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Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

  • 72hrs after Tinubu’s visit: Statements credited to me by supporters laced with falsehood – Obasanjo

    72hrs after Tinubu’s visit: Statements credited to me by supporters laced with falsehood – Obasanjo

    …insists it was a brotherly conversation

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said statements credited to him by some supporters of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) when they visited him are laced with falsehood.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls Tinubu and some APC chieftains had visited Obasanjo at his residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, on Wednesday.

    Tinubu was accompanied by two former governors of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, billionaire businessman, former interim national chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.

    Both Obasanjo and Tinubu refused to address the media after the meeting.
    But barely 24 hours after the meeting, Gbajabiamila spoke about what transpired during the meeting between Obasanjo and Tinubu.

    He said Obasanjo made encouraging statements about Tinubu’s aspiration and even prayed for the APC presidential candidate.

    His words: “When we were going to Obasanjo’s house, we were eight, including Asiwaju Tinubu and me; we didn’t want many people to know about the meeting. So, we were to meet Obasanjo and five others from his side.

    “But when we eventually got there, we met something pleasantly shocking: a mammoth crowd of our supporters were already at the former president’s house waiting for us.

    “So, Obasanjo told Asiwaju Tinubu to pick three people from his side and that he would pick three from his side to meet behind close doors. So, I, Chief Osoba and Chief Akande and Asiwaju went from our side. My people, what I heard there, what Obasanjo said, the victory of Asiwaju is assured.
    “Obasanjo spoke at length and we were all happy. He embraced our candidate like a brother, gave him a pat on the back, and prayed for him copiously.”

    But in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi on Saturday, Obasanjo said the statements coming from those claiming to be supporters of Tinubu are “unhelpful.”

    The former President said the discussion during the visit was “more brotherly than political”, and at the request of Bola Tinubu, Chief Obasanjo agreed to no statement from either side.”

    Obasanjo said “Those claiming to be insiders at the meeting issuing statement on the discussion and those crediting to me statement I had not made are enemies of the visitor and are not doing the visit any good.

  • What transpired during Obasanjo, Tinubu’s meeting – Gbajabiamila

    What transpired during Obasanjo, Tinubu’s meeting – Gbajabiamila

    Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has opened up on what transpired during the meeting between former president Olusegun Obasanjo and presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Bola Tinubu.

    Gbajabiamila made the statement on Thursday while speaking at the Surulere Local Government Area (LGA) APC meeting in Surulere, Lagos, disclosing that Obasanjo assured Tinubu of victory in the 2023 presidential election.

    The Speaker, who was present at the closed-door meeting between Obasanjo and Tinubu on Wednesday in Abeokuta, said from what he heard there, Tinubu’s presidency was almost a reality.

    He said Obasanjo made encouraging statements about Tinubu’s aspiration and even prayed for the APC presidential candidate.

    “When we were going to Obasanjo’s house, we were eight, including Asiwaju Tinubu and me; we didnt want many people to know about the meeting. So, we were to meet Obasanjo and five others from his side.

    “But when we eventually got there, we met something pleasantly shocking: a mammoth crowd of our supporters were already at the former president’s house waiting for us. So, Obasanjo told Asiwaju Tinubu to pick three people from his side and that he would pick three from his side to meet behind close doors.

    “So, I, Chief Osoba and Chief Akande and Asiwaju went from our side. My people, what I heard there, what Obasanjo said, the victory of Asiwaju is assured. Obasanjo spoke at length and we were all happy. He embraced our candidate like a brother, gave him a pat on the back, and prayed for him copiously,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila said from what analysts and observers had said, the 2023 election was going to be a three-horse race by three main candidates. He, however, said Sen. Bola Tinubu was the candidate with best record of performance and network.

    Gbajabiamila said that he had no doubt Tinubu would win the presidential election. He urged party faithful at the various wards making up Surulere local government area to work assiduously for the victory of Tinubu and all APC candidates in Surulere in 2023.

    “Next year’s election is going to be an important one in our nation, and we all need to make the right decision. From all indications, there are three main candidates for the election. We know the records of everyone, we know what they did and what they did not do.

    “Two were former governors and we know the one whose records are enduring and we know how the other people performed while in office. But one thing is a fact: there is none out of the three candidates that has the records of Tinubu. He is the best of them all and I don’t have any doubt in my mind that he would win come 2023,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila thanked the people of the local government area for their support for him and for giving the opportunity to serve them. He said that he considered being elected to serve as an honour, and would continue to redeem his electoral promises to impact lives in the area.

