The Spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) and a member-elect representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere has lauded the President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking the initiative of meeting elected members of 10th National Assembly ahead of the Tuesday proclamation.
Hon. Ugochineyere who’s also the Communication Advisor for the Tajudeen Abbas/Benjamin Kalu Speakership Campaign also expressed confidence that the move by the President was a game changer in the presiding officers contests, as it would help bring about positive outcome on Tuesday.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after meeting with APC NASS Caucus on Wednesday night also met with 109 Senators elect and 360 House of Representatives members-elect on Thursday afternoon at the presidential villa Abuja, where he urged the lawmakers to close ranks and support the All Progressive Congress, APC consensus candidates for National Assembly leadership, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Barau, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
In a statement he personally signed on Thursday evening after the meeting, Hon Ugochinyere noted that the President who was accompanied to the meeting by the Vice President, Kassim Shettima, incumbent Senate President Ahmed Lawan, incumbent Speaker and Chief of Staff, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume and other key leaders, said this is in the interest of delivering a working country and ensuring a smooth take off of govt with the seamless election of Presiding officers.
“According to Tinubu, the four chosen ranking lawmakers for the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker, Deputy Speaker have the capacity, competence, experience and inclusive spirit and humility to deliver on a stable and progressive parliament that understands the urgency and need to solve critical national problems with parliamentary instruments.”
“The President and his Vice spoke in a humble way with open mind on the need for lawmakers to join hands with him to deliver by supporting and electing Akpabio and Barau as Senate President and Deputy and Abass and Kalu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
“While begging the aggrieved aspirants to bury the hatchet, the President assured lawmakers that he will ensure that Nigeria potentials will be turned into reality, if they all drop our colours and fly the national colour of progress.
“Thereafter, messages focusing on the need for collaboration and joint task of working to deliver on the Nigerian project were delivered.
“The lawmakers-elect who responded via Sen. Abaribe Enyinnaya thanked the President for taking off on a good note by building the bridges of cohesion , inclusion and stability and assured the President that his message was well delivered and received by lawmakers,” the statement said.
Ugochinyere, according to the statement also spoke to the media after the Presidential parley, saying that “lawmakers have accepted the message and hand of friendship extended by the President towards having a stable and united all inclusive Parliament that will deliver on urgent national goals.”
Ugochinyere said “the President decision to invite members of the opposition alongside lawmakers of the ruling party in his quest for a seamless take off of government is a positive development that has been accepted on the grounds of people’s interest and need for courageous decisions in solving huge national problems.”
He assured that lawmakers have agreed to work harmoniously with the executive on that ground, without compromising the independence of the legislature.