Members-elect of the House of Representatives are launching another alliance soon, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June.
The PUNCH reliably gathered on Wednesday that the group of members-elect, who were drawn from across party lines, would be known as ‘The 10th Assembly Pathfinders.’
The Pathfinders group would be the third coalition or alliance by members-elect of the 10th House towards the election and selection of leaders for the legislative chamber, especially the presiding officers – Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
Our correspondent obtained a copy of the agenda of the new group, which is billed for launch soon after the National Assembly resumes from Easter and Ramadan break on Tuesday.
The mission statement of The 10th Assembly Pathfinders is “to build a strong, independent, respectable parliament that will work for Nigerians and make Nigeria more stable, peaceful, and prosperous.”
The document partly read, “We are a group of parliamentarians drawn across political party lines for the purpose of building a network of nation builders who will use the platform of the legislature to propose, support, and promote legislative activities to:
“Promote national unity, good governance, responsible leadership, and prosperity of all parts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; promote healthy conversation, debates, and collaboration for national development; ensure equity, fairness, competence, and justice in the allocation of offices, responsibilities, resources, and powers in the 10th House of Representatives; ensure inclusiveness in the leadership composition of the 10th House of Representatives; and harness the social, economic and professional expertise of members of the 10th House of Representatives to propose bills, motions and advocacy for national development.”
When contacted, one of those leading the alliance, Bamidele Salam, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Osun State, confirmed the development.
The ranking lawmaker noted that the groups were not formed to compete with one another, noting that he belongs to one of the coalitions that emerged earlier.
Salam said, “We have gone very far. At the last count, we were over a hundred. Our agenda is two-fold: the first is to support the emergence of a leadership that will be credible, competent and respectable. We want to look at all the people who are vying for positions, to look at credibility, competence and those that will earn respect for the institution.”
When asked about party membership of The 10th Assembly Pathfinders, the lawmaker noted that it was across party lines.
Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the coalition of minority parties may suffer a setback as some of the leaders of the movement were said to have openly supported an aspirant on the platform of the APC.
A ranking member of the House, who was at the Abuja meeting, said the members-elect later realised that the agenda of the coalition might be different from what the conveners claimed.
