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Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

  • Outrage over Gbajabiamila’s choice of aide

    There is outrage in the Southeast All Progressives Congress (APC) over the appointment of Anayo Nnebe of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as Special Assistant on Political Matters to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    The APC in Anambra State, the Conference of Southeast APC Publicity Secretaries, and the Southeast APC Young Progressives Forum, condemned the action, and called for Nnebe’s withdrawal.

    Gbajabiamila on Tuesday announced Nnebe as one of his aides from the Southeast.

    But in their separate reactions yesterday, the party and other bodies described it as a big slap on APC, saying Nnebe fought APC and called their members all sorts of names during the elections.

    Those who signed the statement from the Southeast Forum of Publicity Secretaries of APC included Kate Offor (Enugu), Nwoba Chika Nwoba (Ebonyi) and Benedict Godwin (Abia).

    Pascal Chizoba Otimkpu spoke for Southeast APC Young Progressives Forum; Anamrba APC Secretary Chukwuma Agufugo spoke for his party, while Madukaife Okelo spoke for Conference of Southeast Publicity secretaries.

    Read Also: Insecurity: Gbajabiamila visits Zamfara, others

    Pascal said the outrage was not about appointment but agenda. “You cannot drive an agenda with people who do not believe in it. Nnebe and his cohorts had, and will never believe in our party’s agenda,” he said.

    Agufugo, who said the party had competent, well qualified and mature persons to handle any position, lamented that the choice of APGA member was wrong and should be withdrawn.

    “We reject the appointment of Anayo Nnebe as Special Assistant (Southeast) to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. Nnebe is a die hard opposition to APC in Anambra, the Southeast and Nigeria in general. He is instrumental to the Awka Federal Constituency seat eluding APC, though he also lost. Political positions in the ruling party should not serve to rehabilitate oppositions who cause damage to our party’s fortunes.

    “The Senate President made a similar error and promptly corrected it when issues were raised, and there ought to be enough deterrent flowing from there. We have nothing against Nnebe, but our zonal caucus has to grow, and it is not by appointing PDP men in APGA clothing, to the detriment of the long-suffering members of APC.

    “We have, in the past, witnessed all manner of flirtation between our structures outside the Southeast and the very persons who constitute opposition to us. We dissociate ourselves from this appointment and urge Southeast APC to rise in justifiable protest against this unjustifiable action. We will not relent in fighting this injustice.”

     

  • Matawalle applauds Gbajabiamila for appointing Rikiji as chief of staff

    Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle has commended the Speaker of the House of representatives,  Femi Gbajabiamila, for appointing former Speaker of the House of Assembly Sanusi Rikiji as his Chief of Staff.

    In a statement by his media aide, Malam Nasiru, the governor expressed his gratitude for the gesture, adding that the appointment is not for Rikiji family, but for the government and people of Zamfara State.

    He described Rikiji as humble, trust worthy and committed person who is equal to the task.

    He said: “The government and people of Zamfara State stand firmly with the Speaker, fully confident that the Chief of Staff would do the state proud, much as the Speaker is bound to be the happiest in the choice of Sanusi Rikiji. We are behind him and he will not fail you.”

    Also, while receiving the Speaker on a condolence visit over the death of the father of Chief of Staff, Alhaji Sani Dahiru, the representative of the Emir of Gusau, who spoke on behalf of Rikiji family, thanked Gbajabiamila for the visit and the appointment of their son. According to them, Rikiji Family will continue to pray for the leadership and entire members of the National Assembly for Allah’s guidance to excel and deliver their mandate to take Nigeria to the next level.

    He said: “What happened to Rikiji Family is inevitable, but whenever it happens the feeling of the great loss must be there. One of the ways for having a solace is to have the loved ones who share the worries with you. Mr. Speaker sir, as you leave all your mandates coming all the way from Abuja to condole our family, words cannot  express our feelings nor our thanks for your concern.”

    Gbajabiamila condoled the government, people of the state and the family, and prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul.

    He added: “I had wanted to be in Gusau to visit a father who has Sanusi as his biological son. Such a father has indeed all the blessings of God for that gem of personality in the Sanusi I know. May his soul rest in peace.”

  • Insecurity: Gbajabiamila visits Zamfara, others

    THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila will on Monday visit Zamfara State as part of his efforts to assess security challenges in some states across the country.

    A statement from his special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said during the visit, the Speaker is expected to travel to some specific local government areas in the state that are most affected by activities of bandits and kidnappers.

