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Tag: Gbajabiamila

  • My agenda for House of Reps, by Gbajabiamila

    The race for the Speaker of the House of Representatives has begun in earnest. Majority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila is a leading contender for the coveted seat. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the chances of the fifth-term legislator when the new National Assembly is inaugurated in June.

    House of Representatives Majority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila has announced his intention to run for Speaker when the Green Chamber is inaugurated in June. He ran in 2015, but lost to Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    With 211 of the 360 members of the chamber belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party has the numerical strength to determine who heads the House. The national caucus of the APC is believed to have endorsed Gbajabiamila for the job. It was also learnt that several meetings have been held in the past few days on how to prevail on other lawmakers elected on the platform of the party to support the House Leader.

    At least 17 lawmakers, including the Dogara, are vying for the position. Others are Olusegun Odebunmi (Southwest), Garba Datti (Kaduna), Ado Doguwa (Kaduna), Babangida Ibrahim (Katsina), Suleiman Kawu (Kano), Sulaiman Aminu (Kano), Tahir Monguno (Borno) and Abdulrazaq Namdas (Adamawa). They also include Yusuf Buba Yakub (Adamawa), Mohammed Bago (Niger), John Dyegh (Benue), Idris Wase (Plateau), Abubakar Lado (Niger), Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia) and Chike Okafor (Imo).

    Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere Constituency 1, Lagos State, is the most experienced lawmaker in the House. While reeling out his credentials, the lawyer- turned politician said he was the most qualified among the aspirants, considering that he has occupied important positions since he was first elected in 2003.

    He said: “With all sense of humility, I seek this office with a rich legislative background and pedigree and having just won a historic 5th term mandate to the House, I have in the last 16 years dedicated my life to the service of my constituents and Nigeria. I have studied and understood the intricate workings of the legislature. In these 16 years, I have been a principal officer for 12 years. It is this wealth of experience and burning desire for good governance that I bring to the table.

    “The House of Representatives was established to be the people’s House and for the people’s business. It follows, therefore, that the Speaker must be the people’s Speaker elected to do the people’s business and champion their cause and in doing so fulfilling their hopes and aspiration. This is the Speaker I intend and hope to be and the House I intend and hope to lead, a People’s House.”

    Gbajabiamila’s declaration has been supported by members of the House, cutting across geo-political zones and party lines. Many of them have spoken in support of his candidacy. The Chief Whip of the House and an aspirant of the office who may have been tipped for the office of the Majority Leader, Ado Doguwa, said Gbajabiamila was a team player. The lawmaker from Kaduna assured that the Northwest will give the Southwest and Nigeria one of their best too.

    Doguwa said: “Gbajabiamila is a team player. He is as simple as ABC. He is the most qualified aspirant. I want to assure you that we are here on the commitment of our people. Femi will be Speaker for each and every one of us. We will give you one of our best.”

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker from Imo, Jerry Alagbosa, advised the aspirant to consult widely amongst the lawmakers for their support. He advised Gbajabiamila to make commitment for the Southeast and South-south zones.

    He said: “All of us know Femi, but let me say, democracy is a process. It requires consultation and lobbying. Femi needs to come and meet elders like us. He needs to come and do the needful. Not matter of calling us on phone. For me, I’m going to support him. After the declaration, we need to see because I have to protect the interest of the Southeast and South-south.”

    The Director-General of the Gbajabiamila Campaign Organisation, Abdulmumuni Jibrin, said the candidacy of his principal was not about him, but about sanitising and stabilising democracy. His words: “The candidacy of Femi is not about him himself, but about sanitising our democracy. It is about practising what we preach, global best practices. We make reference to the United States and United Kingdom. Why is it that we are very bad in practice?

    “At the risk of sounding immodest, I will not be making a mistake if I say that Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila stands out as the best candidate we can offer. We are not taking the situation for granted. We will run a very clean campaign. We are not interested in throwing mud. For those who are interested in spreading rumours, we plead to them in the interest of peace. We beg them to run an issues-based campaign. We will lobby, we will campaign and we will reach out to our colleagues.