    “Everywhere you go in Surulere, it is Gbaja this, Gbaja that. In terms of roads, hospitals, street lights and others, you see our footprints and even fingerprints everywhere. I thank you for your support and making it all happen. I promise to continue doing my best to impact lives in Surulere”, he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Sulaiman Yusuf, Chairman, Surulere Local Government, thanked Gbajabiamila for all he had done in the area. He said the many projects the Speaker had facilitated in Surulere had made the work of the council easier.

    “But there is a lot of work to be done and that is why we are urging everyone in the local government area to continue to keep faith with APC. You should use your PVCs to ensure the continuation of the good works of APC in Surulere, Lagos and beyond.

    “Parents should encourage their children to vote for our party. Our Speaker has done well, he deserves another term, as well as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu,” he said.

    He tasked party faithful in the local government area to work for the emergence of Tinubu in 2023.

    Mr Sheriff Folarin, a former sole administrator of the local government and a chieftain of APC in the area, urged APC members in Surulere to mobilise other residents to vote for APC in 2023.

    “The essence of calling this LGA meeting is for us to know what we need to be doing from now. We should begin to tell others to vote our party next year. Having the PVC is not enough, we should tell them to use it for the party of choice,” he said.

    Party chairmen of the various wards in the local government presented reports of their activities in the last three months at the meeting. Mr Bayo Gafar, APC Chairman, Ward E, Surulere, said over 95 per cent of residents at his ward were mobilised to obtain their PVCs in the last registration exercise done by INEC.

    “We are going to work hard to ensure majority of these people with PVCs vote all our candidates in 2023”, he said.

  • Havard University: Gbajabiamila tenders apology to Nigerians

    Havard University: Gbajabiamila tenders apology to Nigerians

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday apologized to the entirety of Nigerians over his recent post concerning taking a course at Havard University.

    Recall that Gbajabiamila recently posted a picture of himself attending a leadership course at Harvard University in the United States of America.

    The speaker has explained that the intention was not to cause disaffection by Nigerians amid the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other unions in Nigeria’s ivory tower.

    The Surulere-bred politician came under fire for celebrating his “return to class” amid the ongoing ASUU strike.

    Several stakeholders and activists described the Speaker’s post as insensitive.

    Findings show that during  Gbajabiamila’s reign as Speaker of the House of Reps, Nigeria witnessed its longest ASUU strike in 2020.

    However, in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle on Wednesday night, Gbajabiamila said, “Yesterday, I posted a picture of myself at the @Harvard @Kennedy_School, undergoing a course. That post was not sensitive to the present feelings of fellow citizens, especially parents and students who are presently bearing the brunt of the ongoing closure of public universities owing to the unresolved issues between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    “I apologize for the post at this time, and I hope you will understand that it was not my intention to cause disaffection. As Speaker of @HouseNGR, I have made multiple interventions within the powers of the legislature to avert the ongoing strike. I had direct engagements with ASUU, and relevant government agencies.

    “We all await the outcome of the two-week ultimatum given for the conclusion of negotiations with ASUU.”

  • Northern Reps caucus denies impeachment move against Gbajabiamila

    Northern Reps caucus denies impeachment move against Gbajabiamila

    The Northern House of Representatives caucus has denied impeachment move against the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila over failure to support the controversial water resources bill.

    Rep. Seriki Addah, the Chairman, the Northern Caucus, denied the move at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja, saying at no time did the caucus hold any meeting for impeachment of the speaker.

    “This is a sad day and coming at a time we should be talking of how to unite this country and provide leadership, we are being dragged down by the agent of destabilisation.

    “I say clearly that what has been published is malicious lies aimed at planting the seed of discord among Nigerians.”

    Addah said that Gbajabiamila enjoyed the support of every lawmaker in the house, adding that his campaign to become speaker was hinged on, “nation building, a joint task”.

    He said that the Speaker is from the South West and the person who contested against him was a northerner, but the northerners chose to support Gbajabiamila.

    He said that the news was a disservice to the country and should be condemned, while urging the publisher to retract the publication and apologise to the north.

    He said that the Northern caucus feels aggrieved and betrayed with the malicious publication.

