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Tag: Abbas

  • 10th NASS: Tinubu reassures on Akpabio/Barau, Abbas/Kalu tickets

    10th NASS: Tinubu reassures on Akpabio/Barau, Abbas/Kalu tickets

    …as Wase, Jaji snub meeting with president

    … Tinubu begs Govs, lawmakers-elect to work for APC candidates

     

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reassured elected members of the incoming 10th National Assembly that his administration remains firm on the choices of candidates for presiding officers’ position made by the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The President stated this on Wednesday night when he met with Senators-elect and Members-elect of the APC at the Presidential Villa, with APC governors and other leaders of the party in attendance.

    Details emerging from the meeting which was scheduled for 7:30pm on Wednesday revealed that Tinubu spoke firmly on the need to work for the victory of the APC’s candidates for the 10th National Assembly leadership.

    A reliable source privy to this development who was at the meeting confirmed to TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) that “the President appealed/begged them to work for Akpabio, Abbas, Barau and Kalu respectively.”

    “He said the success of his administration largely depends on whether or not he gets it right with the leadership of the National Assembly.

    The President is further quoted as urging them to see reasons with him, saying “the candidates were chosen for the stability of the nation.”

    Those in attendance among the speakership aspirants were: the outgone chairman of the 9th House Appropriation Committee, Hon Muktar Betara Aliyu from Borno, outgone chairman of Navy Committee, Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi from Plateau, outgone chairperson of the People With Disability Committee, Hon. Miriam, Onuoha from Imo, as well as Chairman Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli from Katsina.

    “However, the outgone Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase from Plateau, and Aminu Sani Jaji from Zamfara were conspicuously absent, despite getting invitation for the meeting,” the source said.

    Recall that Wase had said during the House valedictory session on Wednesday that he would go ahead to contest for the Speaker’s seat because it has been prophesied that he would become Speaker.

    Wase stated this after the House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa (APC,Kano) pleaded with other aspirants to stepdown for the All Progressives Congress (APC) concensus candidate, Tajuddeen Abbas.

    However, Wase who spoke immediately after Doguwa declared, as a democrat who believes in contest, he was determined to continue with the race until the end.

    He added that, his contest is in the pursuit of a prophecy by the former governor of old Plateau State, late Solomon Lar who predicted his coming to the House of Representatives and becoming the Deputy Speaker and possibility of his Speakership.

    “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 I, In sha Allah, I will be the Speaker of the Green Chambers,” Wase insisted.

    From the look of things, there is likelihood that only Wase would go to the floor to contest, while others may step down after the President’s appeal.

  • Ahead proclamation: Reps-elect plot to reject APC, Tinubu’s anointed Candidate for HoR

    Ahead proclamation: Reps-elect plot to reject APC, Tinubu’s anointed Candidate for HoR

    The decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to impose Tajudeen Abass as its anointed candidate for the Speaker of the House of Representatives is no longer going to fly as the lawmakers are already shopping for another candidate, some members of the National Assembly have disclosed.

    This coming barely hours to when President Ahmed Tinubu scheduled meeting with opposition lawmakers-elect today.

    Some of the National Assembly members stated that the President, Bola Tinubu, and party leaders, would be forced to abandon Abass and might already be considering another lawmaker from the North-West region.

    “Even in the Aso Rock, the move to install Abass over the House of Representatives differs from a consensus of lawmakers from the North West, which the party zoned the position to,” one of the sources revealed.

    On Sunday reported that some federal lawmakers-elect revealed why the APC zoning arrangement for the leadership of the National Assembly could not stand.

    The lawmakers-elect in separate interviews had said they were not consulted before the announcements, which signalled the President Bola Tinubu government’s disposition of trying to handpick the leaders of the National Assembly and make them rubber-stamp.

    Recall that Tinubu amid the National Assembly leadership crisis had been scheduled to meet with the lawmakers-elect from opposition political parties over the intensifying tussle.

    The meeting is expected to be attended by opposition senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), among other opposition parties at the State House in Abuja.