    The statement further reads:  “the speaker, who will be in company of some members of the house, will also meet specific individuals such as government officials, including the state governor, community and religious leaders.

    “The speaker’s visit would afford him the opportunity to see the situation on ground, return to the House and together with members make necessary recommendations to the Executive arm of government.

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila appoints media aides

    It is expected that the executive arm will leverage on the assessment of the House on the security situations in the affected states and take further action.”

    The statement further recalled that after the emergence of Gbajabiamila as speaker, he had promised to visit the states that have been facing security challenges.

    “This is in line with the Speaker’s campaign slogan themed ‘Nation Building: A Joint Task. After Zamfara State, the speaker will also visit other states such as Katsina, Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, among others,’ the statement reads.

  • Cabinet: Ex-governors intensify lobby for slots

    A FEW ex-governors may have been among those President Muhammadu Buhari alleged, last week, to be putting him under pressure on the constitution of his next cabinet.

    An investigation by The Nation shows that the ex-governors want ministerial appointments for themselves or be allowed to recommend nominees from their states.

    But damning security reports on the financial dealings of some of the ex-governors while in office may count against them, sources said.

    One of them is alleged to have been sharing of dollars to those he thought could help push his case to become a minister.

    But a few of them, who are desperate, have recommended ministerial nominees in case Buhari cannot accommodate them.

    It was also gathered that some serving governors are already pleading with the President to allow them make input into the selection of nominees from their states.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the ex-governors accounted for most of the pressure on the President.

    The ex-governors were said to be seeking ministerial slots or wanted their nominees for “political ego” because they want to remain godfathers in their respective states.

    Some incumbent governors are lobbying to get their loyalists appointed as part of the strategy to stop independent-minded ministers from either succeeding them or becoming the rallying point in their states.

    A top source said: “For political relevance, ex-governors are foremost among those mounting pressure on the President. They don’t want to lose out of the political equation in their states.

    “They are whipping up sentiments on the roles they played in backing Buhari for second term and how they have stabilized the National Assembly for him with the emergence of the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    “Most of them want to retain the godfather status in their states. Some of them also want the ministerial ticket as a kind of immunity against prosecution by the Buhari administration.

    “But security reports do not favour most of them at all. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) as at December 31, 2018 indicated that states were then indebted to the tune of N3.853trillion. “These debts were either mismanaged or unjustified.

    “Some of these governors are under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for mismanaging their state resources. Yet, the same former state chief executives want to be ministers. Justifying their appointments will be difficult for the President. This is one of the factors for the pressure being faced by the President.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “These ex-governors have become so desperate such that one of them is sharing dollars to lobbyists who have the ears of the President.

    “But the cash-for-ministerial ticket lobbying is a waste because the President has refused to listen to anyone. He has warned members of his family and aides against such indulgence. He has not only kept his ex-ministers in suspense, it has been difficult for governors to know his mind set.

    “He does not discuss cabinet issue with his closest aides. Anyone dishing out cash to lobbyists is wasting his money. That era is gone in this country for now.”

    Investigation also revealed that those who have information about the ministerial list,    especially security agents conducting the screening, have been put on oath to stop the list from leaking to the public before its dispatch to the Senate for confirmation.

    “All the agents in charge at the Department of State Security Service (DSS) are on oath and once there is any leak, it can be easily traced,” a highly placed source said.

    Read Also: I’m under pressure on cabinet list, says Buhari

    “Everyone is abiding by the oath because Buhari is a man of Spartan discipline who can impose maximum sanctions if you betray any trust.”

    Section 147(1-3), provides that the President has to run his government with at least 36 ministers at one each per state.

    The section reads:  “There shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President.

    “Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President.

    “Any appointment under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of section 14(3) of this Constitution:

    “Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions aforesaid the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state.”

  • I will redefine public perception of NASS – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila,  has promised to bring reforms that will redefine the legislature in the eyes of the public.

    Gbajabiamila made the pledge at his maiden meeting with members of his media team in Abuja on Saturday.

    “I will bring reforms that will help shape and redefine the Nigerian legislature in the eyes of the public.

    “Some of the reforms are already being rolled out such as the e-parliament and electronic voting,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila expressed excitement over the membership of the team, saying, “I am excited because my media team is populated by young people who are vibrant and ready to work in the interest of Nigeria.’’

    He said as far as he could remember, this was the first media team by any speaker with the highest number of young people.

    Gbajabiamila said although the task ahead of the team would be tough, he believed the members had the capacity to deliver.