    The chairman said that the lawmakers were trying hard to build the nation, “Nigeria is Nigeria, we are one country and lawmakers operate as Nigerians; we don’t talk about tribe or religion.

    The Deputy Speaker, Rep. Idris Wase, while refuting the report said that there was nothing like impeachment going on to the best of his knowledge, saying “I am a northerner”.

    He pleaded with his colleagues to toe the line of what had been mentioned to trust one another, adding that members were working as a family.

    He urged members not to be carried by emotions and sentiments towards dividing members.

    “We remain the symbol of democracy in this country and in any nation the parliament is a symbol of democracy.

    “Maybe because the speaker is away and they want to gang me up against my colleagues too and that is why they are planting this story.

    “For me, I want to say we are one and we are one in terms of our activities. The matter is hereby referred to committee on ethics and privilege.

    The Water Resources Bill is an executive bill that passed through third reading in the House of Reps during the 8th Assembly but was rejected by the Senate.

    The bill was recommitted for consideration recently in the 9th Assembly and it raised a dust.

    Rep. Sanda Soli, the Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources said that the bill was an executive bill, adding that it was not intended to generate any acrimony.

    The Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu, however queried why the house should be bothered about impeachment “when the country is bedevilled with insecurity?’’

    Elumelu said what should concern the house was the lingering Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) strike, the kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna train victims among others.

    He said that there was nothing like impeachment threat against the speaker, adding that the bill in question had not been brought for consideration and no plan to put it in the supplementary paper.

    “Mine is to see how we can support the government in fighting insecurity. I want to assure Nigerians that the house is doing everything possible to support the government and get our children back to school.

    Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila is currently attending a leadership course at Harvard University in the U.S.

  • Northern Reps hold Gbajabiamila hostage over acidic Water Resources Bill

    Northern Reps hold Gbajabiamila hostage over acidic Water Resources Bill

     

    There are speculations that the ‘acidic’Water Resources Bill allegedly disguised in RUGA will pass second reading as northern Reps plot to impeach Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila if he fails ‘to play ball’ by looking the other way this week.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports multiple sources privy to this development declared that though in the outlook it will appear as if Speaker Gbajabiamila is against it but the bait of impeachment will make him bend over to pass the contentious Bill seen by most southerners as RUGA fly.

    A source privy to this development told TNG that ” it’s all a grand deception to give the impression that the speaker is against it but in reality he is not against it.

    Another source said the progenitor of the Bill allegedly has ulterior motive as he has invested interests and the fact that it’s RUGA which was initially designed by the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to allow easy access to water by herdsmen and have settlements in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s representation of the bill which was first introduced in the 8th Assembly in 2017 and reintroduced in 2020 in the 9th Assembly and roundly rejected by South-South leaders, Afenifere, Ohanaeze and Middle Belt Forum is causing hair-raising amongst critical stakeholders in Nigeria.

    Recall that on June 29, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the bill for first reading in what can be described as an ambush of Southern lawmakers, many of whom are still unsettled following their inability to secure their party ticket and were absent at the sitting.

    An APC House Reps member from Nassarawa State who was also privy to the plot, but spoke to under the condition of anonymity for fear of been victimized by the presidency, said the strong opposition to the reintroduction of the bill to the house will not stop its passage as plans to get it passed this time around has been concluded.

    The source added that the plot to get the bill passed in the 9th Assembly has the blessing of Mr President and the leadership of the National Assembly and that unlike in the last attempt when the Speaker of the House of Reps played a stabilizing role leading to the defeat of the bill, this time around the threat of impeachment is hanging on him if he fails to play along.

    “The plot to pass the Bill was hatched here in Nigeria but was concluded at Mecca during recent Haji. Part of the plot is to impeach the Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, whom they believe didn’t do much to ensure the bill was passed during the 8th Assembly even when he knows the President is interested in the bill.

    “Now that they have the Speaker’s buy-in, they wanted the bill to be passed for the second reading this past week, but many Southern lawmakers were around and with the support from Northern Christian lawmakers, the sponsor and the leadership of the House failed to bring the bill on Tuesday, Wednesday and last week Thursday.

    “The National Assembly would have gone on vacation, but they are waiting for most of the Southern lawmakers who have made summer travelling arrangements to travel out of the country, then they will strike.

    “They will observe this week, if they can’t pass it because of the large number of the Southern and Northern Christian lawmakers at the chamber, the Speaker of the House will be made to convoke an emergency sitting of the House, after the House might have been adjourned for vacation.

