Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged senators and members of the House of the Representatives elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to respect the zoning arrangement of the party.
The Lagos Governor stated this while receiving the chosen candidate of the APC for the positions of Senate, Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate, Barau Jibrin, Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
Sanwo-Olu said that he aligned himself with All Progressives Congress (APC) zoning decision, having read the legislative agenda being pushed forward by the Akpabio-led team to raise the bar of lawmaking and readiness to collaborate with the incoming administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said that the leadership of the National Assembly must reflect the true federal composition and political diversity of Nigeria.
Speaking during Akpabio’s visit, Sanwo-Olu said that the party nomination process to pave the way for election of senate leadership was in order, stressing that Akpabio’s team possessed the political credentials and leadership qualities to bring about uncommon transformation in our country.
The Governor urged the senate leadership nominees to make purposeful legislation as their priority, while maintaining harmonious working relationships with other arms of the government while compromising the Red Chamber’s independence.
“Having discussed extensively and listened to all the plans and agenda presented by the Stability Group led by Senator Akpabio, I believe it is proper and appropriate that we, in Lagos, give them our official endorsement.
“This is a project for the stability of the country, which will benefit Nigerians, especially the people who elected these distinguished lawmakers-elect. They are committed to working harmoniously with the executive and this will bring about a win-win for all our citizens and for democracy.
“We are encouraging other lawmakers-elect who are yet to be on this team to fall in line. I will also appeal to the Stability Group to continue their consultation and collaboration, and not to take anyone for granted. They have personally assured me that they will make the senate leadership as inclusive as possible. The diversity they are preaching is reflected in the number of the senators-elect on the team; it is not one party. The membership cuts across all the parties that are represented in the National Assembly.
“I believe the incoming 10th National Assembly will be about great possibilities and shaping a new course for the nation. Given the outstanding profile and experience Senator Akpabio and his team are bringing to the table, I believe there will be new standards and new legislative records will break. I will only urge the incoming senate leadership to surpass whatever achievements recorded by the 9th senate.”
Akpabio, a former Senate minority leader representing Akwa Ibom North-West, described Tinubu as “God’s own choice” for the country’s leadership, saying the incoming administration required the support of dynamic legislative leadership to work together in order to achieve promises made to Nigerians.
The former Akwa Ibom Governor pledged he would deploy a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional and national approach to lawmaking if he is elected senate president. He said the senate under his leadership would have complete control over its affairs without being confrontational with the executive.
Akpabio said he and his deputy would work with the Tinubu administration to make the country better and bring legislation that will support development.
