Tinubu, Lawan, Gbajabiamila Brainstorm over 10th N’Assembly Leadership 

*President meets with Abbas, Kalu, Bawa

*Choice of leaders should be in national interest, says Lawan

Deji Elumoye in Abuja 

The choice of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly formed the crux of discussions yesterday between President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila at the State House, Abuja.

On the same day, the President held another meeting with Tajudeen Abbas and Ben Kalu, both anointed candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the speakership and deputy speakership positions respectively, of the 10th House of Representatives. 

President Tinubu also met with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, for the second time in 24 hours.

Speaking with newsmen after the closed-door meeting, the Senate President stated that he gave his opinion to the President on how the leadership of the 10th Assembly should emerge. 

He said he had never indicated interest to contest for the post of the senate president, saying national interest and the interest of the legislature should be the guiding principles in selection of its leaders.

“What will inform the emergence will be the national interest, interest of the National Assembly, the legislature together and therefore everybody matters in this process. 

“We also believe that Mr. President, having been a senator himself and his vice president also having been a senator, this is something that they will always wish and pray for,” he said.

According to him, “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 are able to resolve all the outstanding issues by the grace of God. And Mr President is positively disposed to everything being done smoothly.”

Lawan explained that at no time did he signify intention to contest for Senate Presidency in the 10th Senate, saying: “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. 

Also speaking with reporters after their meeting, Abbas expressed confidence that come June 13, he would emerge the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, while Kalu would be his deputy.

“My name is Hon. Tajjudeen Abbas from the National Assembly. And with me is my colleague, who, by the grace of God, come June 13, 2023 would be the next speaker insha Allah and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Reps of the National Assembly.”

He dispelled the rumour that the 10th assembly would be a rubber stamp, saying nobody can manipulate the 360 members to make them do what would not be of national interest, adding that the independence of the legislature would not be compromised under their leadership.

“Nobody, speaker or senate president, deputy speaker or deputy senate president, nobody can manipulate the 360 members of the House of Reps to make them do what is not in the best interest of the public. 

“And we have shown from our conduct in the ninth assembly, that for the very first time, even with the cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature, we had cause for the very first time to summon Mr. President, to come to the National Assembly to address some issues of security as at that time,” he said.  

Kalu, on his part, said, “What we’re bringing on board is parliamentary sovereignty. Sovereignty that will ensure that the borders of the mandate of the various arms of government will be respected. 

“But also recognising that interdependence is key towards achieving any national objective. We’re going to ensure that though we are three arms of government, that we understand that we are one government. So, the national objective of the executive, if it is what the people want, will remain the national objective of the legislature.”