    “The source added that the Clark of the House has prepared ‘addendum’ to enable the House to be reconvened and sit even at night or weekend to consider, pass the controversial bill with or without Southern members in attendant.

    “My fear is that if Southern Nigerians fail to rise to the occasion, the bill will pass through as certain interests in the Presidency and core North are bent on passing the bill and have mobilized huge resources to get it done.

    “For me, this is a fight for the soul of Nigeria, because if this bill passes through the second reading, then it’s finished and the crisis that it will trigger in the country can best be imagined. This is how they passed 3% for Host Community Fund in the PIA, as against the 5% we collectively agreed.”

    The bill, which was initially introduced and rejected during the 8th Assembly, following public outcry, is believed by many to be Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) regulation in disguise and according to our source has the backing of the presidency.

    The Bill as introduced in the previous assembly and present 9th National Assembly seeks to empower the Federal Government to control all water resources in the country such as rivers, streams, lakes and underground water streams, lakes and underground water in all parts of the country.

    The First Introduction of the Bill:
    President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2017 presented the controversial bill to the eighth National Assembly. The proposed law seeks to transfer the control of water resources from the states to the federal government.

    The bill was titled: ‘A Bill for An Act to Establish a Regulatory Framework for the Water Resources Sector in Nigeria, Provide for the Equitable and Sustainable Redevelopment, Management, Use and Conservation of Nigeria’s Surface Water and Groundwater Resources and for Related Matter.’

    It partly reads: “This Act repeals the Water Resources Act, Cap W2 LFN 2004; River Basin Development Act Cap R9 LFN 2004; Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (Establishment) Act, Cap N110A, LFN 2004; National Water Resources Institute Act Cap N83 LFN 2004; and establishes the National Council on Water Resources, Nigeria Water Resources Regulatory Commission, River Basin Development Authorities, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, and the National Water Resources Institute.”

    It would also be recalled that in September 2020, following the raging controversies, debate on the bill succeeded in pitting Southern lawmakers against their Northern counterparts and efforts by the Northern lawmakers to save the bill proved abortive as arguments by the members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opponents of the bill forced the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, to order its withdrawal and reintroduction.

    Those championing the bill are the Bill sponsor and Chairman of the Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Sada Soli and the Chairman Committee on rules and business, Hon. Hassan Fulata.

    It was also gathered that as at the time the bill was passed for the first reading in the House, no member of the House has seen or had a copy of the Bill, except those behind it, and this according to our source prompted the Speaker to direct that every lawmaker gets the copy of the bill to study ahead of the second reading debate, this directive has not been carried out.

  • NASS two months recess to hamper some major legislative duties

    NASS two months recess to hamper some major legislative duties

    The Nigerian National Assembly is billed to commence its two-month annual recess this week, with several legislative functions and investigations by the House of Representatives, some of which commenced two years ago, likely to suffer more delay and affect major legislative functions by the body.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, on Thursday, admitted that some of the panels have delayed in delivering on their tasks. He said the reports would come in by the time the parliament resumes in September.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata, had on several occasioned, the last being just last week, moved motions to withdraw tasks from committees and commit them to the Committee of the Whole.

    The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila had also expressed concerns on the matter on several occasions.

    Related Story: 

    Presently, there are tens of investigations embarked upon by the House, some of which are public assets and revenue losses, with the committees in charge failing to report back.

    One of them is the Ad Hoc Committee on Power Sector Reforms, charged with the responsibility of undertaking a holistic review of the power sector in Nigeria and recommending appropriate legislative actions. The panel has yet to lay its report.

    Gbajabiamila, at the inauguration of the committee on June 9, 2020, had stated that there is no going back on the move to end estimated billing, also referred to as ‘crazy bill’, being charged by distribution companies.

    The Speaker stated that setting up the committee, chaired by the Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, became necessary due to a resolution by the House to ensure a comprehensive review of all legislation relating to the power sector.

    It is also about two years since the House raised the alarm over “dangerous” clauses in loan and commercial agreements with international bodies and other countries, especially China, but the probe into the commercial agreements has become inconclusive.

    The House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, chaired by Nicholas Ossai, which was conducting the investigation, held its last public activity on the matter on August 18, 2020, when it suspended its investigative hearing.

