He is not a man obsessed with titles. Gbajabiamila, a core professional who has been setting new feats in the legislative arm of the government set aside the strict norm of the corporate and accepted a well-deserved chieftaincy honour as the Agba-Akin of The Source, a coveted title bestowed on him by  His Imperial Eminence, Ooni of Ife and Adimula of Yorubaland, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II during the commemoration of the one year anniversary of enthronement of Alara of Ilara Kingdom, HRM, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Telade IV.

The Agba-Akin, loosely translated as a bold figure in Yoruba language aptly captures the strides of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila in public office. Gbajabiamila reflected the culture of excellence and panache synonymous with law practice to his public service assignment.

He has been exceptional since 2003 when he was elected to represent the people of Surulere Federal Constituency in the green chamber. His leadership qualities threw him up as the most suitable candidate to lead the minority when the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP controlled the majority in the House.

The great re-alignment of forces in 2019 that turned the table favoured Gbajabiamila.  The plum office was not served to him A la carte. He was bold and courageous. He remained undaunted in the face of intimidation and cheap blackmail. He rallied tendencies in and outside his party and proved to them that he will lead a House they will all be proud of. In the end, fortune favours the bold.

He didn’t deviate from the commitment he made to his colleagues and the Nigerian people. For the first time since the beginning of the 4th Republic, the majority of Nigerians attest that the 9th National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, is people-oriented.

Read Also: NNPC breaks 44-year lull with N287b net profit

The House of Gbajabiamila has always stood with the people when it matters most. Barely a year in the saddle as the Speaker, Coronavirus took the world by storm and disrupted the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians and further worsened the precarious condition of the vulnerable segment of the Nigerian society.

He appealed to the Nigerian elite, especially the political class, to rise to the plight of the poor. He led by example by rallying members of the House to donate two months salaries to provide succour to depressed masses at the base of the pyramid. He didn’t stop there. Gbajabiamila took it upon himself to broker meetings between Power Distribution Companies, DISCOs with the view of providing at least two months of free electricity to the Nigerian people who were locked down at home.

Same demand was extended to cable television service providers. All these altruistic gestures were geared towards ensuring comfort for millions of Nigerians who were impacted by the worst pandemic in history. Gbajabiamila to the admiration of Nigerians demonstrated uncommon leadership in the time of crisis.

When doctors who were the frontline essential workers in the thick of the pandemic rage were denied their rights, Gbajabiamila rose in their defence and took a bipartisan position and rattled the minister of Health, a member of his political party who was not speaking right on the concerns of the doctors.

When the diplomatic row was brewing in neighbouring Ghana over the inhuman treatment of Nigerian traders and other nationals in the country. Gbajabiamila rose to the challenge and forestalled the impending crisis. He took the matter to President Muhammadu Buhari and flew to the neighbouring country to meet with Ghanian authorities. When Nigerians were attacked in South Africa over xenophobia, the Speaker stood stoutly against the injustice. Ditto for the unkind treatment of Nigerians in China, Gbajabiamila made a case for respect for the dignity of Nigerians.

“If the diplomatic relationships between our two countries are for the mutual benefits of our citizens, then, there must be respect for our citizens, and we should not compromise it. As a government, we will not allow Chinese or other nationals to be maltreated just as we will not allow Nigerians to be maltreated in other countries. The way you treat your citizens, we expect that’s how you’ll treat others. We will not tolerate our citizens breaking your laws, but the crime of one citizen cannot be used to stigmatize the whole country. It appears that’s what happened in this case. You can’t use one brush to smear the whole wall. Whatever the reason, it cannot be used and taken out on the entire community in China”, he said after meeting with a Chinese envoy.

The activities of the Speaker since he assumed speakership has shown that he is a man who can be trusted. Under his watch hundreds of bills and motions are considered and passed.  In his constituency, he is touching lives in a remarkable way. Hospitals, roads and schools and other critical infrastructure that will improve the human capital index are top most on his agenda.

Gbajabiamila facilitated one project or the other for all tertiary institutions in Lagos. From UNILAG to LASU and LASPOTECH, students and other stakeholders can attest to how the Speaker is changing the narrative.

So, when the Arole Oodua conferred Agba-Akin title on Gbajabiamila. It is a re-affirmation of the bold steps that the Speaker has taken since he assumed the position of speaker.