With just nine days to the inauguration of the incoming 10th National Assembly, lobbying for the selection process of principal officers have intensified, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi wooing opposition lawmakers in favour of their preferred choices.
In a bid to ensure the preferred candidates of his party scale through as presiding officers of the 10th Assembly, Tinubu has scheduled a crucial meeting with federal lawmakers elected on the platforms of opposition political parties for tomorrow (Monday) at the presidential villa, Abuja.
The circular for the meeting with the president sighted by our correspondent yesterday was signed by the permanent secretary, State House, Tijani Umar.
Also, as the intrigues over the leadership of the 10th National Assembly heightens, LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that Tinubu’s parley with the opposition federal lawmakers would take precedence over another meeting scheduled by the LP candidate, Obi, with the lawmakers elected on the platform of the party tomorrow evening in Abuja.
Obi’s meeting with LP lawmakers is coming on the heels of feelers that the opposition party has adopted one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, Hon Mukhtar Betara, as its preferred aspirant for the Speakership of the House of Representatives in a bid to displace the APC anointed candidate, Tajudeen Abbas.
It was learnt that Obi’s running mate in the February 25, 2023 presidential election, Datti Baba-Ahmed, met with Labour Party lawmakers in Abuja on Friday where he made futile efforts to persuade them to endorse Betara for the contest for the speakership of the 10th Assembly.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the failure of Baba-Ahmed to secure the endorsement of the lawmakers informed a follow-up meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
The organisers of Monday’s meeting, according to a reliable source, are working on the permutation that Obi would be able to persuade the lawmakers to toe the party line.
The invitation urged the opposition lawmakers to attend and submit their list for security clearance.
The president will meet the opposition Senators-elect by 3pm and members-elect of the House by 5pm.
The primary objective of the meeting, it was learnt, is to persuade the opposition lawmakers to throw their support behind the governing party’s preferred candidates for leadership positions of the National Assembly.
The decision by the president to meet with the opposition lawmakers is aimed at garnering support for the contentious zoning arrangement adopted by the leadership of the APC ahead of the proclamation of the 10th National Assembly on June 13.
The president’s invitation letter to the lawmakers, with reference number SH/COS, was dated June 2. It was addressed to the lawmakers through the Clerk of the National Assembly.
Umar signed the letter on behalf of the chief of staff to the President, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5228780540891921&output=html&h=280&adk=144910138&adf=1571685034&pi=t.aa~a.2067693828~i.15~rp.4&w=750&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1685916184&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=4671932670&ad_type=text_image&format=750×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fleadership.ng%2F10th-nass-leadership-tinubu-atiku-obi-lobby-opposition-lawmakers%2F&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=188&rw=750&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1685916058135&bpp=23&bdt=5706&idt=23&shv=r20230530&mjsv=m202305300101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dcf3674d543963614-22582ecd94db002a%3AT%3D1675210771%3ART%3D1685916004%3AS%3DALNI_MZJ8veXSlyqIssqKdCYPyYpRjmgJA&gpic=UID%3D00000bd039b1fd06%3AT%3D1675210771%3ART%3D1685916004%3AS%3DALNI_MbOEUAyP_8Ps0jysBEu3erswMWExw&prev_fmts=0x0%2C750x280%2C750x280&nras=4&correlator=7907389826370&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1705829737.1675210767&ga_sid=1685916057&ga_hid=992335952&ga_fc=1&u_tz=60&u_his=7&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&adx=95&ady=3103&biw=1329&bih=584&scr_x=0&scr_y=913&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759837%2C44785295%2C44788442%2C44793499&oid=2&psts=ABHeCviACw4MqEqZOo4TFFtSLSjusKpDVxUrWm47a0XzL1ZuZtG79CGgTfmnQQIfEdGTMwM27IQiV68gli54rkWGgsbjMO8%2CABHeCvjQuR9Dn1ruSl_YEGJFMHFuzI-hiAZuXRJwMsT_JqJb43AJXjKzdDp6UNY_KucGDEpq6HKcKIGnKVWK8q2-2VY4_oI&pvsid=3842658322076564&tmod=2009057616&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fleadership.ng%2F&fc=1408&brdim=-8%2C25%2C-8%2C25%2C1366%2C0%2C1358%2C703%2C1346%2C584&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=4&uci=a!4&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=iV1MvUxJwO&p=https%3A//leadership.ng&dtd=M
The letter reads: “I write to inform you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will hold a meeting with members of the opposition Senators-Elect and opposition House of Representatives Members-Elect in the State House Conference Centre , Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday, 5th June, at 1500 hours and 1700 hours, respectively.”