    On May 12, 2020, Gbajabiamila had inaugurated an ad hoc committee chaired by Ademorin Kuye, which was set up two months earlier, to investigate the number and condition of capital projects abandoned by the Federal Government across Nigeria. The motion leading to the probe has said the abandoned projects were allegedly worth over N230bn.

    Gbajabiamila had recalled that the House on March 17 adopted a motion on the need to investigate the status of abandoned property belonging to the Federal Government in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. He had decried that despite the dwindling revenue of the country, several abandoned capital projects litter every state of the federation.

    Also on the list of abandoned probes is that of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Need to Review the Purchase, Use and Control of Arms, Ammunition and Related Hardware by Military, Paramilitary and Other Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria, chaired by Olaide Akinremi.

    The National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd.), had in March 2021 alleged that $1bn funds meant for the purchase of arms to tackle insurgency during the ex-service chiefs’ tenure got missing.

    Monguno, had in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation early that Friday, alleged that neither the funds nor the weapons the ex-service chiefs were meant to buy could be traced. He added that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum was also wondering where all the funds meant for arms went. According to him, the President will soon order a probe into the matter.

    The NSA would later in a statement issued by his office recant his earlier allegations, saying he was quoted out of context. While he admitted granting the BBC interview under reference, he denied saying funds meant for the purchase of arms had gone missing.

    However, the House went ahead to constitute the committee, while the panel vowed to investigate the “missing” arms and ammunition for which the former service chiefs were allocated funds to acquire.

    The Ad Hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loot, Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective/Efficient Management and Utilisation, which is particularly ascertaining the whereabouts of recoveries made by anti-corruption agencies within 18 years, has only laid an interim report since May 2021.

    Speaking on delayed tasks, Kalu said, “Reports are coming in; they are trickling in. They may not be all completed at the moment but they are coming in. I’m sure before we resume, after our long recess which is actually going to start by next week, most of these reports would be in.

    “The life of the Assembly is not yet over. I’m sure that with those reports, when they come in, we will take it off from there. Yes some are delayed and we are investigating why they are delayed and to see how we can help as a House to speed up with issues especially that have to do with investigation…because if it drags too long, it becomes too hydra-headed to be monitored.”

  • FLASH: Reps probe NNPC’s JV, production sharing contracts in last 32 years

    FLASH: Reps probe NNPC’s JV, production sharing contracts in last 32 years

    Just a day after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation transformed into the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the House of Representatives has begun a major probe into its Joint Venture (JV) operations and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs), beginning from 1990 till date.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the probe covers a period of 32 years, the objective of which, according to the House, is to ascertain “whether or not the capital expenditure, operations, financials and related frameworks are within the ambit of the law”.

    An ad-hoc committee will execute the assignment within eight weeks as approved by the resolution of the House passed during plenary in Abuja on Thursday. The session was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase in the absence of the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Six lawmakers moved the motion that led to the House resolution. They were Rep. Sergius Ogun, Rep. Sada Soli Jibiya, Rep. Isiaka Ibrahim Oyekunle, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, Rep. Ado Sani Kiri and Rep. Mark Gbillah.

    The motion reads, “The House: notes that section 88 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly;

    “Also notes that Escravos Gas-to-Liquid (EGTL) Project is a Joint Venture (JV) undertaking by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron Nigeria Limited for the construction of a 34,000 Barrels Per Day (BPD) of Gas-to-Liquids (GTL) Plant at Escravos, Delta State;

    “Further notes that a total of $1.294 billion was earmarked for the EGTL project in 2001 and by the time the contract was awarded in 2005, the final approved cost rose to $2.941 billion, which was further increased to $8.6 billion as at 31st December 2011, and upon completion in 2014, the total project cost was over $10 billion;

    “Concerned that the ETGL and its JV projects are executed at such huge costs when similar projects in other jurisdictions like Qatar, which have the same capacity, technology, Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contractors and even operators cost less than $1.5 billion;

    “Also concerned that although EGTL projects are governed by the Heads of Agreement (HOA), Carry Agreement (CA) and the Venture Agreement (VA) in line with various legal regimes such as Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), Petroleum Profit Tax Act (PPTA), Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) in principle, there is a breach of the principles involved;

    “Worried that the Bonga field (OML 118), which is owned by the NNPC but contracted to SNEPCO (55%), ExxonMobil (20%), Agip exploration (12.5%), and Total (12.5%) under the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) now seems to be far from being a PSC arrangement as it runs foul to the relevant financial operational laws;

    “Also worried that the Offshore Gas Gathering System (OGGS) which was designed to gather gas from various upstream projects in the Niger Delta region under a PSC and JV arrangement with companies such as SNEPCO, SPDC, NLNG has now become mired in some operational misunderstandings;

    “Disturbed that in the brewing misunderstanding, SPDC and SNEPCO allegedly went into certain gas sales and sharing arrangements without the prior knowledge and/or consent of the Federal Government via the NNPC, which has resulted in certain shortfalls in revenue into the Federation Accounts.”