    “I am so excited by this team because you are  mostly young people. I did my personal search on each of you and I came to the conclusion that you all should be part of my media team.

    “I am not the only one excited about your appointments, a lot of people are excited about you people, and I feel good about that.

    “Of course moving forward, Nigeria is all about young people; I know the task ahead of you will be very tough, but I also know that you all have the capacity to deliver,” he said.

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila appoints media aides

    The speaker restated his commitment to his campaign slogan, which is ‘Nation Building: A Joint Task,’ and called on the team to join him in achieving that.

    Responding, the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Mr Olanrewaju Lasisi, who is the leader of the team, thanked the speaker for finding him and others  worthy of the appointment.

    Lasisi said  members of the team would bring experience to bear on the job to justify the confidence the speaker had on them by appointing them.

    Other members of the team appointed on Thursday include Mr Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Chief Press Secretary, Mr Dele Anofi, Special Assistant on Print Media, and Mr Kunle Somoye, Special Assistant on Electronic and Broadcast Media.

    Others are Mr Bukola Ogunyemi, Special Assistant on New Media, and Ayo Adeagbo, Special Assistant on Visual Communication/Official Photographer.

    NAN

  • I’m under pressure on cabinet list, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday admitted being under pressure to present the list of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly.

    He spoke last night over dinner with the leadership of the National Assembly.

    Senate President Ahmed Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to a source at the dinner, the President said he was under tremendous pressure to release the list.

    He reportedly said that many of the ministers he appointed in his first tenure were not known to him personally.

    The President was said to have expressed his plan “to appoint those he knows, have confidence in and that have the capacity to deliver”.

    President Buhari was quoted as saying: “Many at this dinner meeting are saying they want to see the list of the proposed cabinet so that they can go on leave peacefully.

    “I’m very much aware about it; I’m under tremendous pressure on it. But the last cabinet, which I headed, most of them, the majority of them I didn’t know them. I had to accept the names and recommendations from the party and other individuals.

    Read Also: Just In: Buhari, NASS leadership meet in Aso Rock

    “I worked with them for three and half years at least – meeting twice or two weeks in a month. So I know them.

    “But, this time around I’m going to be quite me – me in the sense that I will pick people I personally know.”

    Addressing reporters after the dinner, Lawan said the Senate was yet to receive the list from the President.

    According to him, ministerial lists are not submitted at dinners.

    Lawan, who was quoted as saying that the list will be out this week, denied saying so.

    When asked if he was now in possession of the ministerial list, he said: “Well, I came for a dinner and the process of receiving list is not at dinners. That is all I have to say about this.”

    Reminded that he promised Nigerians that the list will get to the Senate this week he said: “I never did. Let me take this opportunity to correct that. A senator raised a point of order under personal explanation and he said we should be sent the list of ministers by the executive arm of government.

    “And in my response, I said the executive is working so hard to ensure that the list of Nigerians that will help this Administration work is going to be constituted, we could even receive it this week.

    “Could is conditional and I will urge everybody here to report it as it is.” he added

    Others at the dinner were: All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole; Senators Abdullahi Yahaya (Majority Leader); Ajayi Boroffice (Deputy Leader); Orji Uzor Kalu (Chief Whip) and Sabi Abdullahi (Deputy Chief Whip).

    The House of Representatives leaders were: Emmanuel Bwacha (Deputy Minority Leader);  Phillip Aduda (Minority Whip), Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (Majority Leader); Ndudi Elumelu (Minority Leader); Toby Okechukwu (Deputy Minority Leader).

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, was also at the dinner.

  • ‘Sanwo-Olu didn’t withdraw $470m to fund AFCON’s delegation’

    The Lagos State Government has debunked an allegation by the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu withdrew $470 million to fund his trip and other persons to watch the Nigeria-Cameroon match at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    A statement by Sanwo-Olu’s Deputy Chief Press Secretary Gboyega Akosile reads: “There is nothing farther to the truth than this statement, which follows the same pattern of falsehoods usually dished out to the public by the PDP and its mouthpiece.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, His Excellency, Sanwo-Olu did not make any withdrawal for the purpose of attending the AFCON in Egypt.

    “It is a public knowledge that Sanwo-Olu was named among some other dignitaries to attend the ongoing African football fiesta in Egypt.

    “Members of the Federal Government delegation to AFCON 2019 are Dr. Ahmed Lawan, as leader of the delegation, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.

    “Governors nominated and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari are Sanwo-Olu and Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu receives Buratai in Lagos

    “Also on the list are Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Mr. Habu Gumel and a representative of the Presidency, Captain Hosa Okunbo.