“In this regard, you are kindly requested to inform all concerned members to attend and forward their list early enough for security clearance.”
“Please, accept the assurance of the President’s highest consideration.”
In a follow up notice to the senators by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Chinedu Akubueze, he said, “Dear distinguished Senator, kindly note the above invite for your necessary information and necessary action please.
“The management of the National Assembly will make arrangements for buses that will convey the Senators-Elect to the Villa for the meeting. Details will be made available to you before the due time. Thanks.”
The president and national leadership of the APC had zoned the Senate president position to the South-South; deputy Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives to North West, as well as deputy Speaker of the House to South East.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-5228780540891921&output=html&h=280&adk=144910138&adf=2718865464&pi=t.aa~a.2067693828~i.21~rp.4&w=750&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1685916239&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=4671932670&ad_type=text_image&format=750×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fleadership.ng%2F10th-nass-leadership-tinubu-atiku-obi-lobby-opposition-lawmakers%2F&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=188&rw=750&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1685916058189&bpp=8&bdt=5760&idt=8&shv=r20230530&mjsv=m202305300101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3Dcf3674d543963614-22582ecd94db002a%3AT%3D1675210771%3ART%3D1685916004%3AS%3DALNI_MZJ8veXSlyqIssqKdCYPyYpRjmgJA&gpic=UID%3D00000bd039b1fd06%3AT%3D1675210771%3ART%3D1685916004%3AS%3DALNI_MbOEUAyP_8Ps0jysBEu3erswMWExw&prev_fmts=0x0%2C750x280%2C750x280%2C750x280&nras=5&correlator=7907389826370&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1705829737.1675210767&ga_sid=1685916057&ga_hid=992335952&ga_fc=1&u_tz=60&u_his=7&u_h=768&u_w=1366&u_ah=728&u_aw=1366&u_cd=24&u_sd=1&adx=95&ady=3919&biw=1329&bih=583&scr_x=0&scr_y=1627&eid=44759875%2C44759926%2C44759837%2C44785295%2C44788442%2C44793499&oid=2&psts=ABHeCviACw4MqEqZOo4TFFtSLSjusKpDVxUrWm47a0XzL1ZuZtG79CGgTfmnQQIfEdGTMwM27IQiV68gli54rkWGgsbjMO8%2CABHeCvjQuR9Dn1ruSl_YEGJFMHFuzI-hiAZuXRJwMsT_JqJb43AJXjKzdDp6UNY_KucGDEpq6HKcKIGnKVWK8q2-2VY4_oI%2CABHeCvicESfCBTJqnxFLG0U0Y8q2PkwwgDGg1jdR-7dJBttD2N_gJ_o8-JjRdmeWTkwWp1W69QGo9YxU3QRGC7LulSxMluw&pvsid=3842658322076564&tmod=2009057616&nvt=1&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fleadership.ng%2F&fc=1408&brdim=-8%2C26%2C-8%2C26%2C1366%2C0%2C1358%2C702%2C1346%2C583&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=4&fsb=1&xpc=beUWqupPLI&p=https%3A//leadership.ng&dtd=M
A former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, was adopted as president of the Senate, while Senator Barau Jubrin from Kano North senatorial district was picked as deputy president of the Senate.
Also, Hon Tajudeen Abbas representing Zaria federal constituency of Kaduna State (North West) in the 9th Assembly also received the blessing of Tinubu as the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 10th Assembly.
The position of the deputy Speaker of the House was given to the outgoing spokesman of the 9th Assembly, Hon Benjamin Kalu from Bende federal constituency of Abia State.
Some APC lawmakers under the aegis of G6 Coalition had fiercely opposed the zoning arrangement, describing it as “an unconstitutional imposition of leadership of the 10th Assembly by forces outside the National Assembly.”
Top members of the dissident lawmakers opposed to the choice of Abas as Speaker are the outgoing deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase; outgoing chairman of the House committee on Appropriation, Muktar Aliyu Betara; his Water Resources counterpart, Hon Sada Soli Jibiya, and Hon Aminu Sani Jaji.
In the Senate, former governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari; former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Osita Izunaso, are spearheading the opposition against the choice of Akpabio by the leadership of the APC.
LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt that Tinubu convened the meeting in last minute efforts to clear the hurdles for the zoning and pave the way for the election of APC’s preferred aspirants.
Though the agenda of the meeting was not spelt out in the letter, informed sources told this paper that it was packaged to convince the opposition lawmakers to support the zoning of the ruling party.
“Mr President is aimed at prevailing on the opposition lawmakers to support the choice of APC in the leadership of the 10th Assembly. The calculation is that APC leadership should not leave anything to chance so that the party would not be humiliated on June 13. With the majority support of the APC elected members and support of the opposition, the party is sure that the zoning will scale through on June 13th,” one of the sources who is a member of the APC NWC hinted.
Elected members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), LP; New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Young Peoples Party (YPP) are expected to attend the meeting.
The meeting inviting the LP’s members-elect to the meeting with Obi was signed by the party’s national chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.
Though the agenda of the meeting was not stated in the invitation letter, informed sources told LEADERSHIP that it was conveyed to push for the election of Betara as Speaker by the party’s representatives in the House.
It said, “You are hereby invited to a mandatory meeting with our National Leader H. E. Mr. Peter Obi and the National Leadership of Labour Party, where important matters that affect our collective wellbeing are to be discussed.
“Members-elect are expected to be physically present. Date: Monday, 5th June, 2023. Time: 7pm at K-Class Hotel, Sokonde Street, beside FIRS, Wuse Zone 5. Kindly inform others. Treat with utmost attention.”
Meanwhile, two opposition lawmakers, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday last night on Tinubu’s meeting, expressed their willingness and readiness to attend.
The lawmakers who pleaded anonymity said issues of national interests were over and above narrow partisan consideration.
“We have the letter of invitation to a meeting with Mr President on Monday, June 5. We are going to attend. This is about governance and not party politics. Issues about governance are over and above narrow partisan consideration. Are you saying that if Mr President requests for a meeting with either PDP or LP governors, they will decline to attend?” One of the lawmakers said.
But the leader of the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon Afam Ogene, yesterday said they were yet to receive any invitation to attend a meeting with President Tinubu on Monday.
The lawmaker who said he has seen bromides of the letter of invite in the social media stressed that if such an invitation comes they will deliberate on it as a caucus on the next action to take.
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday last night, he said, “Formally, I have not received the invite. I saw bromides of a letter on social media. Nobody has contacted me or any member of the caucus about such a meeting. If we receive the invite we will enlist it and deliberate and make a decision accordingly.”
Noting that does not know what the import of the meeting could be, he nonetheless added that there is no harm in attending the meeting, even though he stressed that the caucus will deliberate on the invitation if it comes.
He however dismissed any notion of alliance with the APC, noting that as much as all the aspirants are members of the ruling APC, they will not be teleguided by the APC.
Ogene said, “I do not see an alliance with the APC as far as we are concerned. So far, all the people contesting for the positions are members of the APC. And they have interfaced with us.
“On our part we will continue to deliberate before taking any decision. But we will never be teleguided by the APC”.
Don’t Be Rubber Stamp, Atiku Tells PDP Lawmakers
Meanwhile, former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, has tasked National Assembly members under the platform of the PDP to hold the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government to account while performing their duties and avoid being part of a rubber stamp legislature.
Speaking during a retreat organised for PDP members of the House of Representatives and Senators in Bauchi yesterday, the PDP presidential candidate in the last election warned the lawmakers not to be rubber-stampsfor the Tinubu government.
“Do not be part of rubber-stamp legislative arm for those who might want to govern as dictators. Hold the government to account and in doing so, you demonstrate that you and your party are ready to govern,” he said.
Atiku said all PDP National Assembly members must work together to form a constructive minority while preparing for a possible role as majority when all pending court cases are resolved.
“Don’t lose hope,” Atiku added, just as he urged the lawmakers to ensure that they keep their promises to their constituents.
“Your work as National Assembly members must reflect the campaign promises we made to Nigerians,” he noted, adding that the PDP lawmakers must remain connected to their roots, constituents and the party all the time.
Also, acting national chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Damagun Sa’id, said the 2023 general elections would go down as the worst ever conducted.
He alleged that the APC deceived Nigerians that it would be free and fair following the passage of the 2022 Electoral Act which makes provision for deployment of technology that would have made the process more transparent but proved to be otherwise.
He assured members of the party’s support through litigations to reclaim their mandate.
Credit: Leadership