Chief of Staff to the President and the immediate-past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has been described as a worthy and outstanding leader.
He was also praised for being a leader, whose performance in the legislature especially as Speaker, will remain a reference point in years to come.
This is contained in a congratulatory message on the former Speaker’s 61st birthday, signed by the member representing Ibadan North federal constituency in the House of Reps, Hon. Olaide Akinremi (Jagaban), made available to journalists in Abuja.
Hon. Akinremi said the President’s Chief of Staff is unarguably one of Nigeria’s finest politicians, thorough-bred democrats, nationalist and irredeemable believer in the prosperity of the country.
The parliamentarian noted that Gbajabiamila’s contributions to nation building remains indelible, raising the bar of a legislature that works for the people in the last two decades.
The Ibadan North Federal Constituency representative held that: “Your contributions to democracy in Nigeria remains indelible and golden, while the generations yet unborn will continue to celebrate your achievements. You are a pragmatic leader, one with a midas touch in all you do.
“You are a leader per excellence. Your journey at the House of Representatives and how you rose to the top impacting your people is a testimony to why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose you as his Chief of Staff.
“On behalf of my family, colleagues and the good people of Ibadan North Federal Constituency, I rejoice with you and your family, as you turn 61, praying Almighty Allah to grant you many more years of service to our dear country. Congratulations, sir,” Akinremi concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has reportedly said he is ready to work with anyone who emerges the Speaker, House of Representatives.
The President also assured that irrespective of the outcome of today’s election of the presiding and principal officers of the 10th House of Representatives, he will work with Hon. Aminu Sanni Jaji to ensure harmonious working relationship between the arms of government.
President Tinubu, who held several meetings with the Speakership aspirants, told them to be united to produce a good leader.
A source at the meeting told newsmen that President Tinubu praised Jaji for his efforts on his election, as well as for his roles as a loyal party man.
The source said: “The powers that be finally acknowledged Sanni Jaji. The President has stated that He is willing to work with Jaji irrespective of the outcome of the House of Reps election today.
“Jaji is a loyal party member who worked tenaciously for his election as the President, and in light of this, it creates a United front if he is elected as speaker, House of Representatives.”
Hon. Sanni Jaji enjoys a majority support from law Makers elect from the North, partly because there are insinuations that Tajudeen Abbas is from Yoruba descendant and does not represent the North West zone. The election is set to hold today at the National Assembly complex.
The leading aspirant for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Sanni Jaji has debunked media reports that he has stepped down from the race.
Jaji, in a statement by his media office on Monday, said reports suggesting his exit from the race was an attempt by his opponents to blackmail him.
The lawmaker-elect from Zamfara State stated that consultations are still ongoing with his colleagues to drum support for his ambition.
“Hon. Aminu Sanni Jaji is still in the race. We have consulted widely, and our colleagues have shown support.
“The fake news is unconnected with the massive support received in the last few days from Members-Elect across political divide, we urge our opponents to wait and allow members to choose their leaders.
“Ignore fake social media reports. Hon. Jaji is experienced, qualified, and competent enough to lead the 10th House of Representatives. Nothing will stop him. He has the blessing of the President and other party bigwigs, while the majority of the members elect are excitedly waiting for the election tomorrow. By God’s Grace, he will win.”
The leading aspirant for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Jaji, on Friday, met some lawmakers-elect, presenting his agenda to them on why he needs their support.
The meeting at the instance of the new lawmakers is the first in the series of last minute lobby, ahead of the inauguration of the 10th assembly, next Tuesday.
Addressing the members-elect of the House of Representatives, Jaji noted that he was still keenly in the race.
The Speakership aspirant expressed his desire to run an all-inclusive parliament if given the chance to lead the 360-member lower chamber.
Jaji said: “I am seeking the office because I want the 10th Assembly to be independent. I named my campaign a unity project because, it’s for the unity of purpose and it is an independent campaign without the influence of anybody.
“It is a pity that some people are seeking the office on the influence of somebody. This is a sad reality to allow external influence to determine the leader of the House of Representatives, which is meant to represent the people.