  • PDP lawmakers kick as APC Rep reintroduces Water Resources Bill

    PDP lawmakers kick as APC Rep reintroduces Water Resources Bill

    The national water resources bill has passed first reading at the house of representatives.

    The bill is sponsored by Sada Soli, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Katsina state.

    The proposed law seeks to establish an act that would provide a regulatory framework for Nigeria’s water resources sector.

    The bill dates back to the eighth national assembly when it was first sent to the parliament by the executive.

    TheCable had reported how the bill was passed in 2020 by the green chamber but was later withdrawn following criticism that trailed the decision of the lower parliament.

    At the time when the bill was passed by the house of representatives, it failed in the senate. Godswill Akpabio, the then senate minority leader, led opposition lawmakers to kick against the bill.

    The bill had sought to bring water resources —both surface and underground — and the banks of the water sources “affecting more than one state”, under the control of the federal government.

    FRESH OPPOSITION TO THE BILL

    After the bill was read for the first time during plenary session on Wednesday, Mark Terseer Gbillah and John Dyegh — both Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers — kicked against the proposed legislation.

    Gbillah, a lawmaker from Benue, raised a point of order questioning why the bill is being reintroduced.

    “I am aware that the matter listed for first reading — the national water resources bill — generated a lot of controversy within this honourable house and even across the country and some of us wonder why this issue is still being represented on the floor of the house, because some of us are not comfortably in support of this bill in the first instance,” he said.

    In response, Gbajabiamila said he raised the same question with Soli, chairman of the committee on water resources.

    The speaker said he was informed that governors made input and that the concerns raised may have been addressed.

    “I asked the chairman the same thing this morning and he told me that the issues of controversy that were raised then have been addressed by all the governors,” Gbajabiamila said.

    “Apparently, it is a new bill that all the governors of the federation, both south and north, participated in this bill and I want to take him by his word.

    “I believe that you raised a very cogent point. We live in a very diverse country and everybody’s sensitivity must be taken into consideration. It is subject to the participation of all the governors, because they govern their states they know what affects them and what doesn’t affect them.”

    The speaker added that members of the house should be “extremely vigilant” on the debate regarding the bill when it comes up for second reading.

    Visibly dissatisfied, Gbillah said the responsibility of lawmaking rests on lawmakers and not governors.

    According to him, whatever the governors might have agreed upon may not be acceptable to lawmakers.

    “It is we that have those powers, as enshrined in the constitution, to enact legislation that will be binding on this country,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila said although he didn’t infer that governors should “dictate to us”, legislators work in a “symbiotic relationship with the CEOs of the states” who are sometimes, in a better position to know what is best for the states.

    Dyegh from Benue, who also spoke, said the contributions of the governors are “irrelevant”.

    “Governors are not legislators. They are not members of this parliament. Their contributions as far as this matter is concerned are irrelevant,” he said.
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    But he was interrupted by Gbajabiamila who said he has already addressed the issue.

    The speaker subsequently ruled that copies of the bill should be made available to lawmakers before the proposed legislation is presented for second reading.

    In his remarks, Soli said governors, and state attorneys-general have contributed to the bill, adding that he will withdraw the proposed legislation if it is opposed by Nigerians.

    “Let me assure my colleagues that the comments of the governors’ forum are attached to the bill and the comment of the attorney-general, which was requested by the federal ministry of water resources, are attached to the bill,” he said.

    “All attorneys-general of different states and of the federation commented on the bill before they could address some of the issues that were raised on the floor.

    “Let me assure my colleagues on my honour. I will not stand here to see a particular section of this country is shortchanged by the legislation of this country. If that happens, Mr Speaker, I will withdraw the bill in the interest of this country.”

