President Tinubu stressed the crucial role of the incoming 10th National Assembly’s leadership in the success of his administration. He emphasized the importance of starting the new parliament on the right foot.
In light of this, the President has issued a directive to provide full support to the preferred candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the presiding officer positions.
The President made the directive Wednesday night when he met with Senators-elect and Members-elect of the APC at the Presidential Villa, with the ruling party’s governors and other leaders in attendance.
The President’s directive, which was issued recently, highlights the importance of cohesive party support and collaboration in achieving the party’s objectives. By endorsing the preferred candidates, the President aims to strengthen the APC’s influence and effectiveness within the legislative framework.
Details from the meeting revealed that Tinubu was emphatic on the successful election of Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as the Speaker of the House, Senator Jubrin Barau as Hon. Benjamin Kalu as deputy Senate president and House deputy speaker respectively.
A source privy to the meeting who doesn’t want his name on print confirmed that “the President appealed/begged them to work for Akpabio, Abbas, Barau, and Kalu respectively.”
The source added that “the candidates were chosen for the stability of the nation”, adding that the president placed a huge premium on the incoming national assembly leadership for the success of his administration.
Among the speakership aspirants present at the gathering were notable figures such as Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu, the immediate past chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations from Borno State. Also in attendance was Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi from Plateau State, the chairman of the Committee on Navy. Joining them were Hon. Miriam Onuoha from Imo State, who serves as the Chairperson of the Committee on People With Disability, and Hon. Sada Soli from Katsina State, the Chairman of the Committee on Water Resources.
The source however stated that the immediate past deputy speaker and speakership aspirant, Ahmed Idris Wase from Plateau State, and another aspirant, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji from Zamfara State, were absent.
It will be recalled that Wase in his remarks during the valedictory session of the House on Wednesday, rebuffed the idea of a consensus candidate, insisting on contesting for the office.
“Of course, I want to appreciate my political leaders, among whom I would say is Solomon Lar, who, when I was contesting in 2007, I went to him and he prophesied the number of times I will come to this Assembly and I will tell this crowd and to the world, that he said, I will come to the Assembly in the number of times and prophesied even the number of leadership that I will attain and the Deputy Speakership, and he prophesied next when I return, and I believe I will be Speaker and I believe, Insha Allah, I will be the Speaker of the Green Chambers,” Wase said.