“With the way the 2023 election was conducted, it has devided us and the National Assembly must not be a rubberstamp in order to work for the unity of the country. My leadership will not antagonise the executive, but will work hand in hand with them to bring peace to the country.
“All the members are competent and capable of being in the National Assembly, so they must be allowed to choose their leaders. Let us work together and have a leader that we will sit together with and share the dividends together and not somebody who will be given the list of who and who should get or talk at plenary. My project is the only campaign that nobody can claim he has given kobo to in order to secure any benefits.”
Jaji stressed further his desire to continue consultations till Tuesday. Earlier in his speech, the Director-General of Jaji Unity Project, Hon. Jagaban, described the candidate as a listening leader, whose efforts and capability delivered the majority votes for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the North West part of the country during the last Presidential election. “Don’t forget that, Hon. Aminu Sanni Jaji, was the Director, Contact and Mobilization for Asiwaju Presidential Campaign Council in the North West, his acceptabily across the states in that region gave us the needed votes to win the last Presidential election, such a person apart from been competent to lead the house, should be rewarded by the party, we must stop playing politics of Monkey dey work Bamboo dey chop” Jagaban said. The meeting was attended by not less than 150 members of the House of Rep-elect.
President Bola Tinubu has directed members-elect of the House of Representatives to choose the best among themselves to lead the 10th session of the lower chamber.
In a meeting with all the aspirants on Thursday night, the President reiterated his commitment to allow democracy to flourish in all arms of government.
A source who was part of the meeting held at the State House Conference Centre told our correspondent that although the President reiterated the need to rally around Senator Akpabio for senate presidency to balance the religious bias of the top three executives not being Muslims, he unequivocally made it clear that members-elect should choose a competent Speaker amongst themselves. “Mr. President is a Democrat. He wants the house to choose its leaders themselves. He is unhappy with some individuals dropping his name to impose a leader on the house.”
Another source who does not want his name in print said lawmakers from the Northwest, where the position is zoned to, are unhappy with the desperation of a former Governor from the region, who is hell-bent on imposing one of his stooges on the house. “The House is an institution with 360 members; members should be allowed to elect one of them. Most especially, Mr. President needs a strong party man capable of overseeing the House. Mr. President cannot afford to have a stooge of a power-drunk politician who is desperate to control the house for their interests,” the source alluded.
A faction of the NWC of the ruling APC has, in April, purportedly selected Hon. Tajudeen Abass from Kaduna State as the party’s choice for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, Lawmakers-elect had kicked against the selection, claiming they were not consulted before the decision was reached, and thereby forming a greater majority group of other candidates. Sources have hinted at Aminu Jaji, a loyal ally of President Tinubu, as the front-running candidate in this faction. He has resolutely stood on his mandate to compete for the Speaker House of Representatives office, not dropping out of the race by stepping down for anyone.
A group working for the actualisation of the ambition of Hon. Aminu Jaji to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jaji Unity Group, has debunked any news that the Zamfara-born lawmaker shunned the meeting invitation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday, the Jaji Unity Group explained that Jaji and the President have a long-standing political relationship that transcends the House of Reps politics. On Wednesday night, Aminu Sani Jaji met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with other speakership aspirants. The meeting was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to discuss the ongoing leadership tussle at the national assembly.
According to reports, the President urged lawmakers to work with the zoning by the party chosen for leadership posts in the Senate and House of Representatives while unequivocally stating no support for any candidate.
In the statement, the convener of the group, Sanni Mustapha, noted that the lawmaker was instrumental to the president’s electoral success and would not do anything that would undermine his leadership.
“Our supporters should kindly disregard such insinuation that he deliberately shunned the meeting. Hon. Jaji and Asiwaju have been for a long.
“As Director of Contact and Mobilisation for the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the North West, our leader worked tirelessly to ensure the party was victorious at the polls.
“Those behind the story are only trying to blackmail him out of the race he is poised to win as the picture of him with other aspirants with the President is already in the public domain.”
The group advised traducers to concentrate on other things as nothing can break the well-cemented relationship between the two “jolly friends.”
Following the controversy generated by the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to anoint Hon. Tajudeen Abass as its candidate for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, the President, Bola Tinubu, may have settled for another lawmaker from Zamfara State.