    Meanwhile, the lawmakers, it was gathered, are planning to sponsor another lawmaker against the party’s wish.

    Sources also hinted that the President was looking in another direction to balance positions in the national legislature in order to avoid the 2015 experience where the party did not endorse the then Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    “The handpicking of Abass by the APC has bred a cold war between President Tinubu and former President Buhari, where the latter was said not to have been consulted before the APC NWC decided to pick Abass for the role,” one of them said.

    “The lawmakers-elect met in Kano State and did not hide their feeling that they were disappointed and ready to scuttle the party’s zoning arrangement,” another source continued.

    “The conclusion is that the President and his predecessor needed to be adequately consulted before the decision. The lawmakers-elect have met our colleagues from the opposition and are not backing down. They are mounting pressure on President Tinubu.

    “The lawmaker they are preparing to face Tajudeen Abass is Aminu Jaji from Zamfara State, where Senator Abdulaziz Yari comes from; some of the party leaders have concluded to go for Aminu Jaji, who comes from the same state as Yari,”

    “We will see what happens when the President meets everyone this week. Everybody is putting their cards on the table. They may later disregard the President if his decision does not suit them.”

    Jaji, a House of Representatives member from Zamfara State, is a ranking supporter of President Tinubu and his predecessor, Buhari.

    He reportedly served as the contact and mobilisation director of the Bola Tinubu Campaign Council for the North-West region.

  • Speakership: 7 days to proclamation, Abass, Kalu coasting to victory as 106 of 143 NW, NC Reps-elect stamp their candidacy

    Speakership: 7 days to proclamation, Abass, Kalu coasting to victory as 106 of 143 NW, NC Reps-elect stamp their candidacy

    Seven days to proclamation of tenth Assembly, the Speakership and Deputy Speakership candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the incoming 10th National Assembly, Hon. Tajudeem Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu seem to be coasting to victory as 106 out of 143, South West and North Central Reps-elect endorse their candidacy.

    This was as the duo have garnered more endorsements in the last 48 hours, following the resolution by 106 out of the 143 combined members-elect from the North West and North Central geopolitical Zones threw their weights behind their candidature on Tuesday.

    With the latest development, the Abbas/Kalu ticket appears to be getting closer a landslide victory on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reliably gathered that during the separate endorsement meetings in Abuja on Tuesday, 72 out of 92 members-elect from the North West zone and 32 out of 51 from North Central lawmakers declared their support for the ticket as part of the ongoing operation ‘Meet-The-Caucuses’ embarked upon by Abass and Kalu.

    The meeting which held in the Ladi Kwali Hall of the old Sheraton Hotel Abuja had in attendance, member-elect from the North Wes, while those of the North Central held at the Transcorp Hilton respectively.

    Other zones of South-South and North East will followed suit on Wednesday while Southeast and Southwest will be held on Thursday.

    Briefing newsmen on the progress so far, the Communication Adviser to the Tajudeen-Ben Kalu group (TBK) and lawmaker elect for Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, described the success recorded so far as a victory for the growing quest to build a stable, strong, united, harmonious and all-inclusive House that will deliver on life-changing people’s legislations that will help to deliver on the renewed hope agenda of the present administration.

    According to him, the massive support from all zones and ethnic and religious divides is clear evidence of members’ commitment to seeing Nigeria move forward, and an indication of a significant buy-in into the Abass and Kalu message of unity and competence rooted in inclusiveness and teamwork.

    Hon. Ikenga described Abbas and Kalu’s legislative competence and capacity, plus their unrelenting reaching out and door-to-door engagement with members-elect, as “one of the reasons for the across-board acceptance.”

    Ikenga said “the commitment of the Abbas/Kalu to a peoples’ 10th NASS leadership is not in doubt, as shown by the readiness of Abbas/Kalu to carry every member along in the quest to deliver on the agenda for a peoples parliament that will help in realizing the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

    He said “Abbas and Kalu’s team spirit and unity are the first of their kind in the leadership race, with a Speaker and Deputy running together with a clear agenda for the members and the country.”

