A Nigerian legislator, Tajudeen Abbas, says the 9th Assembly has been the best in the history of Nigeria’s democracy in terms of what it has so far achieved and maintaining a cordial relationship with the Executive.
Abbas, who is a Speakership candidate for the 10th Assembly and also the preferred choice of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Lower Chambers, made the declaration in Abuja, while speaking to State House Correspondents, after a visit to President Bola Tinubu.
He said they discussed issues facing the country, including the removal of fuel subsidy.
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The candidate, who represents Zaria Constituency of Kaduna State, denied that the 9th House of Representatives was a rubber stamp.
Abbas, who was in company of his colleague in the bid to lead the 10th House of Representatives, Banjamin Kalu, assured that nobody can manipulate the 360 members of the House of Representatives.
“First of all, I would want them to go back to history. Let them tell us even in the few instances where the people who were ordinarily not endorsed by the governments of those days have done better than the leadership of the 9th Assembly, which we all believe was about the first time in 12 years that the thinking of the members of the National Assembly coincided with the thinking of the Executive.
“The 9th Assembly is by far, and I say it with all sense of humility, the best National Assembly that the Legislature and the Executive had a very mutually beneficial relationship. So many things were accomplished, so many things that ordinarily we would not have thought or contemplated would be achieved were achieved. So whoever is talking about the rubber stamp National Assembly does not know the workings of the National Assembly.
“Nobody, Speaker or Senate President, Deputy Speaker or Deputy Senate President, nobody can manipulate the 360 members of the House of Reps to make them do what is not in the best interest of the public and we have shown from our conduct in the 9th Assembly that for the very first time, even with the cordial relationship between the Executive and the Legislature, we had cause, for the very first time, to summon Mr. President, to come to the National Assembly to address some issues of security as at that time.
“So if you’re talking about rubber stamps, I wonder if anyone can summon Mr. President to come and explain issues that ordinarily he would have invited us or assign somebody to come and answer our questions.
“There has never been any compromise in the National Assembly. The autonomy of the National Assembly has always been maintained, and it will continue to be maintained. There will be no way that the independence of our National Assembly under our leadership will be compromised. Actually this you can take to the market,” he said.
Party’s Choice
Responding to a question about dissension within the ranks of members of the House that are from the governing party, over their candidature and the support of the party, Abbas said everything was being done to carry aggrieved members along, assuring that come June 13, all members of the House would speak as one.
“I want to assure you that for those who know me, either in the National Assembly or outside the National Assembly, they will tell you one thing very peculiar to me is that I’m a peacemaker. I’m somebody who relates with everyone, I’m a team player.
“We are reaching out to all the aggrieved candidates, we’re doing everything humanly possible in ensuring that we carry them along and I want to assure you that come June 13, the House will speak as one
“They are very resolute and determined in ensuring that no one single aggrieved voice will come to bear after June 13. We’ll carry everyone along and the House of Representatives will continue to operate as one, with one single voice. That you can take to the market,” he said.
