Facts are beginning to emerge that some northern members of the national caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were the ones who convinced President Good-luck Jonathan and the top echelon of the party to retain the Speakership position in the South-West.

Sunday Tribune gathered in Abuja that the same group of northern politicians were the ones who raised the issue of religion as a factor in balancing of power distribution.

They had argued that the senate president should be a Christian, while the speaker of the House of Representatives should be a Muslim.

Party officials who attended the Obudu Retreat with President Jonathan and his Deputy, Namadi Sambo in attendance, disclosed that elders of the party had concluded on the south-west as custodian of the Speakership position and were wholly supported by the northern representatives at the Retreat.

It was on that basis that the caucus was prevailed upon to zone the post of deputy speaker to the North-West against the initial consideration of North-East for the post.

Northern members of PDP who supported the South-West were emphatic that a male be equally picked from the zone as the next speaker on the basis that Muslims generally would be more at home with a male rather than a female.

The religious consideration was said to have been the reason they settled for Honourable Muraina Ajiblola, while certain members were said to have openly reflected on the past experience in the House in 2007 when the first-ever Nigerian female Speaker, Honourable Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, lost her job on consideration along religion.

Although the former speaker, according to reports, lost the post for granting of anticipatory approval on contracts for renovation of her official residence and that of the Deputy Speaker, the unexplained reason for her ouster from office hung on her religious background amid initial ambivalence of her Muslim colleagues to her leadership.

The same religious reason was said to have been responsible for non-consideration of South-East for the post of House Speaker.

Fear was also expressed that any female who emerged could easily be manipulated, and eventually consumed, by the intricate politics in the House, given the high level of treachery and intrigues that usually characterise politics in the lower chamber.

The need to avoid a pitfall of the House in which case any female Speaker so elected would later be impeached or operate in atmosphere of crises, was a reason many of the caucus members resolved to support a male candidate for the post.

There have been reports that much as Senator Gbemisola Saraki would make appreciable showing in her ambition to be governor of Kwara State, tapping from the connection and firm grip on politics in her state by the father, Chief Olusola Saraki, the influence of religion was considered as the bane of her efforts, most especially as she was ranked on gender basis.

Northern members of PDP are taking further steps in proving the point they struck at Obudu by pledging support for Muraina after a meeting they held in Abuja last Friday night.

A principal official told Sunday Tribune that the northern caucus in the House resolved to support the lawmaker to be Speaker, the party national caucus having concluded plans to prompt him to take over the office.

The source, who is currently a House Committee Chairman, said the record of the Speakership aspirant from Igboora, Oyo State, sold him out as a man who would hold the office effectively if given the chance, being a lawyer, a vocal member, disciplined and loyal party member who had performed creditably in all the assignments he had handled.
Why Jonathan, PDP opted for Muraina Ajibola as Speaker .