Good morning Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
Thank you for making out for time today for the unveiling of our Ideal Candidate for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
For starters and since the return of democracy in 1999 – after prolonged years of military rule – majority of Nigerian youths (ourselves inclusive) have complained severally of the dearth of sterling leadership in the country, which we reasonably believe has, rather sadly, plagued our country and largely plunged us to the brink of despair – with a lot of young people now looking for exits – often referred to in common parlance as “JAPA”! After all, it is all man for himself!!
The rather disheartening situation in the country since the return to democratic dispensation notwithstanding, we have had some exemplary individuals in key leadership positions, who have stood out and remain great forces to be reckoned with.
Amidst the chaos and seemly scarcity in the land, these few individuals have continued to write their names in the indelible sands of time, not only because of the good preparations they have had in life by blazing their different professions or walks of life but also for their commitments to excellent driven leadership as well as value adding to the People of Nigeria.
In recent times and particularly with the emergence of a new political leadership to steer the wheel of our beloved country in its governance affairs for the next four years, it has become imperative to ensure we as Nigerians not only see first-hand positive changes but also individually experience massive improvements in the affairs of our country are piloted through people-centric laws that are to be implemented by a proactive executive arm – as we can no longer continue to do business as usual. Particularly as the last general elections would show.
Hence, it has become rather imperative that in the search for a new speaker for the Green Chamber of the National Assembly, a seasoned federal lawmaker with cutting-edge experience in people-oriented law-making, garnered over the years from the same Chambers – the very House of (Federal) Representatives, be selected so as to create the pathway for an arm of the National Assembly with legislative will, experience and exposure needed at such a critical time as this – to make laws that will further advance the interests of the good people of Nigeria in different spheres or areas of life. It has also imperative to have a legislative arm that can not only serve as a watchdog on the executive arm, but also work together with them to conscientiously ensure the Executive arm delivers on its promises to the Nigerian people.
There is no gainsaying the fact the outgoing leadership of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, will leave a rather big shoe to be filled for the next speaker. In the history of the Green Chamber, Hon. Gbajabiamila has arguably led one of the most peaceful, diplomatic, and productive HoR and to a very great extend, this has brought out the beauty of our democratic system.
One thing that the last general elections has taught us as a nation is that we cannot afford to do business as usual, and it is important our leaders feel our pulse as citizens as we are all active players in our country’s nascent democracy. Hence, it has become expedient that we continue to get it right by entrenching the right and proper leadership across all institutions.
As we heal from the pains of the past years and now look forward the future with great hope, we must not miss the opportunity to build on some of the successes recorded by a few of the exceptional individuals alluded to earlier who stood out amid the chaos. One of such is the Honourable member representing Zaria Federal Constituency in the National Assembly under the auspices of the All-Progressives Congress who we reasonably believe holds the much-required qualities needed to succeed Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the 10th Speaker.
This high-ranking lawmaker is not only a man of unblemished integrity as he has demonstrated over years of substantial public service, but also manifestly loved and trusted by his fellow federal lawmakers. This Federal Representative representing Zaria constituency has served in the Green Chamber from May 2011 to May 2019 and serving a second term ending May 2023.
In between these period, he has served as the Chairman, Land Transport Committee until May 2023; Committee Member at Commerce Committee (Reps) to May 2015; Committee Member at Finance Committee (Reps) to May 2015; Committee Member at Special Duties Committee (Reps) to May 2015; Committee Member at Defence Committee (Reps) to May 2015; Vice-Chairman at Legislative Compliance Committee (Reps) to May 2015 ; Committee Member at Public Procurement Committee (Reps) to May 2015; Committee Member at National Planning and Economic Development Committee (Reps) to May 2015.
Quite notable is that on all the committees he served on, he added great value and made very meaningful and pragmatic contributions as well as assisted the Green Chamber in providing its oversight function to allow for checks and balances in the separation of powers.
On bills sponsorship, this Candidate stood out distinctively in the 9th House of Representatives, having sponsored close to 75 bills for the entire life period of the National Assembly!
Even more instructive is that the bills this candidate sponsored have direct and indirect positive impacts on not only his constituents but across the length and breadth of Nigeria as a whole.
It is, therefore, not rather surprising that the bills our favourite candidate sponsored have passed through various stages of the National Assembly. For instance, while most of them passed 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading, a good number of them have also been passed into Act of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and duly signed into law by the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
Worth noting that President Buhari recently signed the National Blood Transfusion Bill, Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigeria Council for Management Development Act, National Centre for Economic Management and Administration Act and Enact the Nigeria Council for Management Development Bill 2021 and for Related Matters (HB 1119) which were all principally sponsored by this very exceptional candidate for the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Also very instructive is that President Buhari had few months ago signed into law 21 Federal Medical Centres across the country. 18 out of these medical centres were sponsored by this very candidate for the Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.
For ease of reference or confirmation, the 21 Federal Medical Centres signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari include: Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Federal Medical Centre, Aware, Federal Medical Centre, Bida, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Meta, Federal Medical Centre, Gusau, Federal Medical Centre, Ado-Ekiti and Federal Medical Centre, Jalingo. Others are; Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia and Federal Medical Centre, Yenegoa. Apart from FMC Abuja, FMC Wase and FMC Hong, all other Federal Medical Centres listed above were sponsored by our preferred candidate for the speaker.
Ladies and Gentlemen, our preferred Candidate for the Speaker of the 10th Federal House of Representatives (HoR) not only has multi-party acceptance – all thanks to the esteemed members of the House of Representatives who have rallied around him with a view to bringing this to fruition but also particularly commendable is the huge support from the very Distinguished Hon. Ado Doguwa, current House Majority Leader, who magnanimously stepped down from the race and has appealed to other esteemed members of the HoR to rally around the person who we wholly believe is the best person for the job, considering his wide acceptability across various political parties, having distinguished himself in the House of Representatives over the years, especially as a key member of the legislative arm of government in a nascent democracy like ours, which majorly requires competent institutional leaders that will have the institutional courage, institutional will garnered from institutional memory (experience) acquired over the years and strength of character to pilot the affairs of the Green Chamber for the interests of all citizens are protected.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, without much ado, may we present to you, our only candidate with legislative credibility and acceptability across the members-elect of the different parties as well as the winner of the opinion survey conducted by Legislative Trends Assessors, a parliamentary research-based organisation, the Hon. (Dr) Tajudeen Abbas, the chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport, 9th House of Representatives (HoR) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – as the preferred choice of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) for the speakership of the 10th HoR. Let us all rally around him and make Nigeria Great Again!
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