The Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has assured newly members-elect that they would not be left behind in the administration of the House.
Honourable Gbajabiamila gave the assurance while addressing members of the 10th Joint Task in Abuja.
He said that he wants the best for the legislature and that he hopes that the tenth assembly would be better than the ninth.
The speaker admonished them to respect the position of the APC on the zoning of the speakership and deputy speaker positions in the 10th assembly.
He stated that the fact that the ruling party has pointed to the direction it wants to go in respect of the leadership of the House does not amount to compromising the independence of the legislature.
The speaker, while speaking on his roles in the emergence of the Tambuwal as speaker noted that “I was the leader of the project, when we installed Tambuwal
I regret it.”
My Decision
Gbajabiamila explained that his decision to support the APC preferred candidate for the speakership position, Tajudeen Abass was because of his capacity, and that all he wants was the best for the House because of his love for the institution.
He says, “Nobody is compromising the independence of the legislature. The fact that your party says this is where we are going, does not mean compromising the independence of the legislature. Many of us are new here. At the end of the day we have to be mindful if one thing. The party has its leaders. The governors at the state are very powerful
“I only ask you for one thing. I want you to trust me . I want you to trust my judgment. Even if it a leap of faith. For somebody who love the institution, I will not lead you astray.
“If I don’t support you today, we all have to fear God. It is for a reason. It is not because I don’t like you. It is because I eat, I drink, I sleep and wake with the legislature in my heart. I love that institution so much that I decided to support the person that is least closest to me out of those who are running. Because of tremendous capacity. I want a speaker who can stand toe to toe with any speaker in Africa and the world.”
He stressed that he was supporting Abbas because he was a man with tremendous capacity and a speaker the youths will be proud of.
Gbajabiamila while praising Abass, said he has 78 bills and 21 has been passed into law.
He enjoined the members elect to trust him and trust hisyjudgment as he can never lead them astray.
On his part, Honourable Tajudeen Abbas, the All Progressives Party Speakership candidate, said that he would consolidate on the achievements of the ninth assembly.
He also advised the members elect not to go against the government decision to avoid repercussions.
He clarified that he was not as close to the speaker as other candidates.”
“He stood by me because he believe I can sustain the achievements of the ninth assembly,” Abbas said.
Underground Checks
He advised the members elect to do their underground checks and find out about the contestants you know who to vote for.
“Please gentlemen, do your search. We are leaders and must be able to do research,” he said.
He also advised that the period of cooperation is always better than the period of rebellion.
“If you are here to take dividends of democracy to your people, you need to be submissive to the government,” he said.
He promised to allocate committees to members as at when due.
He used the opportunity to clear the claim that he was a Yoruba man.
He said that he was a ” Hausanised” Fulani man from Kaduna state.
“With the right corporation and the right synergy, there is no limit you what we can achieve,” honourable Abbas added.
Also, speaking at the meeting, former Akwa Ibom state governor, Godswill Akpabio, charged the House of Representatives members-elect to respect the government.
” I just want to congratulate my colleagues here for their election into the Hoise of Representatives. I want to leave a sentence with you. My late mother told me that i should be aware of the three Gs. The first G is God. The second G is gun. The third G is government. The first G is God almighty. The second G is the is the gun. The third one is the government. May you conduct affairs mindful of the admonition of my late mother by respecting the 3 Gs, God, government and gun. And particularly respect the government,” Akpabio said.
APC , had last week, named Akpabio as its preferred candidate for the office Senate President in the 10th assembly, Jibrin Barau, Deputy Senate President. The party also endorsed Tajudeen Abass and Benjamin Kalu as its choice for the speaker and deputy speaker positions.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of Joint Task, Usman Kumo, said that the group was out to ensure that there was a rancour free 10th Assembly for good governance by ensuring that the resolution of the ruling party was implemented.
“In the 10th Assembly we will try to work harmoniously with the executive. In the two different instances 7th Assembly, in the 8th Assembly budget were not implemented because they were attacked.
He said that it was also meant to cross fertilise ideas and to rally round the party’s adopted choice.
Similarly, the Deputy Speakership candidate, Honourable Benjamin Kalu, said that the 10th House would need all views to have a balance legislative assembly.
” We will help you uphold the problem of your constitutuencies,” he promised.
One of the Speakership candidates and a member of the G7, Honourable Alhassan Ado Dogua, said he has given up his speakership ambition.
” When my party came up with zoning arrangements, to north west, I therefore have to surrender my ambition.I have benefited from party arrangements, this kind of arrangement. I’m majority leader courtesy of my party. So it’s only fair stand beside my party’s decision. Time has come for me to pay back. We are here individually and collectively to support Tajudeen . We are surrendering our speakership ambition. The selection process of Abass is not biased and he and Kalu are qualified to be speaker and deputy.
Confidence Okwuchi
