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Tag: Ahmad Lawan

  • Ex-Senate President wants improved welfare for military personnel

    Ex-Senate President wants improved welfare for military personnel

    Former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has called for an improved welfare for the Nigerian military.

    Lawan, currently the chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, said this in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr Ezrel Tabiowo to mark the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day on Monday in Abuja.

    He said that the annual event served as a solemn reminder of the price paid for the nation’s stability and to reflect on the importance of peace and unity.

    The former senate president enjoined Nigerians to support the efforts of the Armed Forces in building a nation where all citizens felt safe and secured.

    “On this solemn occasion, I join all Nigerians in paying tribute to the men and women of our Armed Forces who have served and continue to serve our nation with great courage and sacrifice.

    “We honour the memory of those who have laid down their lives in the defense of our freedom and security. Their ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.

    “This annual event serves as a solemn reminder of the price paid for peace and stability. It is a day to reflect on the sacrifices made by our military personnel and their families.

    “As we remember our fallen heroes, we must also acknowledge the challenges and difficulties that our Armed Forces continue to face,’’ he said.

    Lawal added: “Our military personnel deserve our support, not only on this day but throughout the year.’’

    He also commended the Federal Government for its efforts to improve the welfare of the military.

    “I urge the federal government to continue to invest in training, equipment, and infrastructure for our Armed Forces.

    “We must also ensure that our military personnel receive adequate compensation, benefits and support services.

    “The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is also a day to reflect on the importance of peace and unity. We must all work together to build a nation where all citizens feel safe and secure.

    “I call on all Nigerians to join hands and support our Armed Forces.

    “Let us show our appreciation for their service and sacrifice by providing them with the support they need to succeed in their mission,” he said.

  • Senate President condole with Lawan on mother’s death

    Senate President condole with Lawan on mother’s death

    Senate President Condoles Lawan On Mother’s Death

    The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has mourned the death of Hajiya Halima (Baba) Ibrahim, the mother of the immediate past President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.

    In a condolence letter to Senator Lawan, Akpabio expressed gratitude for the sacrifices and maternal tenacity provided by Hajiya Halima, which helped him in attaining his laurels in academia and Nigeria’s political space.

    Akpabio, in the letter said that Nigeria at this time, needs more mothers like her, who looked beyond the present towards directing their children unto lasting legacies.

    “Hajiya Halima will be etched in our national memory not only for being a virtuous mother, but as a woman, who played her role in raising up a child who rose to the top of academia and our political orbit.

    Akpabio wrote in the condolence letter personally signed by him. “I am particularly impressed by the maternal support she provided in guiding you through your years of primary and secondary education in Gashua, despite her own limited education. Such foresight and maternal instincts in craving the best for their children must be commended and should be a guiding spirit for our mothers everywhere.

    “I dare say, Your Excellency, that Nigeria at this time needs more mothers like yours, who must look beyond effervescent grandeur that society offers towards lasting imprints that define lasting legacies. Your mother chose and encouraged you in the path of intellectual attainment and it proved to be a better choice for you, your family and Nigeria.

    “I can only imagine her satisfaction as you progressed in life knowing that the sacrifices were worth it.

    “My brother, I mourn with you and join all your well wishers to pray for the repose of her soul in Aljannah Firdaus,” Akpabio wrote.

  • I supported Lawan, but won election for Tinubu, says APC chair, Adamu

    I supported Lawan, but won election for Tinubu, says APC chair, Adamu

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has said he deserved some commendation despite working for Senator Ahmad Lawan in the run-up to the party’s presidential primaries, even if only for the fact that he (Adamu) presided over the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

    Adamu disclosed this in an interview with Arise Television, yesterday In Abuja.

    According to him,the rumoured differences between himself and the president were unfounded, pointing out that before the emergence of Tinubu he had the right to support whoever he wanted.

    He stated that he was also misrepresented about his position on the recently elected principal officers of the national assembly, saying that what the APC had issues with was the manner the communication was handled by the lawmakers.

    Adamu said those who have issues against him have always had the opportunity to air their views at their national meetings, explaining that Saliu Lukman, for instance, who has always accused him of running a one-man show, has always attended those meetings.

    “I think that’s a soft selling point for you media people. It is true that at the time that I made a presentation to the National Working Committee (NWC), the name of Senator Ahmed Lawan was thrown up.

    “That was before the convention. So many things took place between then and the actual date of the convention and you saw what culminated in the convention unanimously. I was there and I led the convention of the party.

