…Rally round lawmakers elect on signature support

…Receive signatures of 69 Senators

…Target  86 Senators before June

…Meet Sanwo-Olu for support

By Moses Adeniyi

Following the official declaration by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the choice of Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano) for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively and  Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna) and Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia), for Speaker, House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker respectively, as frontline leaders for the incoming 10th National Assembly (NASS), the aspirants have begun consultation processes with State Governors to further fortify their foothold among lawmakers-elect in the upper and lower chambers for their respective elections.

Akpabio, his running mate, Barau, as well as Abass, his running mate, Kalu, endorsed by President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu  following series of meeting which penultimate weekend led to agreement on the choice of their candidacy, over the last weekend began their moves to reach out to key Governors bearing weight of influence to get more lawmakers to boast their bid.

To further drive his support base of the Godswill Apkabio/Jubril Barau Senate/Deputy Senate Presidency ticket, a group of 69 Senators who have offered their signature in support of the bid on Sunday commenced their consultations with State Governors of the Federation in a bid to strengthen their foothold for the election in June.

A group of Senators-elect led by Akpabio commenced their outreach with a visit to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday, to get his support, stating he is a rallying point they would reckon with to commence their consultations among Governors.

Speaking at the reception at the State House Marina, Akpabio who is the APC consensus candidate for the 10th Senate Presidency said the visit to Sanwo-Olu was in a bid to strengthen his support base for his election on the floor of the Senate in June.

Akpabio who was accompanied by Senators-elect across party divides including the ruling APC, those elected on the platform of opposition parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), who have signed to support his bid, said they currently have on their side 69 Senators who have elected to support his ticket as Senate President and Barau as Deputy Senate President.

Akpabio, who is immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs resigned to contest the APC presidential primaries but stepped down for the President-elect,  Tinubu, stated that the meeting with Sanwo-Olu was part of efforts in consultation to build up support, stating that “all prayer and no work would not be good.”

Akpabio who said according to the demands of the President-elect that the group should prove the assurance of sufficient support base on the side of the Akpabio/Barau ticket, said the group upon presentation of 69 signatures convinced the President-elect, therefore informing the choice of the leadership of the party.

He said the group currently having a signature of 69 Senators which assigned to his support is reaching out large, expecting no less than 85 to 86 signatures before June when the election at the Senate would take place.

“This is multidimensional and nationalistic in all ramifications and that is the same way Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected by all Nigerians across party lines, across sectional lines, religious lines and divide,” he said.

“Today, we  have about 69 Senators and it is still growing. We believe by June we expect this group to rise to about 85/86 and all I know is that we are going to win,” he affirmed.

He, however, dismissed claims that the support was inducement driven, arguing that the Senate “is composed of men and women of integrity.

“We would not allow the country to be bought,” he said, arguing that though money politics has been rife in the country, yet it has not played out in pronounced terms in the incoming 10th Senate.

“The inauguration, we have seen what is going on, we condemn it. We believe that integrity should come to play,” he said on the subject of money inducement.

“We pledge we would work collaboratively with the next administration to ensure Lagos would continue to prosper and Nigeria even continue to prosper more.

“We would do our best to bring nations that would uplift the living standards of our people. We would answer the youthful questions, the restiveness now occuring in the country. We would do everything possible to bring in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through legislation and we would also do our best to make NIgeria a business destination.

“I assure you that we have the competence, capacity, experience and what we possess, track record of performance,” he promised.

He said there was hardly anything the group would have done without Sanwo-Olu’s knowledge, adding that the Governor’s assurance of support is a confidence that those who have not agreed yet to the decision are coming to agree.

On his part, Senator Ali Ndume (Borno South) who has been elected the Director General for the Akpabio/Barau candidacy said he was chosen as a choice to champion the ticket, having upon consultation with the President-elect he and other frontline aspirants agreed to concede the seat to Akpabio.

He expressed assurance of victory for the candidates, stating that with rising support base to top the 69 Senators-elect currently in support of the ticket, the duo will emerge victorious in June when the election is contested on the floor of the red chambers.

Speaking, the Deputy Senate candidate, Barau appreciated Governor Sanwo-Olu for his support, acknowledging he has “done very well not only for Lagos but for the entire Country.”

“Your imprint is found everywhere and even for this ticket, we know the role you played and we know the role you are playing,” he said.

He urged Sanwo-Olu to continue his role saying “it’s not yet over, but we know it will be over and we shall be victorious.”

Describing Sanwo-Olu as “the son of our great leader” (President-elect, Tinubu), he said his contribution towards the 10th  National Assembly leadership is acknowledged to set an environment “for us to have a robust up and doing legislature in the 10th Assembly.”

Speaking, Sanwo-Olu who received the group said he hoped the 10th Assembly would be about “shaping new course, breaking records”  to surpass and improve on the antecedents of the 9th Assembly.

He described the group comprising of member elects across party divides as “a well thought out group.”

He extended warmth embrace to the Senators-elect, saying they have “displayed high sense of responsibility and that’s what had brought you thus far.”