    “The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Olusade Adesola and Muhammad Gambo, the ministry’s Director of Facilities, are also members of the delegation, which include a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to complete the 11-man list.”

    It added: “Is it not laughable therefore that PDP will resort to issuing press statements based on fake news on social media? Does it not stand logic on its head to allege that Governor Sanwo-Olu spent $470 million to fund a trip that he was nominated as a delegate?

    “As we have always stated, we will again suggest to the Lagos State PDP and her spokesman to always fact check before putting pen on paper. Opposition politics is not built on lies and fake news.”

  • SDP: Gbajabiamila is right

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday supported the Speaker House of  Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on the choice of Minority Officers announced during plenary on Wednesday.

    The position of SDP was made known by its only member in the House, Tajudeen Adefisoye.

    Adefisoye spoke with reporters after members of the minority parties read a communique on the choice of Minority Principal Officers announced by the Speaker.

    Adefisoye, who is representing Idanre/Ifedore Constituency of Ondo state said the names read by the Speaker on the floor of the House truly reflected the choices made by members of the minority parties.

    He said: ”I speak on behalf of my party, the SDP, which is one of the minority parties in the House. I want to make it amply clear that the names read on the floor of the House by the Speaker were the ones duly nominated and endorsed by myself and other colleagues in minority parties”.

    He described the officers as very competent and responsible members, adding that the House could readily vouch for their reliability and moral standings.

    Adefisoye also described the names sent by the PDP to the Speaker as a mere manifestation of wishful thinking.

    He said: “The names sent to the Speaker by the PDP is null and void as far as we are concerned. The reality is that PDP cannot unilaterally decide on the issue of minority principal officers for all other minority parties. After all, PDP is just one party out of the multiple minority parties in the House”.

    The minority officers are Ndudi Olumelu – Minority Leader, Hon. Tobi Okechukwu – Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Gideon Gwoni – Minority Whip and Hon. Adesegun Adekoya -Deputy Minority Whip.

  • Gbajabiamila seeks return to January-December budget cycle

    The  Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday urged the Presidency to ensure the early submission of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to allow for early passage of budget 2020.

    Gbajabiamila who spoke during a courtesy visit by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Boss Mustapha and his team at the National Assembly, said its will help the country return to the January to December budget cycle.

    He said: “Again, part of the reforms which we want to achieve is: I will want a situation where before we go on long break in the next week, maybe three weeks, I would want a situation where the MTEF will be submitted to this House so that we can pass it before going.

    “And then, when we come back in September, may be by the end of September, the budget is before us. Because by finance laws, the budget is based in the MTEF. The MTEF needs to be submitted. At the end if the day, we don’t want the budget to be brought in December.

    “So, this is the timetable that we have set.  One, the MTEF to be submitted. Two, we work on it and go on our long break and then come back. At the end of September,   present the budget to us. And what does that do? It leaves us with three months to pass the budget. It brings us back to that circle of January to December. And by January 1, we pass the budget as envisaged in the constitution.

    “We want you to help us with this process. We want to streamline the budget process because the input of the members cannot be negotiated. So, if that input can come before the presentation of the budget, fine. So that when the budget comes, we just need little things here and there but not to rewrite a whole budget because we have not been carried along from onset. I think those are the issues. We want good collaboration.”

    Read Also: Just in: Gbajabiamila sets up committee to review House Rules

    He demanded better working conditions in the National Assembly.

    He said the parliament will be coming to the executive “with a shopping list which will make our work easier.

    “The list will include things like library, world class, international standard library. we will be needing your intervention in that regard. We will need to make the House IT compliant.

    “But I am glad to announce that even by tomorrow as we resume sitting, one of our reforms will already be in place. The chambers is more or less 80 per cent IT compliant. We have a new set of equipment that allow easy face recognition and electronic registration or internet server as they say. This was done on our own in the last two to three weeks because they were promises we made and we must fulfill.

     

     

  • House officers: APC Caucus members opt for election

    Ahead of the resumption of plenary today at the National Assembly, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus in the House of Representatives have opted for either a straw poll or outright election of their principal officers instead of adopting the recommended nominees by the party.

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila is under pressure to either accept the party’s recommendations or bow to the demand of the members.

    It was learnt that after series of talks last night, APC members in the House resolved to alter the party’s zoning formula.