    “A day after the convention, I took the entire working committee to his (Tinubu’s) house in Asokoro and assured him of our support and said we will stand shoulder to shoulder with him and ensure that the mandate was sold properly to the people of Nigeria. We won the election. Instead of being praised, we are vilified,” he said.

    He noted that it wasn’t the time for vilification, expressing the view that since he led the party to success, he should be commended.

    Adamu said he had a right to hold an opinion like he did on Lawan before the primaries, but noted that once it was clear that Tinubu emerged, every member had to rally around him.

    He said he currently has a good working relationship with Tinubu since his election, noting that the president has always given him his full attention each time they met.

    The national APC chairman said reports about himself and the president not on the same page remain speculative, urging the media to be fair to him.

    On his comments which were reported about the Ondo governor that the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu was extremely incapacitated, Adamu stressed that there was no such pronouncement at his meeting with state chairmen.

    The chairman further said the future of the APC remains very bright, explaining that his hope was that in the next four years , Tinubu will get renewal for a second term.

    He noted that he wasn’t bothered by media reports of differences with the president , pointing out that his main task at the moment is to keep the party as one strong entity.

    Speaking on G-5 governors, he said he was willing to accept the governors led by Nyesom Wike into the APC, noting that they will be most welcome whenever they decide to opt for the APC.

  • EU faults Supreme Court’s reinstatement of Ahmad Lawan

    EU faults Supreme Court’s reinstatement of Ahmad Lawan

    The European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) has criticised the Supreme Court, saying that it has tarnished its public perception by reinstating former Senate President Ahmad Lawan to the red chamber, despite his non-participation in the primaries election.

    Recall that initially, Lawan had contested the presidential ticket of the ruling party All Progressives Congress, (APC) but after being defeated by Bola Tinubu, he secure the senatorial ticket in his district

    But the EU in its recently released final report titled ‘Election Observation Mission Nigeria 2023’, said the Supreme Court continues to maintain a negative perception after reinstating Senator Ahmed Lawan, who never participated in primaries for the Senate

    “The Nigerian Supreme Court continues to maintain a negative perception after reinstating Senator Ahmed Lawan, who never participated in primaries for the Senate. The high court and appeal court judgments were against this.”

    The Supreme Court’s ruling that brought in Lawan emerged from a political battle between Mr. Lawan and his political ally Bashir Machina, who refused to relinquish the APC ticket for the Yobe North senatorial district.

    However, Mr. Machina, the rightful winner of the Yobe North senatorial ticket, stood his ground, refusing to surrender it under any circumstances. To remove Mr. Machina and support Mr. Lawan, the APC urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt the former Senate president as its senatorial candidate for Yobe North in the 2023 elections.

    Eventually, on February 6, 2023, the controversial ruling by the Supreme Court went in favour of Mr. Lawan.

  • 9th Senate valedictory: Lawan reveals number of bills passed in 4 years

    9th Senate valedictory: Lawan reveals number of bills passed in 4 years

    President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has disclosed that the Senate passed over 500 bills in four years out of over 1,129 bills that were presented on the floor of the Senate.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Lawan made the disclosure in his remarks on Saturday during the valedictory session for the outgoing Senators of the 9th Assembly.

    “Today, I address you with mixed emotions. On the one hand, there is a sense of accomplishment for all that we have achieved together.

    “My gratitude is to God Almighty for the privilege of serving the people of Nigeria and being a part of this revered legislative body, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he stated.

    Lawan said that the Senate accomplished some significant accomplishments over the last four years.

    “In lawmaking, the 9th Senate introduced and successfully passed critical legislation that could reform and promote the economy, improve transparency in government processes.

    “As of June 10, over 1,129 Bills were presented on the floor of the Senate, and over 500 were successfully passed.

    “The President assented to 131 Bills; the highest of any Assembly in Nigeria’s history.

    “In the last few days, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had assented to two Bills passed by the 9th National Assembly; the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.37) Bill, 2023”.

    “This extends the retirement age of high court judges and others, from 65 to 70 years. This was the first Bill to be signed by the President since taking the oath of office.

    “Only yesterday (Friday), the 9th, he also assented to the Electricity Act 2023, which we had passed in July 2022.

    “The new law replaces the Electricity and Power Sector Reform Act of 2005.”

    He said that in the discharge of their representative functions, the 9th Senate aggregated and amplified the problems faced by constituents.

    “Three hundred and sixty-one motions were moved in the 9th Senate and 488 Resolutions were passed.

