our House of Assembly conducted it’s election for the seat of the Speaker

For purpose of putting the record straight, I have no personal interest in who among the contestants should emerge as Speaker.

I however, believe that having played my part in the election of a member who will represent my constituency, I believe that the election of who may eventually emerge as the Speaker of the House of Assembly should be left entirely in the hands of the members elect to collectively decide.

I don’t believe that even the respective political parties that sponsored them to the House of Assembly, should interfere with the process of the election of the Speaker or at any rate, should not play a dominant role in the process

The reason for my position is that the Legislature is not elected to work for any political party but for the entire citizens of the State; including those who are not members of any political party and even those who did not vote for any political party during the election

Therefore the Speaker of the House of Assembly should be a servant of all and not the projector of any political party or it’s program

It’s therefore very sad, unfortunate and disheartening that the election of the Speaker should be subjected to such acrimonious partisanship that threatens the relative peace being enjoyed across the State

It will not be far from the truth to say that the State House of Assembly has found it self in the deep mess it is now, because of conflicting interests of the most powerful gladiators and powers behind the two candidates in contention, both of whom are members of the ruling APC in the State

There is hardly any reason to suggest in the contest that either party to the controversial election is acting for the overall interest of the teeming masses of Nasarawa State

It’s simply a conflict of interest between and amongst powerful leaders of the APC, who do not seem to have forgiven each other from the divisive outcome of the party primaries.

It’s therefore not in the interest of the people of Nasarawa State that the election of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, should polarise or divide the State in the unfortunate and dangerous manner we have witnessed as the fall out of the election, which has controversially produced two Speakers for the only one House of Assembly