The Kwara State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday criticised the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Yemi Afolayan, for justifying the amendment of the House of Assembly’s rules barring the opposition from occupying leadership position.

Afolayan, who was the Chairman, House Committee on Information, reportedly said the amendment was a replication of the Senate’s position, which disallows fresh lawmakers from occupying leadership positions.

In a statement by its Chairman, Kayode Olawepo, ACN described the Assembly’s position and that of Afolayan as confusing.

The statement reads in part: “While Yemi Afolayan claims that the House is replicating the position of the Senate, that no fresher will occupy any leadership seat, the House itself is claiming that the rule was made in December, 2008. Whichever way you look at it, it shows Kwara PDP is confused, clueless and selfish. The PDP-led House should know that the position of House Minority Leader is not a jamboree.

“The House Minority Leader, in all democratic convention, is to lead his fellow opposition members to articulate at all times necessary, the policy position of their party on the floor of the House. He is to lead his colleague(s) to offer alternative view on whatever issues being discussed in the House.

“The position of the Minority Leader serves a very big purpose of giving voice to the minority in the House. Our democracy is modelled after America’s representative democracy. There, the House Minority Leader serves as the minority party’s counterpart to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“A Representative is elected to the post by the minority party caucus. The Minority Leader speaks for the minority party and its policies, strives to protect the minority’s rights, and devises parliamentary strategies and tactics for maximising the influence of the minority party on legislative outcomes.