By Dennis Agbo

ENUGU- A coalition of South East Civil Societies and Human Rights Organisations have opened up campaign for the member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, to become the speaker of the House of Representatives in the coming 9th Assembly, starting from June this year.

File: House of Assembly

Onyejeocha who currently is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on aviation, was first elected into the House in 2007, has done three terms under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and recently won election for a fourth term under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The coalition in a press conference in Enugu, Wednesday, urged President Mohammadu Buhari to support the emergence of Onyejeocha as speaker to douse the impression that he was averse to Igbo progress in Nigeria polity.

The coalition led by Dr Jasper Uche of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Comrade Ibuchukwu Ezike as conveners, stated that Onyejeocha’s emergence would mean mainstreaming gender equality in Nigeria to follow the lines of Liberia and Malawi in Africa that have produced Women leaders.

They went ahead to say that the 9th Assembly would be peopled by few women and that if Onyejeocha becomes Speaker, Nigeria’s global perception index will rise.

“President Mohammadu Buhari said he will form a National government and this is an opportunity to do that. South East has not had a shot at Speaker-ship since 1999. It is the next highest position we have not had a shot.

Breaking: Distribution of materials on at Warri South INEC

“Onyejeocha is a credible woman that is eminently qualified, she is a very senior ranking member of the House and it is an advantage she belongs to APC the ruling party,” Uche said.

The coalition further noted that Onyejeocha has never been indicted or involved in any banana peel scandal, just as she was God-fearing.

The group stated that going by federal character principle and in the spirit of national tripod; the southeast should take the Speaker since the zone has held Senate Presidency and its deputy severally.

“She should be made speaker for APC’s increased inroad to the southeast; Abia State gave the needed 25% votes to Mr. President, to douse tension and assuage the feeling of exclusion and marginalization and to change the perception of Mr. President in the south east.

“Our verdict is that Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha is the most qualified from the southeast to take the speakership position in the 9th Assembly.”