Ahead of Tinubu’s Inauguration, Ooni Urges End to Hostilities, Calls for Unity

Ahead of Tinubu’s Inauguration, Ooni Urges End to Hostilities, Calls for Unity

The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on all Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations, to set aside their differences and work together with President-elect Bola Tinubu for the progress and development of Nigeria.

The Ooni made this appeal during a meeting with a high-level delegation from the Kenyan government led by the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Francis Koskie. 

The delegation also included the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, CEO of Propetrol, Harry Ebohen, Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and Fintech Guru, Kunmi Demuren. 

The delegation had met with President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at his Lagos residence to discuss ways in which Africa can collaborate to promote national development, create opportunities for prosperity through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), and foster an innovative future for young people across the continent.

As Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, the Ooni emphasized the need to tap into Nigeria’s vast natural resources and protect the country’s wealth for the benefit of its people. 

He urged all Nigerians to put their differences aside and support Tinubu’s vision for the country, calling on Nigerians, irrespective of their candidate choice in the last election, to work together to make Nigeria great.

“As the presidential inauguration approaches, I beseech you all, young and old, Obidients and Atikulates, hopeful and weary, amiable and passionate, to lay down your arms,” he said. “There is no reason to waste time looking back; all we have is today and the future. Now is the time to embrace our diversity and uniqueness. We may differ in opinions and approaches to achieving a better Nigeria, but we all want a nation we can be proud of. Let us come together to support the vision of Asiwaju Gbogbo Ile Oodua.”

The Ooni’s message was echoed by Tinubu, who expressed his commitment to working with other business leaders to transform Nigeria’s economy. 

He cited Dangote’s $20 billion Refinery, set to commence operation fully by the end of the month, as an example of the country’s potential to be a global player in the energy sector. 

Tinubu also pledged to partner with East Africa, particularly Kenya, to build stronger trade relationships and promote cultural exchange.

 

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 of the parliament was to follow the constitutional provisions on the emergence of presiding officers.

In his submissions, Senator-elect Ned Nwoko, representing Delta North Senatorial District on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said members of the 10th Senate would reject any attempt by the executive to pocket the legislature.

Nwoko said, “The overwhelming majority of the senators-elect are of the opinion that we must be independent. That is the only way we can take the executive to account. The parliament is not meant to be pocketed by the executive. There are some of us that are already well-established before we came here. So, we are not pushovers. We are very independent minded.”

Senator-elect Abdulraham Kawu Samaila, a former minority leader of the House of Representatives, now representing Kano South on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), maintained that any attempt to impose presiding officers on the 10th National Assembly would fail.

Samaila stated, “On the issue of the senate presidency, we should follow the constitution. There is a clear and express provision in the constitution, which allows members of the National Assembly to choose their presiding officers among themselves, irrespective of party affiliation, religious or ethnic considerations.”

However, Akpabio said he was not bothered by the rejection of zoning arrangements by some senators- elect. The former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs said, “Justice has been done at the end of the day in terms of balancing the political equation of the country to ensure peaceful tenure for the incoming president.”

On the issue of some aggrieved APC aspirants, allegedly, forming alliances with opposition political parties, Akpabio said he was not worried about that because disagreement was a normal legislative practice.

He said, “I am not worried at all. It is a normal thing. I always described politics as a game of concentric circle of conspiracy. I am not worried about anything. I believe strongly that the will of God will be done.

“My colleagues would decide my fate on the floor during the inauguration. The senators-elect would take a decision. The lawmakers would elect the next Senate President. I believe that there should be cooperation between the parties and the lawmakers.

“Once the leadership is put in place, there should be collaboration between the leadership and the parliament to ensure a smooth administration. We are all mutually dependent on one another while at the same time, exercising our legislative duties and independence. On the whole, I believe that we can only get better as our democracy matures.”

Kalu Writes Party, Senators-elect, Says He’s in Race

Senate Chief Whip and former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, wrote personal letters to members of APC NWC and the 108 senators-elect, intimating them of his intention to contest the position of Senate President.

Kalu, however, refuted stories making the rounds that the South-east senators-elect had endorsed him. He explained that they only met to make a demand from the president-elect and APC.

In an official statement released by his media office, Kalu said he was offering himself for the position of Senate President to the Nigerian people, the senators-elect, and the party with sincerity of heart, humility, and candour.