    Ugochinyere therefore urged other aspirants to let go their ambitions, and support the duo towards delivering a people’s oriented 10th National Assembly.

    He expressed optimism that “Abbas and Kalu’s Commitment with help deliver the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu and also ensure a working and independent legislature endeared them to the lawmakers elect who agree that the 10th Nass needs a competent leadership with team spirit, unity, and INCLUSIVENESS which Abass and Kalu represent.”

    “After Abbas and Kalu presented their road map to the lawmakers-elect from the two regions, they rose in their different zonal engagement with them and resolved to vote for the duo in a landslide. They praised the legislative competence of Abbas and Kalu, which saw them moving over 100 bills that have over 23 already signed into law, and said the 10th Nass couldn’t miss such men with an iroko style legislative capacity rooted in teamwork, inclusiveness, and humility.

    “They appreciated Abbas and Kalu’s unrelenting engagement with lawmakers with opposing views that they reached out, and extending hands of fellowship is something worthy of commendation. Odds are in their favour in winning the election come June 13th with the gale of endorsements flying in from all corners. Currently 106 out of 141 lawmakers-elect from Northwest and North Central (72 out of 92 lawmakers elect from the North West zone and 32 out of 51 North Central lawmakers) have declared their support at the ongoing zonal caucuses meeting by Abass and Kalu. In the coming days, we are optimistic that more members-elect will declare their support for the duo.”

  • 10th NASS: Leadership Centre endorses Abass, Kalu for speakership positions

    10th NASS: Leadership Centre endorses Abass, Kalu for speakership positions

    …donates N5m

    …vows to lobby for their emergence

    …as Ikenga declares that both aspirants have over 220 Reps-elect support

    A Civil Society Organization, known as the Initiative for Leadership Development and Change (ILDC) has endorsed the All Progressive Congress, APC anointed candidates, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu for Speaker, Deputy Speaker respectively.

    Members of the leadership center who announced their endorsement when they paid a courtesy visit to the Communication Adviser to Tajudeen Ben Kalu movement group, (TBK) Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, at its headquarters in Abuja, revealed that they will making a massive donation of N5 million to the duo’s campaign.

    Addressing Ugochinyere, ILDC country heads, High Chief Ugochukwu Nnam and Bashir Abubakar Shehu said after taking time to study all aspirants, they come to conclusion that the ruling party made the right choice in choosing Abass and Kalu to be the presiding officers of the 10th House.

    ILDC described the duo as calm , intelligent men who have right educational background and legislative experience for the positions.

    According to the group, Abass and Kalu from their legislative track record shows that they are core parliamentarians who over the years took their jobs seriously.

    While noting that the duo’s achievements have placed them above other aspirants, the group appealed to the aggrieved aspirants to sheath their swords and support Abass and Kalu.

    He added that aside the monetary donation they will be lobbying more Lawmakers to support the duo.

    He said, “The time when lawmakers will elect the next leadership of the National Assembly is almost here. We are here as citizens who care about our nation. The development of any nation depends on the kind of leaders we elect. I believe the national working committee of the APC did a thorough research before arriving on the decision of Abass and Kalu as Speaker, Deputy Speaker.

    “The duo’s achievements have placed them among the best. They have sponsored the highest number of bills in the lower chamber in the history of Nigeria. Also their performances in their previous offices and contributions to democracy in the country is equally admirable. We urge the aggrieved aspirants to be like their colleagues Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman, and Hon. Abdulhameed Olawuyi and jettison their ambitions and support Abass and Kalu. Aside the endorsement we will be donating N5 million and also lobby more Lawmakers to support them. We have made commitment to meet all members elect to lobby them to vote Tajudeen and Kalu. We will consult our representatives, it’s the ticket we have seen that has competence and inclusiveness. They are young and competent and we believe they turn around the image of the National Assembly for good.”

    Receiving the group, Ugochinyere who’s also a member-elect representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency, expressed optimism that Abass and Kalu will be victorious, saying that they are currently enjoying support of over 200 members-elect.