    “We will continue to work hard, consult and continue to reach out and we call on every one to come and join hands with us. We assure you that Femi will be a Speaker for every member of the House. He will also ensure the independence of the legislature.”

    The major problem for Gbajabiamila in the struggle to become Speaker is the re-election of Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who worked for the emergence of Dogara in 2015 against Gbajabiamila. Tambuwal still has influence over some House of Representatives members from the North. Few months ago, the governor said the reason why the Lagos lawmaker lost to his opponent four years ago was because of his closeness to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and that Gbajabiamila was unpopular among his colleagues.

    Tambuwal had initially said he had a strong affinity for Gbajabiamila but he endorsed Dogara due to his “proven competence” as Chairman of House Services Committee. In his reaction, Gbajabiamila said: “I was betrayed by Tambuwal. He was one of my closest friends when he ran for Speaker. I think I single-handedly pursued his speakership bid. But he must have reasons why he did what he did. That must be respected; I just wished he had made that known.”

    Asked if he had spoken to Tambuwal since 2015, he said: “No I have not, I am not crossing paths with him, he is in Sokoto and I’m in Abuja. You might want to direct that question to him. Who do you think should be reaching out to whom?”

    The opponents of Gbajabiamila premised their arguments on two issues: One is that two national positions cannot be ceded to the Southwest. The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is from the region. The other is the religious sentiment that Senator Ahmed Lawan, the approved Senate President by the APC national caucus and Gbajabiamila are both Muslims and therefore, should not be allowed to occupy the Senate President and Speaker seats.

    However, Gbajabiamila is forging ahead in his bid to become Speaker in the next dispensation. His effort received a boost from the Northwest few days ago where a pressure group under the aegis of Northwest Democratic Front (NDF) has openly endorsed him as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly. The group Chairman, Abubakar Aminu, said “in line with the commitment of the APC leadership to rewarding loyalty and integrity, Mr Gbajabiamila would make a great Speaker”.

    Aminu, a former Chairman, Sokoto State chapter of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), said: “On behalf of the people of the Northwest, we hereby endorse the declaration of Femi Gbajabiamila to run for office of the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.

    “Our endorsement is in line with the spirit of members of the House which was displayed when Gbajabiamila, the House Leader and a five-time legislator, made his formal declaration. We are convinced that Gbajabiamila would mentor the next generation and unite the nation. This informs our recommendation for Musa Sarkin Adar, another strong nationalist, to be made Deputy Speaker.”

    Similarly, all the 24 newly elected House of Representatives members from Kano State have pledged their support for Gbajabiamila as the next Speaker of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly. Their decision was reached at a meeting with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in Abuja.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Doguwa, said their move was in deference to the decision of National Working Committee of the APC on the zoning of the position to the Southwest.

    Doguwa who won re-election from Tudun Wada/Doguwa Federal Constituency said: “All the 24 of us discussed freely, as elected representatives of the people and agreed to endorse the candidature of Femi Gbajabiamila for Speakership, under the watch of our governor, Dr Ganduje, and the state chairman of the party.”

    A member representing Taurani Constituency, Hafiz Kawu, said what makes Gbajabiamila different from members vying the speaker is his wealth of legislative experience. He recalled that Gbajabiamila is a four-time returnee to the Green Chamber (2003 to 2019). He was the Deputy Minority Leader in the 6th assembly and emerged as Minority Leader in the 7th assembly and Majority Leader in the 8th assembly.

    Kawu added: “Aside his eloquence and tactical approach to issues in the House, Gbajabiamila maintains an enviable track record. Having sponsored a myriad of bills in the National Assembly, he is seen as one of the brilliant minds to have graced the chamber.

    “The Green Chamber is expected to be led by a person with considerable legislative experience and expertise to preside over its affairs and also weather the storm at any given time. If the postulation is anything to go by, Gbajabiamila can be entrusted with such a challenging responsibility, considering the fact that the nation’s democracy is in dire need of reforms that will have far-reaching positive impact on Nigerians.”