Findings over the weekend revealed that the President is heavily considering the selection of Hon. Aminu Sanni Jaji for the head of the nation’s lower legislative chamber. Sources close to the seat of power noted that the move to install Abass differs from a consensus of lawmakers from the North West, which the party zoned the position to.
The lawmakers, it was gathered, are planning to sponsor another lawmaker against the party’s wish. Sources also hinted that the President is looking in another direction to balance positions to avoid the 2015 experience where the party did not endorse a candidate.
Reports indicate that the development is not unconnected to an alleged cold war between President Tinubu and former President Buhari, where the latter was angry to have not been consulted before the APC NWC decided to pick Abass for the role.
Another source told journalists in Kano that after several meetings and consultations, the lawmakers who intend to scuttle the party’s zoning arrangement were disappointed because lawmakers elected from the North West and the incumbent President were not consulted before the agreement was reached.
The source said: “The situation is getting interesting. No one wants to leave the game by chance. The lawmakers-elect concluded that the President and his predecessor needed to be adequately consulted before the decision. They are more than angry because they feel they and Tinubu should have jointly endorsed Abass and Kalu. With the current situation, the President is handicapped. He wants everyone to be peaceful. We are with Jaji, and we are not going back.
“The lawmakers-elect have met our colleagues from the opposition and are not backing down. They are mounting pressure on President Tinubu. Jaji is from Zamfara State, where Senator Abdulaziz Yari comes from; our source claimed that the President thinks that supporting Jaji from Zamfara State will pacify Yari, who has insisted on contesting for Senate President against the wishes of the party that has endorsed Senator Akpabio a Christian from Akwa-Ibom state. “I think the party has concluded to go for Jaji, who comes from the same state as Yari; it’s not in the nation’s interest to have another Muslim as a Senate President when we already had a Muslim-Muslim as President and Vice-president respectively, we shouldn’t push our luck beyond the limit,” the source said.
With the way things are going, Jaji may be the best bet. President Tinubu may have changed his mind. He may not support Tajudeen Abass again. “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 and ardent supporter of President Tinubu and his predecessor, Buhari, He served as the contact and Mobilization director of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Council for North West.
There is a growing move by some political bigwigs from the North to scuttle the All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning arrangement for the leadership of the National Assembly.
The current 9th National Assembly will draw the curtains on its activities in a fortnight. The leadership of the All Progressives Congress had in April zoned the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to the South-South (Senate President), North West (Deputy Senate President), Speaker (North West), and Deputy Speaker (South East). While the anointed candidates have been traversing the length and breadth of the country seeking the support of colleagues, state governors, and other stakeholders, there are undercurrent moves by some gladiators from the North to upstage a surprise come June 14th, when the legislators will be inaugurated.
Feelers from sources who are aware of the moves say efforts are on by lawmakers-elect, especially from the House of Representatives to challenge the party’s position. The sources hinted that the last-minute meetings in Abuja, Gombe, Sokoto, and Yola are championed by those who feel that the outgoing Speaker and Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to impose an aspirant from the Northwest where the next head of the lower legislative chamber is zoned to come from.
The lawmakers-elect the sources posited are unhappy with the way Gbajabiamila and the party leaders selected Hon. Tajudeen Abass to become Speaker without due agreement from incoming lawmakers from the zone.
According to the sources: “Some of the Lawmaker-elect from the Northwest and by extension are unhappy with the way Tajudeen Abass came up; they insist they needed to be thoroughly consulted. They have been scheming to sponsor one of them to slug it out with Abbas, whom the Speaker of the 9th assembly favors; “Gbajabiamila is doing this selfishly because he has been dropping the name of the President, but we are aware that Mr. President is not in support of his shenanigans. Abbas now riding on the Nation Building – A Joint Task mantra that the Speaker used in 2019. You will recall a recent spat between the Speaker and Deputy Speaker on the floor of the house, where the Rt. Hon. Speaker made a decision based on his personal agenda and shut down the Deputy Speaker for daring to speak up. “Gbaja is acting like he owns the House of Representatives and plans to maintain this power-hold through Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
“That itself is convincing enough that Hon. Gbaja has abused and called all of us incompetent, which is why we have been meeting to bring forward someone who can protect the integrity of the 10th House of Representatives. They should allow us to choose who we want. A zone is not a person; even if the NWC zoned the position to the North West, they should allow us to choose the best among us; it’s not their duty to choose anybody for us.
