The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun, has again rebuffed calls for his resignation to pave way for Femi Gbajabiamila to occupy the office.
Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress have reportedly mounted pressure on Mr. Lasun to step down for Mr. Gbajabiamila as a way to resolve the lingering leadership crisis in the lower legislative chamber.
Mr. Gbajabiamila, who was the party’s choice for the position of Speaker, lost to Yakubu Dogara.
The Deputy Speaker, who hails from the South West zone as Mr. Gbajabiamila met with some leaders of the party over the weekend.
Receiving the leaders of the Abuja chapter of the Ilobu Development Union, in his office in Abuja on Monday, Mr. Lasun insisted he would not resign because he was not appointed into the position but popularly elected by his colleagues.
The Deputy Speaker hails from Ilobu in Osun State.
“Ilobu has been voting for progressives. My community is a big supporter of APC,” he said.
“I’m qualified to be the deputy speaker because my town contributed immensely to APC victory.
“You cannot reap where you did not sow. A total of 357 members of the House participated in my election and I scored 203 votes to emerge the deputy speaker. The election was televised live for the whole world to see.”
Mr. Lasun said his people would be robbed if he yields to the pressure to resigns and that it would be difficult for the APC to say that the condition for peace in the House is for him to quit.
“As far as I am concerned, Ilobu is benefiting from what it has contributed to APC,” he said.
The leader of the union, Olaitan Ahmed, had earlier warned those who allegedly asked the deputy speaker to resign not to stampede him out of office.
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