    While thanking them for their support, he told the group Abass and Kalu state caucuses meeting to consolidate victory will start today.

    Ugochinyere said, “You’re all welcomed, I appreciate the commitment your group has shown in helping to lobbying other members elect for the success of this event. More importantly is coming all the way to show evidence of that support and believing in their candidacy, I pray God will help us in achieving this. It’s important I highlight some facts about tajudeen and Kalu their background so you understand the kind of leadership to expect. Abass was a lecturer, before he came to the National Assembly and has chaired different committees, currently chairing land transport. When you check the primary responsibility of a lawmaker which is to make law, he’s number one. This is facts not a propaganda, he has over 74 impactful bills to his name with 21 signed into law.

    Kalu the deputy Speaker aspirant, has held admirable leadership positions before coming to House of Representatives and as a first timer he became the image maker of the house. He marketed the image of the house well, with over 40 bills to his name, he has the rich legislative experience to be Deputy Speaker. With his background as a lawyer, he will effectively chair the constitutional amendment committee. This ticket is important because we have competence, inclusivity and they will help ensure a country that works. They are very committed. Like you said earlier the success of any administration depends largely on the kind of National Assembly leadership in place. We maybe from Opposition Parties but to have a productive, stable and united 10th House of Representatives we will give President Tinubu the required support and cooperation.

    “And the ruling party made the right choice in selecting Abass and Kalu as Speaker Deputy Speaker candidates. While many of their colleagues were focused on things that are probably for their personal gains, Abass and Kalu focused on their core mandate, the main objective of their coming to the national assembly. It is only appropriate that members-elect of the 10th House queue behind Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu to deliver the good governance for the benefit of Nigerians.”

  • Just In: Wike throws weight behind Abbas, Kalu

    Just In: Wike throws weight behind Abbas, Kalu

    …vows 2015 won’t rear its ugly head again

    The Speaker and Deputy Speakership campaign of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu on Friday received a major boost as Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike declared total support for their candidacies as presiding officers of the incoming 10th House of Representatives.

    Wike, who declared the support for the APC’s preferred candidates in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, said he would work assiduously to make sure that the duo emerge victorious.

    Speaking when the Abbas/Kalu Campaign Team visited him under the leadership of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, Wike said all the 13 members-elect from Rivers State with the exception of one, are with Abbas and Kalu 100 percent.

    Wike also said that the 2015 scenario where members that went against their party emerged as leaders of the National Assembly would not repeat itself.

    “I want to say here that I am with you fully. You know I do my things in the open. When Chinda told me that you’re coming here, I said there was no need because I am with you fully. All our members are with you, except one, who is doing something else.

    “2015 won’t repeat itself. Let me tell you, I’ll leave office on Monday, and once I leave, we’ll start the campaign fully.

    “I urge all of you to support Abbas. Don’t support him in the day and do something else in the night. You should support him fully,” Wike said.

    Details later….

  • 10th NASS: Stop referring Abbas as speaker – Adamu caution members

    10th NASS: Stop referring Abbas as speaker – Adamu caution members

    As the race for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly gathers momentum, the national chairman of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC),Abdullahi Adamu, has warned members to stop referring Tajudeen Abbas as speaker until the day of proclamation

    The national chairman said this while hosting the Joint Task Group of incoming 10th National Assembly, at the APC National Secretariat on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The Joint Task Group has since backed the nomination of Abbas and Kalu by the APC as preferred candidate.

    Adamu said: “I want to make one correction so that we will not be misrepresented. A quite number of you have referred to Hon. Abbas as the speaker. Please, please he is one of the aspirants. He will become a speaker on the day of proclamation.

    “The laws guiding that office are very clear, he will earned that on the day of proclamation by the president and commander in chief of the 10th National Assembly. The Clerk to the National Assembly will conduct election there is no option than the election.

    “When he comes out of that election and they raised his hand and when he is sworn in by the speaker, that nomenclature becomes most appropriate. Wait. Continue doing your good work.

