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Tag: Gbajabiamila

  • 9th Speakership race: CUPP rejects Gbajabiamila

    The Coalition of United Political Parties on Tuesday rejected the choice of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as the next Speaker.

    The ruling All Progressives Congress had named Gbajabiamila its preferred candidate for the position.

    The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had also last week described the Majority Leader as the choice of President Muhammadu Buhari and not that of the party’s national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    But the spokesman of the CUPP, Imo Ugochinyere, told journalists in Abuja that Gbajabiamila’s choice is contrary to the present administration’s acclaimed anti-corruption war.

    He said the federal lawmaker was not competent to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives because he had earlier been convicted of “wilful dishonesty.”

  • Speakership: Court hears suit seeking disqualification of Gbajabiamila June 7

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned until Friday, hearing in a suit challenging the nomination of Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, a member of the House of Representative vying for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming 9th National Assembly.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the suit, following the prayer of Chief Philip Undie’s counsel, Mr Olasupo Azeez, that the defendant was yet to be served with the originating process.

    Azeez earlier prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable the plaintiff to regularise the processes before the court and to serve all the defendants by way of substituted means and it was granted.

    Undie in the suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/539/2019 is challenging the eligibility of Gbajabiamila on the grounds that he has a criminal allegation in the state of Georgia, U.S.

    Other defendants in the suit are: the House of Representative, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The plaintiff in the suit said that Gbajabiamila ought not to be allowed to contest for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives based on information that he had been criminally convicted by the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia.

  • Ninth House: Why I’m contesting against Gbajabiamila – Okafor

    Ninth House: Why I’m contesting against Gbajabiamila – Okafor

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    A frontline contender for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives in the upcoming 9th National Assembly, Hon Chike John Okafor (Imo,APC) on Monday harped on the need for party to avoid the pitfalls which led to the loss of Speakership position to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

    Okafor who spoke during a Media chat the ‘Hot Seat’ held at the instance of House Press Corps at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, specifically urged APC leadership to jettison the choice of Femi Gbajabiamila from South West and Lagos State since the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is from same geopolitical zone.

    While acknowledging the legislative credentials of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as a 5th term lawmaker and his vast experience as minority and majority leader in the sixth and seventh assembly, however stressed out he need to prioritize national unity, national interest, social justice and equity in order for other sections of the country to feel the pulse of inclusion of federating units.

    The lawmaker, a one-time Commissioner of Finance, banker and incumbent Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, observed that the laws of the land does not foreclose the opposition parties from fielding candidate for the principal officers of the National Assembly, hence called for resolution of all issues of contention raised by other actors from the marginalised geo-political zones.

    While responding to questions bothering on purported intimidation by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC National Chairman, the Imo lawmaker who dismissed the report argued that Oshiomhole has at no time threatened him and other lawmakers who have expressed interest in the race.

    He further argued that as a member of the APC South East caucus, he was denied the slot of Deputy Majority Leader in the 8th Assembly because he was a first timer, adding that “I am back and ranking.”

    Okafor who formally communicated his intention to vie for the position for the Number 4 citizen ahead of the party’s adoption of Gbajabiamila, noted that zoning the Speakership position will increase APC’s fortune in the South East in 2023, adding that the geo-political zone was the only place where the ruling party recorded over 100 percent votes in 2019 general election, above the 2015 general election.

    While responding to question on whether he will dump the ruling party if the APC leadership fails to acede to his demands, Okafor who joined the party in 2013, vowed not to work against the party during the election of the principal officers during the inauguration of the 9th Assembly, just as he appreciated various benefits accorded him by the ruling party since he started his political career.

    “If this agitation and push we are making do not work, I will not work against the party in June,” he assured.

  • Fani-Kayode to Gbajabiamila: Don’t sell your soul to Fulani to become Speaker

    Fani-Kayode to Gbajabiamila: Don’t sell your soul to Fulani to become Speaker

    Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has told speakership hopeful, Femi Gbajabiamila that he does not have to sell his soul to the Fulanis because he wants to become a speaker.