One point worthy of note is that the First Lady was the first to announce the Chief of Staff designate, Hon. Gbajabiamila before the President officially appointed him. This speaks volumes of the influence of the first lady and her desperation to be in charge of the government’s executive and legislative arms. We must not allow another cabal in the Villa under President Tinubu, which is why the North will go ahead and work against the so-called candidate of the Party. While we have no problem with how She imposed Gbajabiamila on Aso Rock, we won’t fold our arms and allow a few privileged individuals to impose their stooge on North West and, by extension, the Northern region.
“When we conclude the meetings, we will know who to support. We will keep working to ensure the zoning arrangement is scuttled, especially in the House of Representatives. Remember 2015, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Yusuf Lasun became Speaker and Deputy Speaker, respectively, disregarding the party. We will pull the same stunt. They should allow us to do the right thing,” the lawmakers-elect concluded.
The lifelong argument that great leaders are not born but are made cement the entire experience working with you during your tenure as the Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives. Your parliamentary skills and unfeigned leadership have become pivotal in the Nigerian National Assembly. It is with great honour and admiration that I write this message of felicitation, having worked with you closely in reaching the youths of this nation at the constituency and national levels. These landmark achievements are innumerable, but I will highlight three that have had an enduring impact on the lives of young people. Never in Nigeria’s history have we had a Speaker of the House of Representatives whose desire to engage and improve the lives of young people in tangible form is visible like yours. You accorded youths the respect they deserve by honouring their day and finding novel ways for their voices to be heard. Their rapport with you opened the convergence of trust they now have where young people can listen to the leadership of this country. You never distanced yourself from young people but found terrific ways to bring inclusion, equity and fairness to the diverse needs of Nigerian youths. Creating various opportunities for enabled young people to also meet you, not in an exalted position as the Honourable Speaker, but as a father and a leader-one who listens to the plights of youths, with sights on leveraging your position to influence laws and policies that has benefitted Nigerian youths in the 9th National Assembly.
Working with you on various projects revealed your passion and commitment to Nigerian youths, particularly from the perspective of the leadership of the National Assembly and personal values regarding young people. I salute your expertise, visionary leadership and significant accomplishments over these years. As you take up more national responsibilities, I pray that you continue to be in sound health in your body and mind for Nigeria and the youths of this country.
Ibrahim Alli-Balogun (SA to the Hon. Speaker on Youth Matters)
One of the leading contestants for the post of the Speaker for House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly, Honorable Hassan Ado Doguwa has said he is fully equipped and experienced to succeed Rt hon. Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Doguwa , who is representing Doguwa/Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State serving as the majority leader of the 9th assembly declared his ambition of speakership.
Speaking on his readiness to occupy the office of speaker at the green chamber, Doguwa in a press statement made available to newsmen today said “I believe that as a seasoned legislator, I am uniquely positioned to unite and stabilize the House, while creating an avenue to all actors to play vital and critical roles to stabilize the polity.
“I am determined to work according to the principle of checks and balances amongst all sectors, to ensure that the House conducts its business for the people and by the people’s representatives. “
Assuring the green chamber lawmakers on his leadership, he said ” My vision is to lead a House that is committed to promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability in all legislative processes.
“I envision a House that is responsible and responsive to the needs of Nigerians and is committed to delivering quality legislation that will have a positive impact on the lives of our people.
“My tenure will rekindle hope, answer many unanswered questions, and uphold all the ideals that this House is charged by the Constitution to preserve and protect.
“I will ensure justice for all, domestic tranquility, promote the general welfare of all members, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity so that children born today and those yet unborn will live into the next century and our decisions will determine their future.
“We shall promote the freedom of press and grant unfettered access to the press and the public in all our deliberations to the extent that the law permits.”
He also promised to ensure that every Nigerian, irrespective of their social class, creed or background, has a voice and is represented in the House.
He, however, solicited the support of the green chamber lawmakers of the 10th assembly in electing him as speaker of the house.
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