10th Speakership: PDP members elect confident lingering crisis will be resolved

By Christiana Ekpa

Members-elect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday assured Nigerians that the lingering crisis trailing the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th Assembly would be resolved amicably.

The lawmakers who spoke during a media chat at the sideline of the ongoing Induction of returning and newly elected lawmakers organised by National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), expressed support for the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu’s ambition.

Speaking exclusively with Parliamentary Correspondents, former Speaker, Gombe House of Assembly, Hon. Garba Inuwa described Hon. Betara as the most qualified Aspirant after wide consultation with other Aspirants who have so far expressed interest in the Speakership race.

“The focus of the Greater Majority is to have a very focussed and purposeful leadership for the 10th Assembly that will bring all members together for a good working relationship.

“That should be based on track record, experience and commitment. Most of us in the 10th Assembly believe that Aliyu Betara has what quality to give to Nigerians what we want in the 10th House of Representatives.

“Nigeria is already in a serious problem and to come out of this problem starts and ends with having a good leadership.

Also speaking with Parliamentary Correspondents, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo state who kicked against the APC National Working Committee’s plot to impose its preferred Aspirants on the House,

He said: “I believe that the independence of the parliament is an important foundation for any progress that will be recorded. At the same time, stability and harmonious coexistence is also very important if we must achieve what we promised our people out there.

“Right now, there seems to be so much confusion. But in the days ahead, after consulting party leaders, one can speak clearly on these divisions and this contest viz-a-vis the need for an independent parliament, the need for stability and the need for harmonious co-existence.”

On his part, Hon. Cyril Hart (PDP, Rivers) observed that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) stipulates the “procedure that we should adopt as members to elect our presiding officers.

I share the sentiment that the

Majority Party should produce the leadership of the House even though I am of the PDP.

“Whatever you are seeing now will calm down and at the end, Nigeria will get the best out of it. So, there is no cause for alarm because it is all politics.

“Contest is free and anyone is free to contest, but my simple opinion is that the majority party, the APC with the highest number of Members-elect should produce the leadership. It’s an APC affair and I believe that they should be allowed to produce the leadership of the 10th Assembly,” he noted.

APC diaspora C’ttee bemoans ‘strange youths’ planning Tinubu inauguration

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Committee on Diaspora Chairmen has advised President-elect Bola Tinubu to beware of sycophants.

The party chieftains expressed reservations about some developments ahead of Tinubu’s inauguration on May

29.

Bola Babarinde, Secretary of the APC body led by Prof. Adesegun Labinjo, issued a statement on Monday in Lagos.

The diaspora committee demands that the reward system under Tinubu’s government be sacrosanct.

Babarinde said those around the President-elect must also be wary of praise singers and

“strange bedfellows”.

The chieftain complained of how youths are being assembled “to handle some aspects on the national level to celebrate the inauguration”.

“This is very insulting to those that lay their lives for the success of our principal,” the statement reads.

Babarinde said some persons getting roles displayed “hatred” to Tinubu during electioneering but are now “lobbying to be part of the success”.

“The incoming administration should be careful about enemies of progress now within the corridor of power.”

Babarinde advised Tinubu and his team to identify those that genuinely worked for APC’s victory at the polls and reward them accordingly.

Senate presidency: Discipline ex-Gov Yari before he destroys APC – Obono-Obla

By Musa Baba Adamu

Former special assistant to President Muhammadu

Buhari on prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla has called on the national ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, to muster courage and discipline a former Governor of Zamfara State,

Abdulaziz Yari over his divisive statement.

In a statement, the former presidential aide said Yari’s utterances had become incendiary, disrespectful and capable of splitting the party into factions.

He quoted the ex-governor as threatening that the APC would cease to exist if the North does not get the Senate Presidency.

According to Obono-Obla, Yari had now become a pain in the neck of the ruling party due to his alleged intransigence and uncompromising attitude.

Obono-Obla described such daring statement as arrogant, recalling that it was such utterances and attitude that cost the party a colossal loss in Zamfara State during the 2019 general election.

“It is utterly inconceivable and insensitive that a supposed national leader like Yari could make such unreasonable statement.

“I shudder at such unreasonableness which Yari is exhibiting,” he said.

120 heads of state interested in attending Tinubu’s inauguration – Adamu Garba

By Musa Baba Adamu

Adamu Garba, a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has said over 120 heads of state have expressed interest in attending the inauguration of Nigeria’s presidentelect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29, 2023.

He stated this while speaking on Arise TV on Monday.

He said that despite stiff opposition, the May 29th inauguration will go ahead.

Garba said: “Already, 120 heads of state indicated an interest in attending the inauguration of the incoming President-Elect and Vice President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim

Shettima, on May 29, 2023; thus, there is nothing whatsoever that can stop the inauguration by the Grace of God.”

The APC chieftain described those filing suits to stop Tinubu’s inauguration as jokers.