    “After reporting to the National Working Committee the discussions we had with the President-elect and leaders like the Vice President-elect, the Senate President, the speaker; my humble self, my deputy north, deputy south and the National Secretary of the party.

    “I reported our deliberations. It was clear in our declaration that there is need for further and better consultations so that we can take as much as we can to message political egos, so that we end up with what we want with National Assembly leadership in both Chambers.

    “We have received all the other aspirants for the president of the Senate and the speakership of the House of Representatives. I on behalf of my colleagues wish you the best of luck.”

    Speaking earlier, Abbas pleaded with the National chairman to use the position God has given him to do whatever he can so as to call all his co-contestants to the table.

    He thanked the NWC for playing a vital role in his emergence as the anointed candidate of the party for the June 13th national assembly election.

    Abbas promised to do everything humanly possible to protect the interest of the party, to protect the interest of the government and to protect the interest of the Nigerian populace.

    He said, “I want to use this opportunity Mr. Chairman to use it to complete one item in your resume, you have conquered parliamentary, several times; you were a party man several times; you were in the executive several times; you have delivered the president-elect of our party this time around

    “What is only outstanding to complete you resume to deliver the leadership of the National Assembly July 13.

    “I want to urge you Mr. Chairman and members of the NWC that if tomorrow you have done one leg of your job,that is the endorsement of the people that will represent the party in the next dispensation.

    “The next is to come all out, to support, to encourage, to convince every member who has a vote to come and vote for you candidate come June 13.

  • Speakership: 12, out of 14 Oyo Reps-Elect throw weight behind Abbas, Kalu

    Speakership: 12, out of 14 Oyo Reps-Elect throw weight behind Abbas, Kalu

    Twelve Oyo state House of Representatives members-elect have thrown their weight behind Honourables Tajudeen Abbas and Benjamin Kalu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

    In some documents obtained from a session held by the lawmakers, 12 Reps-elect out of the 14 seats in the State appended their signatures supporting the duo’s positions as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

    Among those who endorsed the duo are Reps members from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The list as sighted by TNG correspondent, shows the Reps members who endorsed Hon Tajudeen as Speaker and Hon Benjamin Kalu as Deputy Speaker:
    Hon Akeem Adeyemi, Hon Stanley Adedeji, Hon Abass Adigun Agboworin,
    Hon Lafisoye Akinmoyede and
    Hon Bayo Adepoju respectively.

    Others include Hon Ojo Sunday Makanjuola, Hon Lamiju Alao-Akala,
    Hon Kareem Tajudeen Abisodun,
    Hon Oyedeji Oyeshina, Hon Olaide Lateef, Hon Aderemi Oseni and Hon Akin Alabi.

    The lawmakers, made up of both returning and newly elected members chose to work on the side of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, a coalition of members from the 8 political parties with seats in the incoming House which drives the APC zoning and the Abbas/Kalu joint ticket ahead of the June 13th inauguration.

  • 10th Assembly: We will stand with Tinubu, APC – Gov Sule tells Abass, Kalu +Photos

    10th Assembly: We will stand with Tinubu, APC – Gov Sule tells Abass, Kalu +Photos

    The governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has said that he and his counterparts from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North would not go against the choice of the president-elect regarding the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

    Governor Sule noted that they are loyal party members who would want the incoming Tinubu administration to succeed.

    Speaking when he received a delegation of the Hon. Abbas Tajudeen/ Hon. Benjamin Kalu Campaign Team at the Nasarawa State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Thursday, Governor Sule said as a governor, he also has preferred candidates for the leadership of his State Assembly and that “nobody would disagree with me on such decision.”

    Governor Sule said going against the choice of the President-elect and the APC could create problem for the administration.

    He said Northern governors were the ones that stood their ground for the presidency to go back to the South, and that the “best has emerged,” saying “If people hear that we’re disagreeing with the president-elect, they will laugh at us. We won’t disagree with him.”

    The Tajudeen/Kalu Campaign Team visited the governor as part of efforts to get the support and blessings of all the relevant stakeholders ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Assembly in June.