    Even though the support for Gbajabiamiala cuts across party lines, analysts say the national leadership of the APC should not allow a repeat of the 2015 episode where few over ambitious members of the party teamed up with the opposition to take over the leadership of the National Assembly. Several lawmakers have expressed displeasure with the way and manner the APC is handling the leadership of the 9th Assembly. They warned that the ruling party is on the verge of making the same mistake it made in 2015.

    Odebunmi, an APC lawmaker representing Ogo-Oluwa Constituency, in Oyo State, said his party would be making a major mistake, if the national leadership does not give all aspirants a level-playing field to vie for the position. The lawmaker, said: “It is being rumoured that the APC may likely zone the speakership seat to the Southwest, which means every qualified member from the zone can contest. Gbajabiamila has not been named as the party’s candidate. I have not got information to that effect. I was at the meeting called by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and nothing of such was mentioned.”

    He stressed the need for the party to act decisively by zoning all principal positions in the House to appropriate geo-political zones. This, he said, would reduce tension and confusion in the polity.

     

  • Speakership: Ajimobi mobilises Oyo Reps for Gbajabiamila

    The support for the candidacy of the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila as the Speaker of the 9th Assembly got a boost over the weekend when All Progressives Congress (APC) members-elect from Oyo State pledged their loyalty, with a promise to abide by the Party’s decision on the choice of the leadership position.

    This followed the intervention of the Governor of Oyo State, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, who hosted the nine APC members-elect in his Ibadan residence on Sunday, where he advised them to toe party line by following the decision reached by the leadership of the Party in determining the leadership of the 9th Assembly and to support Gbajabiamila’s aspiration as the next Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.

    Read Also: Why we’re sticking to Gbajabiamila on House leadership, by Kaduna Rep

    In a statement on Monday by Akeem Adeyemi, the APC Southwest Coordinator of Gbajabiamila Speakership Campaign Council, the members-elect assured the governor of their loyalty and determination to ensure that the House Leader succeed as the Speaker of the next Assembly.

    The statement reads in part: “The nine members-elect appreciated the Governor for providing a sound leadership and positive direction for the party, and; however, promised the Governor their full cooperation, after each member had spoken in acceptance of the Governor’s endorsement of the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila.”

  • House of Reps Speaker: Kano legislators endorse Gbajabiamila

    All the 24 newly elected House of Representa-tives members from Kano State have pledged their support for Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila as the next Speaker of the Green Chamber of the National Assembly.

    Their decision was reached at a meeting with Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje yesterday in Abuja.

    Speaking for the group, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Alhasan Ado Doguwa,said their move  was in deference to the “decision of the National Working Committee of the APC on the zoning of the position of the Speaker of the House, to the Southwest.”

    Doguwa who won re-election from  Tudun Wada/Doguwa added: “all the 24 of us discussed freely, as elected representatives of the people and agreed to endorse the candidature of Femi Gbajabiamila, for the Speakership, under the watch of our governor, Dr. Ganduje and the state chairman of our party.”

    Read also: Northwest group endorses Gbajabiamila for Speaker

    Doguwa, who was flanked by his colleagues, added that the meeting also deliberated extensively on other issues relating to the APC and some critical issues affecting the development of Kano State.

    The motion to adopt Gbajabiamila was seconded by the Speaker, Kano House of Assembly and member-elect for Rano/Kibiya/Bunkure Federal constituency, Kabiru Alhasan Rurum.

    In his brief remarks, Ganduje thanked the members elect for their contributions during the meeting and for aligning with the decision of the APC leadership, regarding the Speakership.

  • Northwest group endorses Gbajabiamila for Speaker

    A group, the Northwest Democratic Front, has endorsed Femi Gbajabiamila’s bid to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly.

    Making the endorsement known in a statement by its Chairman, Abubakar Ainu, a former Sokoto State chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the group said Gbajabiamila would also need the support of a strong deputy.

    It said in line with the commitment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to rewarding loyalty and integrity, Gbajabiamila would make a great Speaker and the House would be dynamic, if he is backed by loyal, strong and experienced member, Alhaji Musa Sarkin Adar.