  • 2023: I’m still searching for my running mate – Bola Tinubu

    Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general election, Bola Tinubu has said he is still searching for his running mate.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Tinubu made this known on Sunday in his goodwill message at a book presentation to mark the 60th birthday of Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives.

    In his goodwill message, the former Lagos State Governor lauded the amiable working relationship between Gbajabiamila and his deputy in the House of Representatives, Idris Wase.

    This is while pouring encomium on the Speaker, saying Gbajabiamila is a contributor to the democratic growth of Nigeria.

    Tinubu also recalled the contribution of Gbajabiamila in his emergence as the presidential flag bearer of the APC, while also narrating how the Speaker had helped him make better decisions in the past.

    “As a Minority Leader, he consulted wide and he’s always there to see the thinking of opposition that we must bring a revolution to the House to be able to beat the PDP. And then, he will brainstorm for any length of time about political strategy.

    “When he was challenged for the position of the speaker, I think after our merger he worked with me tirelessly. Femi is a workaholic. The problem of failure stared him at the face. He lost the election to become the Speaker.

    “I was close to tears. Stamping my foot to the ground I said ‘we will win again. Femi keep up. Pick yourself up.’ I am very proud of you that you did, you didn’t give up. You did the opposition and the support job. You demonstrated what we learnt from textbooks and other authors.

    “That life is not about education of one section of the society. Remember what we discussed about paying the WAEC fee of omo iya oniboli (the Son of the Woman who roasts plantain), and my Mum was alive then, asking me to see to it each time I gave her money, it doesn’t last.

    “And I said whatever you do with the money I don’t know. Mama will say no, those women there they are Mothers, they want to pay WAEC fees. And Femi was one of the first set of people I consulted. Are we going to say that the children of the poor are not deserving becoming Governors, Doctors and Engineers? I said I was afraid. He said do it. So that is how a junior brother can inspire a senior leader.

    “Femi with your determination, grit, you are a contributor to our democratic growth, thank you. You have character. You are a great mentor and you are doing a good job charting a path to success. You’ve done a good job and I say thank you, thank you.

    “What you did during my primary is a story for another day. I’ve spent more time, too many times and people might be bored, they might be envious too, they might be jealous. I won landslide, I thank you.

    “I could see his deputy (Wase) sitting down there too, you are a very good symbols of unity, dependability, and honesty, thank you. Thank you for both of you. You’ve not rocked the boat. I will need to learn from both of you, how you made the pair work because I’m still searching for my running mate,” Tinubu said.

    Reacting, Gbajabiamila urged Tinubu to consult him in choosing his running mate. The Speaker said he would help the presidential candidate to get a running mate that would work smoothly with him.

    “You (Tinubu) said in your address that many years ago you consulted with younger brother on the issue of WAEC and that consultation bore fruits. I give you my own parting shot. It is that time again to consult with your younger brother. I will give you a running mate that you will enjoy working with. But this time the consultation I promises you will not be for free,” he said.

    Earlier, a chieftain of the APC, Kabiru Faskari had during an interview said Tinubu had picked Hon Kabiru Masari as his ‘placeholder’ running mate for the 2023 Presidential elections.

  • Gbajabiamila gets 6th term bid unopposed

    Gbajabiamila gets 6th term bid unopposed

    Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker, House pf Representatives, on Friday won the APC ticket for the sixth term, unopposed, to represent Surulere Constituency I.

    The primary election took place on Friday at Akerele Primary Health Centre, Surulere, amid tight security provided by the police,  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services.

    Federal Road Safety Corps personnel were also on ground.

    The election began with accreditation of  delegates at 3:08.p.m.

    The 30 ad-hoc delegates drawn from nine wards in the constituency were accredited, and they voted.

    The speaker’s agent, Mr Afeez Odunawo, observed the primary election which ended at 3.13 p.m.

    Counting of votes started immediately after voting.

    Mr Ganiyu Adeyinka, representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission,  announced the result and declared Gbajabiamila the winner.

    Adeyinka said that the speaker polled all the 30 votes as the sole contestant for the ticket.

    Gbajabiamila has been in the House of Representatives since 2003.

    He was the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives in the seventh National Assembly.

    He was elected the Speaker in the ninth National Assembly with 283 of 361 votes.

    The ruling party is holding its House of Assembly and House of Representatives primaries across the 40 Lagos State constituencies and 24 federal constituencies in the state.