    “Through these various motions and resolutions, we called the government’s attention to specific issues and sought their intervention.”

    Lawan said that beyond the impressive numbers, however, the laws cut across the 11 priority areas of their Legislative Agenda.

    Lawan further said that to curb the proliferation of illegal arms and weapons, “We passed the Bill for the Establishment of a National Commission for Coordination and Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

    “We passed other security-related laws, including the Police Act 2020, which introduced radical changes in the operations of the Nigerian Police Force and how they relate to the citizenry.”

    Orji Kalu cries at Senate’s valedictory session, says Nigeria unfair to him

    Chief Whip of the ninth Senate and former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, broke down at the floor of the Senate on Saturday and wept while making contributions at the valedictory session of the chamber.

    Kalu cried while narrating how he has been treated politically, especially by those he helped build the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he spent his money to nurture.

    Kalu who started weeping at 1.19 pm, said, “Before I came into politics, I could buy anything money can buy. I’m not a thief. Those that put me in prison know the reason. They took over my businesses and wanted to kill me yet I survived it and I’m in the Senate with you.

    “I have never lacked. While I was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where I served for two terms as governor, I brought the money that they used in forming that party, every penny, in 1997 and 1998, and I later became a thief.

    “People I gave transport money from my house in Victoria Island became agents. This is what Nigeria represents.  Thank you for giving me these four years of uninterrupted support. This country is not fair.”

    The senator who represented Abia North on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is among the returnee lawmakers aspiring for Senate presidency. He had argued repeatedly that with the President from the West, the Vice President from the North, it is only fair and just that the Senate President comes from the East.

    Earlier in the session, the out-gone President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan said that the session was a special one against the backdrop that it would be used by the Senators to make remarks on the journey that started on June 11, 2019 and ended today.

  • Senate shifts valedictory session

    Senate shifts valedictory session

    The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday,  announced that the senate has rescheduled its valedictory session from Thursday, June 8 to  Saturday, June 10.

    Lawan had announced on Tuesday at plenary  that the senate would hold its valedictory session on Thursday.

    The senate president, however, told members of the senate Press Corps that the shift in the date was due to a scheduled meeting of President Bola Tinubu with the lawmakers of the incoming 10th National Assembly on Thursday.

    “By the grace of God, we will still hold plenary tomorrow (Thursday) and then our valedictory session will be on Saturday.

    “It is because tomorrow, the  President will be meeting with the senators-elect and members-elect at 2p.m.

    “We believe that a session as significant, important,   historical and memorable as valedictory session of the senate requires a whole day. Not one, two, three hours. And therefore,  we pushed it to Saturday,” Lawan said.

    The Ninth senate would officially end its four-year tenure on  June 11.

    Lawan also hinted that the 10th senate would be inaugurated on Tuesday, June 13.

  • President Tinubu meets with NASS leadership over successors

    President Tinubu meets with NASS leadership over successors

    President Bola Tinubu met with Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday in Abuja over the choice of the leadership for the 10th National Assembly.

    Lawan told newsmen after the meeting that the president emphasised the need for the right choice of leadership for the National Assembly.

    He said Tinubu maintained that the emergence of the leadership should be in national interest; in the interest of the National Assembly and of the legislature.

    “We are getting somewhere and our prayer is that we are able to resolve all the outstanding issues. Mr President is positively disposed to everything being done smoothly.

    “We believe that Mr President having been a senator himself and his vice-president also having been a senator, will always wish and pray for the right leadership for the National Assembly,’’ he said.

    He said having been the chairman of the 9th National Assembly, it was necessary for him to work with all major stakeholders, especially with the leadership of the country.

    Lawan explained that Tinubu gave necessary advice on how the new leadership of the National Assembly should emerge and what needed to be done to ensure its stability and productivity.

    He said the new leadership must ensure peaceful working relationship between the Legislature and the Executive arms of government.

    “I have never indicated interest to run for the Office of the President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly.

    “We have worked together with distinguished senators of the 9th National Assembly and members of the House of Representatives to create a very conducive environment for us to work.

    “We have been productive; much more productive than any National Assembly.

    “We worked very closely with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and that helped the administration a lot,’’ Lawan said.

    “Those of us who have been there longer, owe everybody that responsibility to at least help to mentor those who are new if we are not going to be presiding officers or principal positions,’’ he added.

  • Lawan denies interest in 10th NASS Presidency

    Lawan denies interest in 10th NASS Presidency

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has denied media report that he has joined the race for the Presidency of the 10th National Assembly.