    According to the statement, “On behalf of the people of the North-west, we hereby endorse the declaration of Femi Gbajabiamila to run for office of the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.

    “Our endorsement is in line with the spirit of members of the House which was displayed when Gbajabiamila, the House Leader and five time legislator, (APC-Lagos), made his formal declaration on the 31st of March and was accompanied during his official press release by returning and new members, who were over 100 in number.

    “We are also convinced by Gbajabiamila’s pledge to mentor the next generation and unite the nation which informs our recommendation for Sarkin Adar, another strong nationalist to be made Deputy Speaker.” The group said.

    While commending the stand of the APC on rewarding loyalty, the group said Gbajabiamila and Sarkin Adar are not only core party loyalists, but competent, tested representatives of proven integrity, honesty and experience as well.

    Shedding light on their choice of Sarkin Adar as deputy, the group said he is one of the unapologetic believers in the grand ideals of President Buhari, who has not for once contemplated any distrustful act nor played against party principles, objectives and standpoint on any issue.

    The group noted that Musa Sarkin Adar who represents Goronyo/Gada Federal Constituency of Sokoto state would make a competent deputy for Mr Gbajabiamila who is eminently favoured by the APC for the speakership.

    Read also: Speaker: Dogara fingered in plot against Gbajabiamila

    Recounting some of the qualities that inform their preference for Sarkin Adar, the group said, prior to his becoming a member of the federal legislature, he has made commendable mark as Director in the Governor’s Office, Sokoto state and at the Nigerian Ports Authority where he was Personnel Manager.

    “In the 2007 elections, he contested for the House of Representatives seat and won and got re-elected in 2011,” the Group said and pointed out that he spearheaded the historic move against the imposition of a Speaker in 2011 by the then ruling party.

    “He also made the nomination for Emeka Ihedioha as the deputy speaker on the floor of the house and the nomination was seconded by Hon Kumo.

    “In the 2015 elections, he re-contested on the platform of the APC and won,” the Group said, adding that he was Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters in the 6th Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Land Transport in the 7th Assembly.

     

  • Speakership: North-West group endorses Gbajabiamila

    The North-West Democratic Front has openly endorsed the bid by Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly.

    Making the endorsement known in a statement signed by its Chairman, Abubakar Ainu, a former Sokoto state chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the Group observed however said that, Mr. Gbajabiamila would need the support of a strong deputy.

    He said, in line with the commitment of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to rewarding loyalty and integrity, Mr. Gbajabiamila would make a great Speaker and the House would be dynamic if he is backed by an equally loyal, strong and experienced member such as Alhaji Musa Sarkin Adar.

    According to the statement, “On behalf of the people of the North-west, we hereby endorse the declaration of Femi Gbajabiamila to run for office of the Speaker of the 9th Assembly.

    “Our endorsement is in line with the spirit of members of the House which was displayed when Gbajabiamila, the House Leader and five time legislator, (APC-Lagos), made his formal declaration on the 31st of March and was accompanied during his official press release by returning and new members, who were over 100 in number.

    “We are also convinced by Gbajabiamila’s pledge to mentor the next generation and unite the nation which informs our recommendation for Sarkin Adar, another strong nationalist to be made Deputy Speaker,” The group said.

    While commending the stand of the APC on rewarding loyalty, the Group said Gbajabiamila and Sarkin Adar are not only core party loyalists but competent, tested representatives of proven integrity, honesty and experience as well.

    Shedding light on their choice for Sarkin Adar as deputy, the Group said he is one of the rarest unapologetic believers in the grand ideals of President Buhari who has not for once contemplated any distrustful act nor played against party principles, objectives and standpoint on any issue.

    The Group noted that Musa Sarkin Adar who represents Goronyo/Gada Federal Constituency of Sokoto state would make a competent deputy for Mr. Gbajabiamila who is eminently favoured by the APC for the speakership.

    Read Also: ‘Gbajabiamila best choice for Speaker’

    Recounting some of the qualities that inform their preference for Sarkin Adar, the Group said, prior to his becoming a member of the federal legislature, he has made commendable mark as Director in the Governor’s Office, Sokoto state and at the Nigerian Ports Authority where he was Personnel Manager.

