Governors and other chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) continued to hail the appointments of former Benue State Governor, Sen. George Akume and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, by President Bola Tinubu as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Chief of Staff (COS) to the President respectively.
While Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State described the appointments as well deserved, a call to national service and reward for patriotism, Governor of Ebonyi, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru said the appointments were testimonies of sterling performances of the appointees in their previous positions of trust. Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, and other APC chieftains have also congratulated the duo on their appointments.
On the choice of Senator Akume as SGF, Governor Uzodimma said “he has sustained an enviable political trajectory, offering valuable service to our great nation and therefore, his appointment as the SGF is a patriotic call for more service to the nation.” He also described Gbajabiamila’s appointment as meritorious. “Gbajabiamila will no doubt, bring his expertise to bear in his new assignment as the Chief of Staff to the President, especially as a true nationalist he is and I wish him success on the job,” the governor said.
Governor Nwifuru, in a statement by is Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor, also congratulated Akume, Gbajabiamila and Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia on their appointments, describing the appointments as well deserved. Governor Nwifuru commended the President for choosing them to contribute their wealth of experiences in nation building. He prayed God to give them all the enablements to help Mr. President achieve his campaign promises.
A statement by the Media Unit of the Stability Group of the Akpabio/Barau Campaign Organisation, also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing two of their former and serving colleagues into decisions making positions in his government. They assured the President that the two former lawmakers would bring to bear their cherished experiences in public positions and assist him actualise the much expected Renewed Hope for Nigerians.
“We congratulate our former colleague, Senator George Akume on his appointment as the SGF. This is a well-deserved appointment for a man who has garnered a lot of experiences as a two-term governor, a ranked Senator and just recently, Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Akume is bringing to the table wealth of experience that would assist the President achieve his programme of Renewed Hope for Nigerians in the years ahead. Let us also congratulate one of our finest legislator and serving colleague, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila on his appointment as the Chief of Staff to the President.
“His appointment into the sensitive office of the CoS to the President comes with a lot of responsibilities and sacrifice, but we are confident that his over 20 years experience in the legislative arm of government would go a long way into assisting the president in actualising his programe. Finally, we thank our dear President on these appointments. It is a clear demonstration of the fact that he is in a hurry to make life comfortable for the ordinary Nigerians. It is also a demonstration of his knack for quality and competence,” the statement said.
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Hon. Gagdi, Chairman of the House Committee on Navy and one of the top contenders for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said Gbejabiamila will create a productive working relationship between the Executive and Legislative arm of government. The lawmaker who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau state said as a seasoned lawmaker that has well over 20 years experience in the workings of the Legislature, he is confident that Gbajabiamila will work to create a productive relationship between the two arms of government that will ultimately benefit the Nigerian people.
Gagdi also applauded the choice of Senator George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and former Deputy Governor of Jigawa, Ibrahim Hadejia, as Deputy Chief of Staff. According to him the choice of persons appointed is a demonstration of the President Tinubu’s resolve to appoint only competent persons that can perform optimally for the overall good of the country. He prayed that Almighty God would grant them wisdom to discharge their duties effectively.
In a similar message, the member representing Akoko Southeast and Southwest federal constituency, Hon. Adejoro Adeogun said Gbajabiamila’s appointment was a reward for his hard work and dedication to the course of democracy in the country.