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC had on May 8 released the zoning formula for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

    The party picked Sen. Godswill Akpabio from South South as its candidate for the President of the Senate; Sen. Jibrin Barau for Deputy President of the Senate; Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as the Speaker, and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu as the Deputy Speaker.

    Governor Sule told the delegation, led by Tajudeen Abbas, that “I sincerely thank you for finding me worthy to be among the people to be visited for this project.

    “We cannot in any way fight the choice of Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We cannot in any way fight the choice of our party,” he said.

    Rather, Governor Sule said when the president-elect returned to the country, “we’ll sit down with him and ask him what is there for us in the North Central.

    “I’m a governor, and when I indicate interest in who becomes the Speaker in my state, nobody argues with me.”

    He advised both Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Benjamin Kalu to reach out to the other contestants for the top positions so as to carry them along and get their buy-in.

    “You asked me for advice, and I’ll give you one. I saw you with PDP, LP and the rest of them. That shows you’re serious. Also visit all the other aspirants. Visit all the opposition parties and ask for their support, so that they won’t penalize their members for supporting you.

    “I wish you well. I like the way you’re carrying the campaign. Try and carry everybody along. We know that the next administration is coming into an economic storm, so the president needs total peace and stability. From the governors, I promise you we’re going to give him the total support.”

    Earlier, the APC candidate for speakership, Rt. Hon. Abbas told the governor that the team visited him to seek his support, cooperation and blessings for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker’s offices .

    He said since his first election to the House in 2011, he has been making modest contributions in the Legislature, which culminated in his sponsoring 74 Bills from 2019 to date, out of which 21 were signed into law.

    The Iyan Zazzau noted that he has what it takes to be the Speaker in the incoming 10th Assembly as his 12 years in the Legislature have been productive.

    He noted that before becoming a lawmaker, he had been a teacher from primary to tertiary institutions, and that he established three different departments in Nuhu Bamalli and the Kaduna State University (KASU).

    He was accompanied on the visit by members-elect for the 10th House from the APC, PDP, Labour Party, NNPP, among others.

  • Speakership Race: consider Nigeria’s interest first, Ooni of Ife tells Abbas, Kalu

    Speakership Race: consider Nigeria’s interest first, Ooni of Ife tells Abbas, Kalu

    …backs APC anointed candidates

     

    A foremost Yoruba monarch, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has admonished the front runners in the race for the Speakership and Deputy Speakership positions of the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, to always have the interest of the country at heart in the discharge if their duties as presiding officers.

    Recall that the duo were endorsed by the leadership of the ruling all Progressives Congress (APC) on May 8 as the party’s preferred candidates for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House respectively.

    Since the party’s zoning and endorsement, Hon. Abbas and Hon. Kalu have been visiting stakeholders in the country for consultative meetings and to solicit for support.

    The Ife monarch who played host to the duo on Wednesday evening in Abuja after they paid him a courtesy visit enjoined Hon. Abbas and his aspiring Deputy, Kalu to always have the interest of Nigeria at heart in the course of discharging their duties.

    He said: “Carry everyone along so that they will love you for who you are, not for the fact that when you get to be the Speaker, they will lobby you for positions. But they’ll love you for the great things you will do for the betterment of our dear nation.”

    The monarch who reminded the Candidates of their changing positions and their attendant responsibilities noted that the country must come first in their leadership estimation

    “You have become a servant from your constituency, you want to be a bigger servant to be the Speaker of the House and a much bigger servant to serve our dear nation.

    “Always remember that the interest that is number one to you is the interest of our dear nation, followed by the interest of your party, for what is important is that you carry your people along,” Ooni said.

    He therefore offered his royal blessings for the duo with prayers in anticipation of their success, just as he urged them to support and encourage the women among them.

    “May God almighty be with you. May God almighty bless you. May God almighty honour you, guide and protect you.

    “Also, give women support and encouragement, the Feminine ones, support them,” he said.