    “In the 2007 elections, he contested for the House of Representatives seat and won and got re-elected in 2011,” the Group said and pointed out that he spearheaded the historic move against the imposition of a Speaker in 2011 by the then ruling party.

    “He also made the nomination for Emeka Ihedioha as the deputy speaker on the floor of the house and the nomination was seconded by Hon Kumo.

    “In the 2015 elections, he re-contested on the platform of the APC and won,” the Group said, adding that he was Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters in the 6th Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Land Transport in the 7th Assembly.

  • Gbajabiamila: Why I want to be speaker

    HOUSE of Representatives Leader Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday announced his plan to run for Speaker.

    The lawmaker, representing Surulere I Federal Constituency, Lagos State, said in Abuja that he was joining the race as a “beacon of hope”.

    The fifth-term House member, who is of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), also ran for the position in 2015. He lost to incumbent Yakubu Dogara.

    With its overwhelming majority in the Green Chamber, the APC is expected to produce the speaker.

    According to the lawmaker, he is contesting as “a symbol of encouragement and point of contact for the many young men and women out there who believe that with hard work and commitment, whatever the mind can conceive is possible”.

    He is contesting for speaker to bring government closer to the people and to “galvanise federal lawmakers to make life more abundant for Nigerians”.

    Gbajabiamila said: “We are not where we ought to be, considering the abundance of talents and the blessings from God. However, I am rest assured that slowly but surely we will get there.

    “It is because of this unshakeable belief in the potential and genius of Nigeria and the majesty of our democracy that I, today, after wide consultations with my colleagues, friends, family, party and stakeholders and in total submission to the will of God, formally declare my intention to seek the position of the office of the speaker of the Ninth Assembly and offer my service to the nation in this capacity.

    “With all sense of humility, I seek this office with a rich legislative background and pedigree and having just won a historic fifth term mandate to the House. I have in the last 16 years dedicated my life to the service of my constituents and Nigeria.

    “I have studied and understood the intricate workings of the legislature, a critical arm of government and I have come to understand the imperative of striking a delicate balance in the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government without compromising the latter‘s independence.”

    Gbajabiamila’s ambition is believed to be enjoying the support of the APC leadership and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Gbajabiamila said he will engender the relationship between executive and legislature without surrendering the independence of the latter.

    He said: “Having been in opposition and moved to majority places me in a unique position to know the workings of both and that’s what I bring to the table.

    “I did my best to stabilise the House and know how legislature can maximise potentials, that is why the theme: ‘Nation building, a joint task’. The Speaker must be for the people to fulfil their hopes and aspirations, he said.

    Abdulmumin Jibrin, the Campaign Director-General, said Gbajabiamila’s ambition is not about himself but about “our democracy sanitising, civility and global best practice”.

    According to him, the party must be supreme as practised in advance democracies.

    He said: “We rely on the advice of the party, not peculiar to us alone, but why is it that when it comes to us we are not likely to follow? We must bring back the practice.

    “Without being immodest, he (Gbajabiamila) stands out the best. He has experience, brilliance, astuteness, building relationships, bridges etc. We will not take things for granted because within and without, others are interested.

    Jibrin said that Gbajabiamila’s Campaign Organisation “won’t throw muds, no rumours, no blackmail; we plead, for the interest of the country and we’ll run a clean and issue-based campaign.

    “Since everyone is qualified, we will lobby and campaign and win hearts. How do you explain a minority aspiring to be speaker? What if a majority party vied for minority leadership, sponsored and supported by us, how would it be?

    “But we’ll engage them and a large number of them are convinced that today, they may be in minority but tomorrow night be in the majority. So, they’ll reason for the need to protect the institution.

    “They should come and join us and I guarantee Gbaja will be a Speaker for all and ensure the independence and interdependence of the legislature,” Jibrin said.

    Da’u Aliyu Magaji, who moderated the event, said that over 170 members across party lines from the House attended the event.

    Many members, including former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and member-elect from Yobe State, Hajia Khadijah Abba-Ibrahim, attended.