    Lawan said this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “I have read some media reports that I have joined the race for the Presidency of the 10th Senate.

    “Ordinarily I would not have responded to these reports but when lies are not refuted, they have the tendency to create an illusion of truth.

    “The truth is that I have never told anyone or held a meeting with anyone that I am running for the Presidency of the 10th Senate,so the public should discountenance the reports.

    “The fact remains that I am part of the leadership of our great party, the APC, seeking to find solutions to the numerous issues arising from the contests for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and I will continue to remain focused on that,” he said.

  • Constitution review: Buhari refuses to sign 19 amendment bills

    Constitution review: Buhari refuses to sign 19 amendment bills

    The Chairman of the National Assembly (NASS), Sen. Ahmad Lawan, has said that the legislature would engage the Executive in a bid to ensure President Muhammadu Buhari’s assent to 19 of the 35 alteration bills yet to be signed.

    Lawan, who is also the President of the Senate, said this on Tuesday at the resumption of plenary from the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

    Recall that Buhari had on March 17, signed 16 Constitutional amendment bills into law. The NASS had on Jan. 24, transmitted 35 Constitution amendment bills to Buhari for assent.

    Lawan said, for the 19 bills that the president did not assent to,: “I believe that there is need for us to do further engagement between the NASS and the executive arm of government.

    “Our Constitution Review Committee will engage the executive arm of government so that we go through the items in those bills that have not been assented.

    “What are the issues; are those issues, issues we can deal with immediately because we have put in a lot of resources, a lot of time to produce those bills.

    “I believe that may be there are few explanations that we will make and they will be okay and we will do that almost immediately because time is of essence.

    “Where the issues are too much to handle, I think the 10th NASS should be able to attend to such issues.”

    The 19 bills not signed by the president included the fifth alteration bill number 24.

    “This sought for an Act to Alter the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.

    “To empower the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to summon the President  and Governors of States to answer questions on issues which the National and State Houses of Assembly have the Powers to make.

    “Alteration bill number 7 which sought for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to compel persons to obey or comply with Legislative Summons, was refused assent by the President.”

    The president of the senate listed the 16 bills signed by the president to include the fifth alteration Bill Number 3, which is “To change the name Afikpo North and Afikpo South Local Government Areas; and for Related Matters”.

    “Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 6 to Provide for the Financial Independence of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary; and for Related Matters”.

    Lawan said that the fifth alteration bill No. 6 which dealt with financial independence of state houses of assembly and state judiciary were very critical for the development of democracy in Nigeria and for good governance also.

    “I believe that the president acted very wisely on this by signing the bill.

    “This is because, just like we have financial independence here at the national level, our state legislatures should enjoy similar independence.

    “And of course when the judiciary does not enjoy financial independence, you can imagine what will happen.

    “We believe that the judiciary should be financially independent just like the federal judiciary because it gives them that power, that authority that without fear or favour, they can make their judgment and conduct their affairs,” Lawan said.

  • APC will win 28 states or more – Senate president, Lawan

    APC will win 28 states or more – Senate president, Lawan

    Nigeria’s  Senate president, Ahmad Lawan said after casting his vote on Saturday that his party, the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) will win not less than 28 states.

    “We are in control of the National Assembly. We have won the Presidency. We are going to win nothing less than 28 states at the end of this election,” Mr Lawan said.

    The Senate President made the statement in response to questions from journalists at the Katuzu ward polling unit in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State where he cast his vote during the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.

    Lawan’s position was made known via a statement signed and delivered by   the Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Ola Awoniyi

    The APC currently controls 21 of the 36 states and had an outright win in 12 states during the last Presidential vote.

    Mr Lawan said the APC and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as well as the ninth National Assembly deserved some credit for the improvement witnessed in the country’s electoral process.

    He said: “The APC and the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari deserve credit, that we have allowed the process to be entirely determined by the guidelines and regulations of INEC. That we don’t use our incumbency factor to stop other political parties or opposition from winning in areas that are strong APC enclave.

    “The ninth National Assembly also deserves credit for passing a law that has made the process of our elections better.

    “I think there are still rooms for improvement but kudos to the ninth National Assembly for producing an Electoral Act that is giving more roles to technology to decide and influence the outcome of our elections rather than some kind of fraud.”

    Commenting on the electoral process of Saturday, Senate President Lawan said he was “happy that the BVAS is working here. I’m yet to hear any report about the failure of the process anywhere in my Local Government so far.”