  • 10th House: You’re both Speaker, Deputy in waiting, Shettima tells Abbas, Kalu

    10th House: You’re both Speaker, Deputy in waiting, Shettima tells Abbas, Kalu

    The Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima has referred to the duo of Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, (APC, Kaduna) and Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia) as Speaker and Deputy Speaker in waiting.

    Recall that the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC, on Monday endorsed their candidature as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

    The VP-elect made the reference on Friday evening when the duo accompanied by 178 other members-elect visited him at his campaign office at the high brow area of Asokoro in Abuja.

    He expressed delight at the crowd behind the party’s choices saying that he was more than happy, but overwhelmed.

    Responding to speeches made by the duo earlier, the VP-elect said: “Thank you so much Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, by God’s grace our Speaker in waiting. And my very good friend, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, our Deputy Speaker in waiting. To say that I was pleased meeting this collective is an understatement, I was overwhelmed.”

    “This collective has come to prove to Nigerians that what binds us together is greater and supersedes whatever divides us. Rt. Hon. Members, the trajectory of global growth is facing Africa and Nigeria to make or mar that transition. 220 million black people, one out of every four black is a Nigerian. Average age in Africa today is 19. The Asian economy, the Asian Tigers are maturing. China today is aging. Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea are all aging. So the future of the world rests on this continent.

    “I’m quite glad because this is a gathering of ladies and gentlemen of different political colouration. We are bound together by our collective desire to reposition our nation. I urge you to maintain this momentum, to sustain this brotherhood and sisterhood, so that collectively we can catapult our country to a higher pedestal. The country is in dire state,” he said.

    Senator Shettima therefore assured the party’s anointed aspirants of his determination to speak to other contestants sonaa to get their support and forge a united front going into the new administration.

    “Be rest assured that we are not only on board this project, I will take it upon myself to reach out to other contenders. Politics as said is all local. Rt Hon. Muktari Betara Aliyu is my brother. We are from the same subregion, we are from the same state. And I have the best of relationship with him. I met him two nights ago, and I will sustain that discussion, so that at the end of the day there will be no winner, no vanquished.

    “Around 1 pm today, I met with Rt. Hon Esse, the deputy Speaker. He is someone who’s very close to me. We will continue the engagement so that we can have a rancour free 10th Assembly,” the VP-elect assured.

    Speaking earlier, the APC anointed Speakership hopeful, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas told the VP-elect that he will in conjunction with his deputy run an inclusive House which will not disappoint the administration, the party, as well as the country as a whole.

    He expressed delight at the prosect of having both the President and his Vice as alumni if the National Assembly, noting that such has never happened before.

    “We are here to say we are very grateful to you, to Mr President-elect, and to the party for finding us worthy of this mantle of leadership. I want to assure you that we will not disappoint you, the party and Nigerians. Your Excellency, I want to congratulate us after June 13th if God makes it possible that we will be in the reign of leadership, that we will be extremely lucky, because there’s never being a time in the history of this country where the number one and number two citizens being products of the National Assembly.

    “Mr President-elect was a senator, he understands the system very well. You are just an outgoing senator who also understand the system very well. So we believe synergy and working in a mutually beneficial manner will be very easy for us.

    Hon. Benjamin Kalu who’s the only surviving APC member from his State in his speech thanked the party and the leadership for considering inclusion and national cohesion in chosing him for the presiding officer s position despite the poor electoral outing the party had in the South East.

    “Before now, no South Easterner was in the presiding officer’s position in the last four years, but this time, irrespective of the number of votes that came out from the South East, the party considered cohesion and gave us this. We are grateful.

    “Here with me today are members of the House from the South East, we are about 43, and irrespective of the political parties differences they are solidly standing by this your decision. And they will show it on the day of election because this a decision that will give every part of the country a sense of belonging,” Kalu added.

    The chairman of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly which has taken over the campaign of the duo, Hon. Usman Bello Kumo earlier introduced them to the VP -elect, saying that the group before the zoning was a neutral one supporting no aspirant nor fighting anyone.

    He however said since the party took its zoning decision, the group based on its resolution decided to collapse its structure for the joint ticket to ensure that the party’s position is respected and delivered.