    The former minister said: “We are compliant. To me, whatever the party asks us to do stands because party supremacy supersedes anything personal.

    “This man has shown himself that indeed there is no other deserving lawmaker. I appeal to my colleagues to support the party’s decision over his candidacy.”

    Wole Oke (PDP, Osun) said Nigeria is at a critical stage and members should consider issues and national interest.

    The opposition lawmaker said: “I can’t see any other lawmaker more qualified than him in the House. He knows the job and is a fair minded person, a networker. I’ll be with him all through.”

    Hassan Ado Doguwa, the Chief Whip of the House, described Jibrin, who is Gbajabiamila’s Director-General as the “game changer”.

    He noted that he (Jibrin) was a figure that was not totally reckoned with in 2015.

    “He is a button we didn’t press well in 2015. This is an upright decision by the party as Femi has always played a key role in managing the affairs of the National Assembly.

    “He is an experienced lawmaker and a team player. When looked from afar, he looks terrible but very simple when you move close.”

    He urged his colleagues to work for the success of the project as Gbajabiamila will be a Speaker for all.

    Ismaila Kawu, a former Special  Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Repsentatives), was among those who testified to Gbajabiamila’s competence.

  • Gbajabiamila unveils new DGN Secretariat

    The Fred Amata-led Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN) has put paid to its campaign promise of a befitting Secretariat for members.

    Located on Simisola Street, Surulere, Lagos, the Secretariat is coming 20 years after the guild was established.

    It was a glamorous ceremony, last Friday, as members of sister guilds and associations in Nollywood graced the occasion that had majority leader of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Special Guest of Honour.

    Gbajabiamila was, at the occasion, supported by filmmaker/politician, Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere Constituency in the Lagos House of Assembly, and other Local Government officials.

    Amata, while giving his opening remarks during the unveiling of the facility, noted that the Secretariat, although the first in the history of the guild, was a drop in the ocean, regarding the many aspirations of film directors in Nigeria.

    He made reference to the Directors Guild of America, which he said has more than two Secretariats, Cinema Theatre and other befitting facilities, praying the DGN will get to its full potentials in the film industry with support from relevant institutions.

    In his response, Gbajabiamila said of how much regard he had for talent and creativity, expressing his readiness to work with industry leaders to facilitate policies that will yield returns on investments for filmmakers.

    He urged practitioners to come together and present their positions on how best their industry could be run.

    Adding his voice to the needs of the filmmakers, Elliot emphasised that the industry needs the right legislations to curb the excesses of pirates, while urging the Special Guest to assist by facilitating bills that could enhance international co-production treaties.

    After the ceremonial cutting of the tape to declare the Secretariat open, the politician had a private meeting with the executives of DGN on pragmatic approach to some of the problems confronting the industry.

    Also present at the occasion were president of Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Mr. Ralph Nwadike;  pioneer president of DGN, Mr. Matthias Obahiagbon and immediate past Chairman of Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), Mr. Bond Emeruwa.

    Others are Mr. Emeka Ossai, Osita Ihieme, aka Pawpaw, Mr. Sunny Mcdon W, Mr. Frank Dallas, Mr. Tony Anih, and executive members of DGN.

  • Strike can’t stop NASS from sitting – Gbajabiamila

    The Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) has said that the ongoing strike by members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) will not stop the Legislature from sitting.

    Gbajabiamila said in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, said that shutting down the National Assembly was tantamount to shutting down the nation.

    He said that the house would sit to pass a resolution to allow President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

    “Everybody has the right to strike, you cannot take that away from anybody, it is a constitutional right, it is almost a fundamental human right for you to down your tools but that’s where it ends.

    “You down your tools but you cannot stop lawmakers from doing their work, that is totally out of the purview of a strike.

    “In fact, it is in our laws, the Legislative Privilege Act that nobody can stop a legislator from doing his work and it attracts certain punishment,” he said.

    The leader said that the lawmakers would protect the rights of the striking workers and that the right of lawmakers to sit must also be protected.

    According to Gbajabiamila, when you shut down the National Assembly, you shut down the entire country.

