10th NASS leadership: Tinubu reasons with Lawan, Gbajabiamila for national interest

…We’ve played our part, I have no interest to run again — Lawan

…Says Tinubu seeks leaders with experience to keep-up with executive arm

By Moses Adeniyi

As the politics behind the composition of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) get tougher with complex sides, President Bola Tinubu has met with the firstline principal officers of the 9th Assembly, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and his counterpart in the lower chamber, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila ahead of the election and inauguration of the leadership of the 10th Assembly billed for June 13.

The meeting between President Tinubu and the duo took place on Thursday behind closed-doors, the outcome of which was gathered centred on the politics of constituting the leadership of the 10th Assembly and how to ensure stability of both chambers thereafter.

Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with the President, Lawan said, “What will inform the emergence (of the next leadership) will be the national interest, interest of the National Assembly, the legislature to together and therefore everybody matters in this process.”

He said with the President and his Vice having been former lawmakers, would wish that people who would occupy leadership positions in the 10th Assembly will be guided by national interest as well as moderation to ensure peaceful and harmonious relationship with the executive arm of government.

He said, “As the Chairman of the 9th National Assembly, I find it dutiful and necessary to work with all the major stakeholders, especially the leadership of our country, Mr. President particularly, to give my necessary opinion and advise on how the new leadership of the National Assembly should emerge and what we need to do to ensure stability, productivity of the National Assembly and to ensure peaceful atmosphere between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

“We are getting somewhere and my prayer is we will be able to resolve all the outstanding issues by the grace of God, and Mr President is positively disposed to everything being done smoothly.”

….We’ve played our part, I have no interest to run again  — Lawan

Meanwhile, against report that he was eyeing again to become the Senate President for the 10th Assembly, Lawan debunked having any of such aspiration, saying that the choice of the leadership of the upper legislative chamber will be determined by national interest.

“On a more serious note, I have never indicated interest to run for the office of the President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly.

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

“We have been productive, much more productive than any National Assembly. We have worked very closely with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and of course that helped the administration also.

“My prayer and wish and hope is that we are able to have peaceful transition who are outgoing to a new set of leaders of National Assembly and who will continue to unite everybody in the National Assembly, in the Senate.

“We want to have a leadership in the Senate that will unite senators to work so well regardless of their political parties, the same thing in the House of Representatives.

“But the truth is I have never indicated interest to run but I have a responsibility to the Senate, the National Assembly,  having been in the National Assembly for 24 years now, especially when we have 70 per cent of members in the National Assembly especially in the Senate who are new. Those of us who have been there longer, owe everybody that responsibility to at least help mentoring those who are new

“I don’t really wish to be one. I have played my part and I am happy that we have played our part. We have made positive impact but of course, we have had our fair share of shortcomings, but I can hold my head high on behalf of all my colleagues in the Senate and the National Assembly that this National Assembly have contributed to national development in no mean measure and have succeeded in getting very critical legislation passed and assented to by the former President.”