The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas; and the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, have paid a ‘thank-you’ visit to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of President Bola Tinubu, pledging that the 10th Assembly will work for all Nigerians.
Abbas, according to a statement issued on Sunday by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, said the overwhelming mandate given to him by members of the House would spur him to work with every member to achieve a Nigeria that every citizen desires.
In the statement titled ‘10th House’ll Work for All Nigerians – Speaker Abbas…Pledges Support for Gender-Based Legislation…as Speaker, Deputy Visit Tinubu’s Wife,’ he was quoted to have made the pledge over the weekend when he led a delegation of members to “thank the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, for the support given to them to emerge as the presiding officers of the 10th House.”
Abbas said they did not take the First Lady’s support for granted, which was why they resolved to visit and thank her, stating that the 10th House would give the Tinubu-led administration all the support to succeed.
The Speaker noted that the current administration would have a smooth sail as the President, the Vice-President, the First Lady, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation were all members of the National Assembly, a development he said would make them relate with the parliament from the point of knowledge.
“This is the first time we are having this kind of arrangement in our history,” Abbas noted, adding that the 10th House will ensure that the government succeeds.
He said, “Today is a very historic day. We have come to thank you for your support. We were here before to seek your support and prayers. Here we are today; we have won. It was through your collective efforts—Mr. President, yourself, governors, and all the other stakeholders. We have emerged in an unprecedented manner—353 out of 359 voted for me. It has never happened in our history.
“Our leadership is a leadership for all Nigerians. This is your leadership. We’ll collaborate and partner, particularly in one area that you requested last time, which is to carry the women along.”
Abbas also said the 10th House would ensure that gender-based bills passed by the 9th Assembly but not signed into law were reconsidered and passed by the 10th House.
Tinubu, in her remark, congratulated the Speaker and his deputy on their victory, saying with the calibre of leadership and membership of the 10th Assembly, Nigeria would be great again.
The First Lady said, “We didn’t come out to play. We came out to build and unite the old path that generations will take. Nigeria deserves all that we can put to keep it back on its feet. We have a great Nation. Your victory…it is God that did it because without God, even if we put all our strength, it won’t happen. By the grace of God, we will work.”
Tinubu called on other political parties to join hands and work for Nigeria.
Earlier, Kalu said the visit was to thank the First Lady and assure the first family of their readiness to work with the Executive for the growth and development of Nigeria
The Deputy Speaker also said the President and his wife inspired and encouraged them before, during and after the contest for House leadership, noting that Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress made the right choice by endorsing the current leadership of the National Assembly.
Kalu said, “We want to pledge again. We won’t fail you. What happened means stability had been given to this government. He has encouraged people who believe in his mission and vision.”
Chairman of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, Usman Kumo, whose forum led the Abbas/Kalu campaign, said as responsible and respectful individuals, they deemed it fit to visit the First Lady and thank her for the role she played in the emergence of the two presiding officers.
Kumo said, “We are here to say thank you to you for being supportive of your husband. Your Excellency, you are unique. The country is lucky to have you as the mother of the nation. You’re coming from the point of knowledge because you were with him when he was governor, you were in the National Assembly, and now you’re the mother of the nation.
“You have given us a lot of support for Tajudeen and Kalu to emerge. We also want you to thank our father, the father of the nation, for what he did to us. We want to reiterate our unflinching loyalty to the President and the country. We know you’d advise him from the point of knowledge to make the country better.”