    The Speaker has been trying in the last 72 hours to douse the tension over the formula foisted on APC Caucus.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC on Friday decided to zone principal offices as follows: Majority Leader to Kano in the Northwest (being contested by ex-Chief Whip, Ado Doguwa and  Goro Aminu Suleiman); Deputy Leader, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha(South-East); Chief Whip,  Peter Akpatason  (South-South) ; and Deputy Chief Whip,  M. T. Monguno (North-East).

    But horse-trading last night revealed that members have changed the zoning formula to read:  Majority Leader,  M. T. Monguno (North-East);  Deputy Majority Leader,  Peter Akpatason (South-South);  Chief Whip,  Ado Doguwa or Garba Datti (North-West);  and Deputy Chief Whip,   Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (South-East).

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, admitted that all is not well within the APC Caucus in the House because of alleged unilateral imposition of principal officers.

    The source claimed that the NWC meeting on Friday did not consider the interest of members.

    The source said: “The truth is that the APC did not really gauge the mood of members of its caucus in the House before picking the rest principal officers.

    “We are demanding either a straw poll or outright election by APC members to determine the principal officers of the House. The party should leave us to iron things out amicably.

    “We knew the political permutations which led to the emergence of Speaker Gbajabiamila; we don’t want a situation whereby we will be forced to go back to our fault lines. We want a stable Ninth House of Representatives.”

    According to Wikipedia, “A straw poll or straw vote is an ad-hoc or unofficial vote. It is used to show the popular opinion on a certain matter, and can be used to help politicians know the majority opinion and help them decide what to say in order to gain votes. Straw polls provide dialogue among movements within large groups.”

    The source gave insights into the intrigues in the APC Caucus in the House on principal officers.

    The highly-placed source added: “For instance, most APC members have preference for  M. T. Monguno, who is a fourth term member of the House. Apart from being a favourite of Gbajabiamila/ Wase Campaign Committee,  he was supposed to be Gbajabiamila’s deputy in 2015 before they were defeated by Yakubu Dogara- Yusuf Lasun alliance. Now that Gbajabiamila has become the Speaker, members believe it is befitting to make Monguno the House Leader.

    “In terms of experience, Monguno has come a long way. When Gbajabiamila was the House Minority Leader, Monguno was his deputy. There is likely to be disunity in the House if Monguno does not emerge as the Leader because the Northern members will rate the Speaker as betraying Monguno.

    “So far, Monguno has been solely adopted for the office by the North-East Caucus in the House.”

    But, to a member from the North-West, it will amount to inequality to have the Senate President from the North-East and House Leader from the same zone. “It is only the North-West that has been disadvantaged so far because we were fortunate to produce the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said, adding:

    “Since 2015, the Northeast has been favoured by President Muhammadu Buhari. There is need to redress this power imbalance.

    “The Northwest deserves the House Leader. Even among us, we do not want Kano/Jigawa axis to produce the House Leader. So, the APC was wrong to ask Hon. Ado Doguwa and Hon. Suleiman Goro from Kano to vie for the slot among the 24 members from Kano State.

    Read Also: APC suspends lawmaker-elect in Edo

    “We know Governor Abdullahi Ganduje is lobbying to have the House Leader slot for Hon. Ado Doguwa. We want power shift to Kaduna/ Katsina axis. We are making a strong case for Hon. Garba Datti (Kaduna State) as the House Leader from the North-West.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “If they are conceding Chief Whip to the North-West again, we are of a strong opinion that Doguwa should step down for Garba Datti.”

    Another member claimed that members were unhappy that Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha(from Abia in the South-East), who defected from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to APC before the last general election might be compensated with the office of Deputy Leader.

    The ranking member added: “Hon. Nkeiruka might be a fourth term member of the House, she cannot have her cake and eat it. She defected to APC, we accommodated her and gave her a ticket to return to the House.

    “Emerging a Deputy Leader will be too much concession to Hon. Nkeiruka. We know she is the only ranking House woman member from the Southeast; she deserves to be a principal officer. But we are proposing her for Deputy Chief Whip.

    “We won’t send a wrong message to the coming generation of politicians that defection pays. Nkieruka should also sacrifice.”

    Gbajabiamila and Deputy Speaker Idris Wase have been engaging the aggrieved members in the APC Caucus.

    “There is pressure, no doubt, on Speaker Gbajabiamila and Wase but consultations are ongoing. If it will create crisis on Tuesday, we will not mind to defer the choice of principal officers until a consensus is built.

    “We will certainly address the challenges amicably. At worst, we will go for outright election of these principal officers as a popular option,” a third term member of the House said.