    Fani-Kayode was reacting to a photo in which Gbajabiamila was pictured sitting at the feet and clinging to the thighs of a Fulani Islamic scholar by the name of Sheik Dahiru Bauchi.

    The former minister, who was displeased with the what he saw said: “Has it really come to this? Do we have to sink to this level? Must we bow before them? Is it not better to die a free man than live a slave? Some have argued that Femi did this because he is a Muslim and that he was merely displaying his deep respect for a northern Muslim cleric.

    “I find this contention, at best, intellectually dishonest and, at worst, specious and disingenuous. It is also a pernicious lie that seeks to mask the bitter truth. The question is whether a any leading Fulani politician would ever crawl before, kneel at the feet of and grab the thighs of any Yoruba Muslim cleric or Sheik simply to win his support for any position?”

    According to Fani-Kayode, “I doubt it very much given the fact that Fulani Muslims do not even allow Yoruba clerics to lead prayers in mosques in the north. The Yoruba Muslims in the north are compelled to open their own “Yoruba Mosques” where they can lead in prayer but they cannot lead in any mosque that the Hausa Fulani attend.

    This is the case despite the fact that Islam came to the Yorubaland, through the Turkish traders, a good 400 years before it arrived in the northern region of what later became Nigeria through Usman Dan Fodio. I have known Femi for over 40 years and I have always loved and respected him. I still do. And as far as I am concerned politics can never come between us. But the Femi in this picture is not the Femi I knew, loved and grew up with in old Lagos.

    “That Femi would never bow or kneel before any man for any reason. That Femi was a man of honour, self-respect and dignity who put his family and tribe before anything or anyone else. That Femi was one of the most brilliant minds of the new generation of young political leaders that emerged in the late ’90’s and that went on to do great things and achieve so much for their people and country.

    “Nothing could intimidate him and no-one could buy him. And neither would he ever beg or crawl before anyone or grab their thighs and knees in desperation. Sadly things appear to have changed. May God deliver us! I still believe that he would make a great Speaker of the House of Reps and that he deserves the position.”

     

  • Ninth House: I am better qualified for speakership position than Gbajabiamila, Onyejeocha tells APC

    Ninth House: I am better qualified for speakership position than Gbajabiamila, Onyejeocha tells APC

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
    A female lawmaker representing Isukwuato/Umuneochi federal constituency in Abia State, Nkeiruka Onyejeoch has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) preferred candidate, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) to sacrifice his ambition for the sake of federal character.
    Onyejeocha, an aspirant of the Speakership position in 9th Assembly gave the advice at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja where she made official her intention to vie for the position.
    She said there was the need for equity in the sharing of political offices in the country.
    The lawmaker said with her years of experience in the lower chamber, she was competent and qualified to lead the House.
    ”In my over 11 years of being a member of the House of Representatives, I have served my constituents and Nigeria diligently and with distinction.
    ”I have sponsored several motions and bills, conducted oversight over multiple activities and initiatives of government, ministries, departments and agencies and helped deliver meaningful constituency projects to the people of Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia that I represent.
    ”I have chaired very important committees of the House, including the Committees of Aviation and Women in Parliament.
    ”As the Chairperson of the Aviation Committee of the House for two sessions now, I oversighted the successful building of the new International Airport Terminal in Abuja, as well as the remodeling and renovation of several other airports and runways across the country.
    ”I believe that I am very well equipped with knowledge, experience and the integrity needed to manage bigger responsibilities.
    ”It is in the light of this, that I offer myself for consideration by my colleagues for a higher responsibility as a presiding officer and speaker of the House of Representatives of the 9th National Assembly,” she said.
    According to her, as a member of APC, who struggled against all odds to win a re-election under very difficult circumstances in Abia, I believe that my party has a lot to do to help consolidate on the significant victory that the party recorded in winning this seat in Abia.
    The Abia State representative noted that there had been various cries of marginalisation in the sharing of top political offices in the last four years.
    She said that south south and the south east were largely marginalised in the sharing of top political offices in the country and that it was time for healing.
    ”Gbajabiamila was a minority leader and then he became majority leader and so he is a leader in all ramifications.
    ”A time comes when leaders make sacrifices and the time is now,” she said.
    She, however, called on him to make the sacrifice and step down for national interest as the nation needed healing.
    Onyejeocha said that President Muhammadu Buhari is good man, recalling that when he was military Head of State, his deputy was from the South East.
    She also recalled that during Buhari’s re-election campaign, the president promised a more inclusive government and to carry women along in his second term in office.
    The aspirant said that there was no way Buhari would support an arrangement that would negate his campaign promises.
    Onyejeocha said she was a loyal party member who believes in party supremacy, stressing that it was not too late for the party to withdraw its endorsement of Gbajabiamila.
    The legislator, who was elected for the fourth term in the 2019 general election under the APC platform, said if elected speaker, she would ensure technology is applied to the daily activities of the parliament.
    She said she would ensure support for the executive while maintaining the independence of the parliament.
    The lawmaker said she would ensure respect and equal treatment of all members, including those elected for the first time.
    She pledged to promote and enhance communication between the parliament, the general public and among lawmakers.