Kalu noted that his seeming inactive posture in the senate presidency race was because of the one month mourning of his late wife, Mrs Ifeoma Ada Kalu.

Attached to the letter of intent was a copy of Kalu’s legislative agenda, which had six priorities, listed as follows: Economic Growth and Reform; Constitutional and Electoral Reform; National Security; Improved Social Conditions and Welfare; Efficient and Effective National Assembly and Global Influence

Kalu promised to promote and defend the constitution and foster a congenial and cordial relationship between the executive and judiciary.

Nonetheless, some former senators, who were in the second to fourth National Assembly, met in Abuja yesterday and expressed support for the planned zoning of Senate President to South-south and Deputy Senate President to North-west.

Convener of the group, Senator Basheer Lado, who read the communiqué at the end of the meeting, said their resolution was based on the need for fairness, equity and justice.

The ex-lawmakers noted that the National Assembly required experienced and level-headed leaders at the helm of its affairs to calm the current tension in the country.

They stated, “We believe that, in the spirit of equity, fairness, political expedience and following extensive consultations with stakeholders, hereby express our total support for the zoning of the position of the President of the 10th Senate to the South-south geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

“We also affirm our unfettered support for the position of the President of the 10th Senate, who also doubles as Chairman of the National Assembly, to be conferred on His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON.

“The position of Senate President represents the third position in hierarchy of our current democratic dispensation. This position carries considerable weight in discharging vital constitutional responsibilities and for charting the right course for our national development.

“It is also important that the holder of such a position enjoys the confidence and support of the party leadership and that of his peers, as Senator Godswill Akpabio undoubtedly does.

“With this same spirit of fairness, we also affirm our solid support that the position of Deputy President of the 10th Senate be conceded to Distinguished Senator Barau I. Jubril, CON, representing Kano North Senatorial Zone, Kano State.

“It is our conviction that a diverse and united legislative leadership is critical to good governance. At a trying period in our nation’s political history, the National Assembly requires experienced and level headed leaders at the helm of its affairs.”

Other former senators present at the press briefing included Barnabas Gemade, Abba Aji, Magnus Abe, Ayogu Eze, Ridwan Soji Akanbi, Eta Enag, Ayo Arise, and Sunny Ugbuoji.

But the position of the former senators was rejected by a group loyal to another aspirant for senate presidency, Abdulaziz Yari.

The group, Good Governance Initiative (GGi), condemned the action of the former senators and described it as double-standard and undemocratic.

The group berated the former senators for calling on other aspirants to step down for Akpabio.

The pro-Yari group said the call by the former lawmakers amounted to double standard, as many members of the hitherto unknown group had championed the independence of the legislature in the past when it suited their interests.

The group said, “These were people who functioned as lawmakers at the highest level of this country previously. They ought to understand fundamental rights of individuals as enshrined in the constitution. They ought to understand constitutional democracy like ours. Many of them on the list once championed the independence of the parliament. So, what has changed? The best answer to the question is double standard on their part, for their selfish gains.

“However, His Excellency Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari will exercise his rights within the confines of the Senate Standing Rule and the 1999 Constitution, as amended. He cannot be intimidated by this kind of gang-up since the former senators have no voting rights on the floor of the senate, on one hand.”

Opposition Parties Set Up 11-man Committee to Screen Candidates

Members of the opposition parties in the incoming 10th House of Representatives put together an 11-man committee charged with the task of shortlisting, screening and eventual recommendation of aspirants for the speaker and deputy speaker positions.

Last week, the caucus known as the “Greater Majority” with a plan to upstage APC, had said it would contest for speakership and the deputy speakership of the House of Representatives.

The political parties that made up the caucus included PDP, Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Young People’s Party (YPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Social Democratic Party (SDP).

The lawmakers at a briefing said the committee would be chaired by Hon. Nicholas Mutu, with Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as Secretary, and Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin as Deputy Chairman.

Other members of the committee included Hon. Wole Oke (PDP), Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP), Hon. Beni Lar (PDP), Hon. Ali Isa JC (PDP), Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum (NNPP ), Hon. Donatus Mathew Kuzalio (LP), Hon. Yusuf Salisu Majigiri (PDP), Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara (YPP), Hon. Gwacham Chinwe (APGA), and Hon. Idris Salman.

The committee was given one week to turn in its report.