He, however, charged them to, upon inauguration, work for the good of the people who have elected them as their representatives, so they can reap the dividends of democracy.

“We know that indeed you are best in class because the last elections indeed showed that you have to be good to your people for you to have emerged successful. So, I can tell you that whatever part of country you must have emerged from, you are best in class and I’m sure your people must have seen something outstanding in all of you and that brings me to the fact that you cannot bring down that trust and that expectations of your people,” he said.

“The 10th Assembly when it comes in is about purposeful service; it’s about meaningful service; it’s about a clear collaboration between the executive and the legislature.

“It’s to ensure we are here to keep serving our people, the Nigerian people,” he said.

He called for collaboration at the leadership level between both the executive and legislative arms to bring about what he described “as an uncommon transformation in our country that would touch lives; that would change the course that we have in our country and would bring about proper dividends of democracy.

“Looking at the array of distinguished Nigerians that are here, looking at the array of people that have thrown up to come and lead you, I have no doubt that you have chosen well, you are on the right part because indeed at the end of the day, the citizens would be the most beneficiaries of this and we appreciate that for this to happen, you need to have the right leadership at that helm of affairs,” he added.

…Abass commences consultations with Governors 

Abass and his support Joint Task Team also during the weekend reached out to Sanwo-Olu at the State House in Marina in their maiden consultative engagement to seek non partisan support of the Governors.

Abass, elected for the third consecutive time, said unity of the country and the House topped his agenda, noting that his teams comprised members-elect across party lines.

The lawmaker said the recently held general elections further caused more divisions within the country, stressing that President-elect Tinubu, whom he described as unifying leader, required to have detribalised Nigerians to be at the helm of affairs in the legislature in order to heal the nation.

“Our agenda is to make sure the country is united to confront the current challenges. We undertake this task of leading the House to create a constructive relationship between the executive and the legislature

that will be devoid of rancour. Where there will be differences, we will ensure issues are resolved through dialogue. Stability of the House is sacrosanct. We will heal the wound, particularly from various contestants in this race.

“This is the project which I want to assure will further unite Nigeria, that will cure the ills that have been ravaging and dividing us all these years. We offer ourselves in duty to the Nigerian people and I want to assure you we will not fail them,” he said.

Abass who said over 200 lawmakers elect have signed in support of their ticket, requested Sanwo-Olu to reach out to governors and other aspirants, as a rallying point, for conversation that would make the election of presiding officers hitch-free.

His running mate, Hon. Kalu said the Abass-led leadership would project institutional trust in the 10th assembly, adding that the decision of the House would reflect the interests of Nigerians.

Leader of the Joint Task, Hon. Bello Kumo, representing Akko federal constituency of Gombe State, said the Abass-led leadership would compromise the independence of the House.

The lawmaker said the team was not interested in just winning the election, but to have a peaceful 10th assembly.

He urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to speak to his colleague governors about the need to buy into the agenda.

…Sanwo-Olu assures Abass

In response, Sanwo-Olu told the Reps members-elect that the incoming leadership of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) should reflect the diversity of the country, describing both NASS chambers as “people’s houses.”

The Governor pointed out that the race to fill the principal positions of the parliament usually involves fierce competition that would pit members against one another, but he said the objective for vying for presiding seats in the legislature should reflect the interests and aspirations of the people.

Sanwo-Olu, who said the unity of the country is more important than the speakership aspirants’ ambition, urged Abass and team not to take any member-elect for granted. He said Reps leadership should reflect the yearnings of the people.

He said, “This race to elect leadership in the House of Representatives should reflect the true federal composition and political diversity of the country. Here today, I have seen diverse political parties and representatives from all regions coming together to work as a team in electing the Speaker. I urge you not to stop at this; you should further deepen your engagement and extend hand of comradeship to every member.

“I have observed that despite having the support of the party, you are not resting on your oars and taking anything to chance. I urge you to ensure that your engagement is total, transparent and inclusive. Other aspirants are eminently qualified to do the same engagement. They are known to us and they will be brought to the room for conversation. Our wish is to ensure that the position of the party is respected and adopted on the Green Chamber when the House convenes.”

Sanwo-Olu charged Abass and his team to brace up for the task ahead, urging the speakership aspirant to bring his political experience and academic pedigree to bear if elected. The task before the next assembly, the Governor stressed, is to meet and surpasss achievements recorded by the ninth assembly.

This, Sanwo-Olu said, is the minimum expectation from the incoming legislative leadership to justify the level of the support received from the people.

He said, “I have read about Speaker and Deputy Speaker aspirants. Your pedigree and resume speak to excellence. I believe you have what it takes to lead the House of 360 members from diverse backgrounds, so that we can have purposeful executive-legislative engagement and bring about meaningful dividends of democracy to our countrymen.

“At the end of the day, your aspiration is not about you or your colleagues in the chamber but about Nigerians. The objective must be about joining forces with the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make life better for the people, improve economy and strengthen security. Greatest good must be achieved for the greatest number.”

The 10th Assembly is scheduled to convene on June 13, 2023, the same day lawmakers-elect will choose their presiding officers.