  • Gbajabiamila: APC adopts 8th assembly zoning formula

    The Chief Whip House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Duguwa has explained the rationale behind APC’s choice of Femi Gbajabiamila as the preferred candidate for Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, as done against the will of the party in the 8th Assembly arrangement.

    Alhassan Ado Doguwa who won his fourth House of Representatives seats from Tudunwada/Doguwa Federal Constituency, said he was going for the post of the Majority Leader as part of the original arrangement of the ruling party.

    Speaking to Reporters on Tuesday in Kano, Doguwa insisted that, “it is apparent that the party is considering the original zoning formula suggested in the 8th Assembly, which had at that time Femi Gbajabiamila from Southwest as Speaker, M.T Monguno Deputy Speaker while my humble self as Majority Leader”.

    He opined that the Northwest having got the highest number of elected members at the lower legislative chambers, the 9th House of Representatives should give northwest the position of the deputy Speaker as well as the majority leader.

    Doguwa noted that public service delivery is not the same as providing privately made goods and services to market, “The public accountability is not the same as profit margin, because there are different forces involved which must be understood and improve if we must serve the public better”.

    He said, “I as Honorable Ado Duguwa today I understand the public service delivery and quality of life and economic fortunes of Nigerians are directly at stake as such as a leading figure I will encouraged and ensure a more collaborative relations with the Executive arm to enrich equatable as well as efficient outcomes”.

    Duguwa maintained that the 9th National Assembly members needed to use their skills, innovatives and ingenuity in taking the nation to the next level.

    ” We must focus energy and creativity on getting things done, as leaders we must be faithful honour national call, meeting the needs of our Citizens, schools, water, roads, healthcare and shelter “.

    He warned that in this level,government in collaboration with the National Assembly must sure that government delivered dividends of democracy to the citizens.

    “But no doubts that our nation must always have new challenges the most important of challenges is the challenge of sustainable development and by which a capacity most be build meet the yearnings of the millions of the citizens.

    He said his desire is to bring about fundamental changes in public and private sector collaboration in order to move to the next and desired level.

    Doguwa promised that as the Nation usher in a new 9th National Assembly his treasure of experience will certainly give vigour and depth in setting a new legislative agenda in pursuit or the Nigeria goals.

    “My Leadership and experience are needed to engendered and sustain robust commitment to worthy causes that require effort and sacrifice”,

  • APC regretted 8th NASS leadership mistake – Gbajabiamila campaign

    APC regretted 8th NASS leadership mistake – Gbajabiamila campaign

    The Gbajabiamila Speakership Campaign has said President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress have bemoaned leaving lawmakers to determine the leadership of the 8th National Assembly.

    Former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Khajidat Bukar-Ibrahim, who is a spokesperson for the Gbajabiamila Speakership Campaign, said this on Sunday when she featured on Sunday Politics, a current affairs programme by Channels Television

     

    When asked a question on whether the APC was shopping for a pliable National Assembly leadership, Bukar-Ibrahim said, “No, certainly not. It is not a rubberstamp; the parliament is not a rubberstamp. Everybody was voted in independently and through free, fair and transparent elections.