    Read Also: NASS Leadership directs Police, SSS to secure complex for pleanry

    Gbajabiamila explained that the monies being demanded by the striking workers had nothing to do with the legislators at the National Assembly.

    According to him, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the management have a separate account and they operate differently.

    The leader said that the lawmakers were only intervening to ensure peace between the workers and the management of the assembly.

    He said when the National Assembly cannot perform its constitutional functions and the budget cannot be laid before the house, that will amount to shutting down the country and that nobody would sit and watch that to happen.

    Gbajabiamila said that the leadership of the National Assembly met yesterday and the matter was being taken care off and that the results were already being seen.

    NAN reports that the 4-day warning strike action by members of PASAN has entered day two.

  • Gbajabiamila: southwest won’t trade off Vice President

    Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the Southwest will not drop the position of Vice President for a lesser office.

    Reacting to a report that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had zoned the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) to the Southwest, Gbajabiamila said: “Our resolve in the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo cannot be traded away for any condescending offer.”

    The lawmaker spoke at another edition of his empowerment programme where ICT equipment were distributed to students and youths in his Surulere I Federal Constituency.

    Among the equipment were 350 new laptops, 28 desk top and 28 scan printing machines.

    Gbajabiamila listed what the Southwest stands to gain from the Buhari-Osinbajo presidency.

    He said: “We stand by the offer to give us Lagos-Ibadan rail project; we stand by the offer to give us Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway; we stand by the offer that just delivered Apapa-Wharf road. We also stand by the offer to deliver Apapa-Oshodi-Oworshoki-Ojota Expressway; we stand by the fight against corruption.”

    Apparently mocking the manifesto of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, Gbajabiamiala said: “We reject the offer to sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to friends and cronies. We stand solidly behind the Buhari-Osinbajo ticket.”

    He added: “For 16 years, our company recorded losses in all its transactions. So, the shareholders decided to change the MD/CEO with a clear mandate to rebuild our company and deliver good returns on investments. Two or three years into their assignment, naysayers within the rank of our shareholders convoked their Dubai caucus meeting to demand for the sack of our new top management singularly for their failure to deposit our company’s returns on investment into their personal accounts.”

    The House Leader described the February 16presidential election as straight fight between the gatekeepers and burglars.

    Gbajabiamila said: “Never shall we surrender to burglars. Our people want food in their stomachs and deserve a meaningful life; we are not oblivious of these facts. So, we shall continue to fight for our people. As we engage in this fact, we will encounter pains. But I can tell you we shall conquer.”

    On the beneficiaries of the equipment, Gbajabiamila said: “We have taken our time to look for indigent students and youths who will not sell these laptops and computers but make use of them to better their career.

    “We urge parents and teachers to ensure appropriate use of the laptops and computers.”

    The event was attended by the Lagos Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Tunde Balogun; the Onikate of Ikate land, Oba Lateef Adams; APC Secretary, Dr Wale Ahmed; APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe and many party chieftains.

  • Gbajabiamila launches ecological project

    The Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila will tomorrow (Saturday) launch ecological channelisation of Surulere in Lagos State.

    The Federal Government sponsored project was facilitated by him.

    Gbajabiamila, who represents Surulere Federal Constituency 1, made this known during an interactive session with community leaders and youth of Paddington in Surulere.

    He said: “By Saturday we will be doing the Ecological channelisation of all the entire hybrid canals across the boundaries and major ecological routes in Surulere Federal Constituency 1. I make bold to say that the federal government’s ecological fund office is doing this multi –million naira national environmental project in only Surulere 1 Federal Constituency.

    “I believe it will now allow the environmental work the Surulere local government is doing to become more effective because to tackle the actual source of the flooding problem our local government council lacks such huge funding”.

    Gbajabiamila’s  media aide, Olanrewaju Smart,  in a statement said Gbajabiamila is optimistic that “upon the completion of the project, all the flooding and gully erosion problems in Surulere will no more exist.”

    The President of Paddington Youth Forum, Mr Michael Thomas expressed profound appreciation to the House Leader for being a worthy mentor and representative with class.