APC Chieftain Urges National Assembly Leaders To Brace For Task Ahead
A member of the National Working Committee of All Progressives Congress, Tolu Bankole, has urged the new leaders of the 10th National Assembly to brace for the huge task ahead of them.
Bankole’s appeal comes in the wake of Tuesday’s election of principal offices into the National Assembly, where the ruling party’s preferred candidates won their respective elective positions.
In the upper chamber, former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, and Jibrin Barau emerged as Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively.
Akpabio, who was declared the winner by Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambuwal, garnered 63 votes to defeat former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulazeez Yari, who could only amass 46 votes.
In the House of Representatives, popular Kaduna politician, Tajudeen Abass, and South-East legislator, Benjamin Kalu, also clinched the seats of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the lower chamber.
Reacting to their victory in a statement issued in Abuja hours after their legislators’ inauguration, Bankole urged the elected leaders to remember that much as they are expected to ensure there is a synergy between the executive and legislative arms, their loyalty must be to Nigerians
This is even as the APC national leader for people living with disabilities admonished the lawmakers to always consider the plight of PWDs whenever certain laws are to be made.
He said, “We must remind ourselves of the need to remain focused on the legislative agenda for the emancipation of our people. You are in the saddle as a result of people’s trust across the length and breadth of Nigeria. This is the moment to be circumspect, roll up your sleeves and all hands must be deployed on deck to alleviate poverty, push back insecurity, unemployment and the likes through innovative legislative actions.
“The 10th leadership must work as a team with President Bola Tinubu’s administration while maintaining the delicate balance of separation of powers. Your loyalty must be to Nigerians, who will judge your success not by the number of bills passed but when the majority of Nigerians attest to the socio-economic good arising from the laws. In other words, the good must be seen and felt by Nigerians.”
He said; “Your oversight functions and legislative interventions must support all policies that will make Nigerians happy, better and prosperous. The elite must be willing to lead sacrificially to close the near-infinite gap between the masses and the rich in our bid to achieve development. Money is not a passport to heaven. Also, all international economic policies that will make Nigerians poorer should be jettisoned no matter the intention.
“The National Assembly should expect robust engagements from persons with disabilities, or PWDs, as we in return expect your support on all matters of inclusivity. We are better together in love. I wish you well as you take over the mantle of leadership in the tenth Assembly.”
NP/ Mercy Chukwudiebere