    “I’m sure that the President is not using members to gain popularity among the legislators. But he wants to see that there is unity within the party so that we can use our numbers to win the speakership position and to endorse the proposed candidate, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila.

    “Once you go back to the 8th Assembly, there is a lot of regret over what happened. And things didn’t go the way they were supposed to go. I think the President is intervening now. Before the 8th Assembly, he said he could work with anybody and that the members should choose their leaders. But when it came out, it did not augur so well for the party.”

    The former minister, who is now a member-elect, advised lawmakers to respect the supremacy of the APC’s choices on National Assembly leadership. She noted that the party regretted losing the leadership of the 8th Assembly to those not endorsed by it.

    “I think that our dear President who canvassed the entire Nigeria – the 36 states and Abuja – to give us all the necessary supports deserves to be respected, and his views respected on who to adopt, seeing what happened in the 8th Assembly. It is something that we all have regretted. I think that basically, the party has supremacy over any self interests. If they propose a candidate for us, I think we should respect the party more than anything else,” she said.

    Asked if she saw the possibility of a leadership struggle in the National Assembly, Bukar-Ibrahim said since the President and the APC had chosen Gbajabiamila, other aspirants and members were meant to support him.

    She said, “We were invited to a meeting with Mr President and it was announced that Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila would be the candidate. In the countries around the world, you know that things like this happen; when a party gathers and decides on a candidate, that candidate is who all the other members will support.”

     

  • Ninth House: North Central caucus rejects Gbajabiamila’s endorsement by APC

    …as Imo, Benue Reps declare for Speakership

    The North Central Caucus of the House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected the endorsement of Majority Leader of Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the incoming 9th National Assembly.

    Gbajabiamila was endorsed by the party at a meeting hosted by President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night.

    A member John Dyegh (Benue) said the North Central caucus was not satisfied with the decision.

    He said the North Central caucus has asked the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to reconsider the decision and zone the seat to the North Central.

    It would be recalled that Chike Okafor (Imo) also declared his intention to run for the Speaker’s office on Tuesday shortly before the Presidential dinner, saying that the Southeast deserved the Speaker’s position for the 9th House of Representatives.

    Okafor said the party must look beyond numbers but more on fairness and equity.

    Dyegh told reporters the loyalty of the North Central caucus to the party, went ahead to declare his intention to vie for the position of the 9th Speaker of the House.

    “We are not fighting the party, we are not. We shall not, we are only giving the party an opportunity to come back and look at the zoning and look at what we are saying.

    “Taking what the party says hook, line and sinker is not democratic, we are in a democracy. We have right to vie for position, there’s freedom of expression.

    “We believe in party supremacy. Yes, the party is supreme. I sing that, I say it, I believe it, I go by what the party says but this is democracy and I believe we should give the Green chamber an option.”

    According to him, in addition to being the third largest contributor to the 2019 election success of the party, fairness and equity demands the North Central be considered for the position since the region has never produced the Speaker or Deputy Speaker since the return to democracy in 1999.

    He said: “My party the APC in her wisdom zoned the position of Speaker to the South West and even micro-zoned.

    “I am a party man and my loyalty to the APC is 100 percent, however, the North Central zone has not been convinced nor given reasons why their votes should not count and why we should not run and we feel very strongly that there is still room for negotiation because we believe “it is not over until it is over’.

    “We are therefore appealing to the party to have a rethink and rezone the speakership to the North Central for justice and fair play. We pray to God Almighty to touch the hearts of our Leaders to reconsider us favourably.”

    On his candidacy for the post, the lawmaker said the decision to join the race was based on his unyielding faith in a united and prosperous Nigeria.

    Citing sections of the constitution, Dyegh noted: “It will only be fair, if the position of Speaker is given to the North Central, having taken away the seat of Senate President to the North East.

    “It is instructive to note that the North Central has neither produced Speaker nor the Deputy Speaker since 1999.

    “We are saying that reward in politics is based on what you bring to the table and the North Central brought the third highest number of votes in making President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term a reality and enabling the APC to form Federal Government”.

    On his agenda if successful, Dyegh said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be re-organised while the Electoral laws would be reviewed for enduring electoral processes.

  • BREAKING: APC adopts Gbajabiamila as its candidate for Speaker of 9th Assembly

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) have announced that the party has adopted Femi Gbajabiamila as its candidate for Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 9th assembly.

    The party affirmed that the decision was reached after an ”intensive” deliberation with the APC House of Reps members-elect in a dinner with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

    The ruling party added that the deputy speaker position has now been zoned to the North Central, in a statement released via its official Twitter handle on Tuesday.

  • Ninth Assembly: APC ‘frees’ Lawan, Gbajabiamila, others to consult PDP colleagues

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National Assembly members yesterday got the nod to negotiate with the opposition in their bid for principal positions in the Ninth Assembly.

    It is democratic to do so, the party said in a statement signed by National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu, who stressed that the party has nothing against its members seeking cooperation with other legislators as it is confident that they will not betray the party.

    There has been reports of Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, who has been adopted for Senate President, holding meetings with members of the opposition, but Issa-Onilu said that Lawan was adopted by the party for the position in the first place because of his ability to carry everyone along, which is needed for such a position.

    He also said that the party will announce its zoning arrangement for the National Assembly leadership in the coming days.

    The statement reads: “We are inundated with reports of our members in the National Assembly holding consultations with members of the opposition over the election of leaders into the Ninth National Assembly. Let me state that our party has no objection to such consultations.

    “It is a normal democratic practice world over to stretch hands across the divides. And contrary to some media reports, the actions of our members do not contradict the party’s position. APC has a comfortable majority in both chambers. Therefore; we have the number to produce the leadership.

    “But democracy recognises the importance of the opposition, especially when you do not have two-third, which would be required at some very critical situations. For us as a ruling party, we understand that a stable and peaceful National Assembly would enhance our capacity to deliver more for the people of Nigeria.

    “So, the party is not averse to negotiation by Senator Ahmed Lawan and our other senators-elect working to fulfil the position taken by our party.

    “It is important to note that one of the key considerations for adopting him as the party’s candidate for the Senate presidency is his ability to carry everyone along. On top of that, the party has confidence in him not to compromise the progressive ideology of APC. So, clearly, Senator Ahmed Lawan is capable of conducting his negotiations within the prism of APC’s objectives.”

    On zoning and the leadership of the House of Representatives, Issa-Onilu assured Nigerians that the party will put to rest ongoing agitations and “will soon release the zoning arrangements for the principal positions of the incoming Ninth National Assembly.

    “The party will also make its position clear in the coming days on the principal positions in the House of Representatives,” the party’s spokesman said.

    He said that the nationwide consultations being championed by the Senate Leader and Leader of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, who is seeking to become the Speaker of the Green Chamber, were in line with the party’s policy of inclusiveness.

    According to him, national interest is guiding the ongoing rapprochement between APC’s candidates and members-elect from the opposition.

    Issa-Onilu said: “It is just part of politics and in a democracy, consensus is a key element. To have a smooth sail in the National Assembly, you don’t go to the floor pretending that the opposition parties do not exist.

    “Even if the opposition parties cannot defeat you, in the spirit of national interest, you must work with them. We want to run a government of inclusiveness, we need every party.

    “We will support every effort by our candidates for principal offices in the Senate and the House of Representatives to carry elected members from the opposition along.

    “As long as we can, we will keep our members-elect united to present common candidates to lead the National Assembly. The fact that we are saying that we can go it alone is not the same thing as saying that the opposition does not matter.

    “We have the numbers to achieve our aim but we have to ensure comfort for the opposition too. Unlike in the past, what we are pushing before the 9th National Assembly is a national interest agenda.

    “We want them to see our candidates within the prism of the national agenda we are pursuing.”

    The Senate Leader at the weekend had audience with more senators-elect from PDP.

    He was busy selling his vision of a united Ninth National Assembly.

    A PDP senator-elect said: “Actually, Lawan met with us to seek our support. He tried to make a few clarifications which boosted our confidence in him.

    “It is not a party affair at all. It is left to individual senator to decide who to vote for.”