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Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

  • Gbajabiamila mourns Prince Bola Ajibola

    Gbajabiamila mourns Prince Bola Ajibola

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila expressed sadness over the passing of a renowned lawyer and a former Attorney-General of the Federation, AbdulJabbar Bolasodun Adesumbo Ajibola, better known as Prince Bola Ajibola.

    Gbajabiamila stated that with the passing of the late Prince Bola Ajibola, the Nigerian legal profession has lost one of its finest and most authoritative voices.

    He recalled that the late legal luminary was instrumental to the entrenchment of law and order for decades in Nigeria and across the globe.

    Gbajabiamila said it is on record that many Nigerian lawyers have undergone the tutelage of the late Prince Bola Ajibola, who was a one-time president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA).

    The speaker noted that the late Prince Bola Ajibola, who passed away around midnight of Sunday, April 9, made Nigeria and Nigerians proud when he served in various capacities at the International Court of Justice (ICJ); President of the Jurists Association of the World Association of Judges; member of the United Nations Compensation Commission on Iraq’s Invasion of Kuwait, among many others.

    Gbajabiamila said Prince Bola Ajibola’s contributions to the legal profession in Nigeria and the world would remain indelible in the sands of time.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila sent his heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Prince Bola Ajibola, the entire Egbaland, the people and Government of Ogun State over what he described as a monumental loss.

    He equally prayed to Almighty Allah to have mercy on the soul of the late legal icon and grant him a peaceful resting place in Jannatul Firdaus.

    In addition to the many positions he held, the late Prince Bola Ajibola was the Oluomo of Egbaland and Olori Omo Oba of Owu Kingdom until his demise.

  • Gbajabiamila greets Christians at Easter, calls for peaceful coexistence

    Gbajabiamila greets Christians at Easter, calls for peaceful coexistence

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has rejoiced with Christians across the country on the occasion of this year’s Easter celebration.

    Gbajabiamila said the period is very crucial and calls for sober reflection among Christians as it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

    The speaker, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, called for peaceful coexistence among Nigerians now and always.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila urged the citizens, especially Christians, to use the period to pray for a peaceful transition on May 29.

    He also called for prayers for the incoming administration of President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, as well as other leaders in the country.

    Gbajabiamila wished the entire Christian community in the country happy Easter celebrations.

  • Gbajabiamila felicitates Tony Elumelu on 60th birthday

    Gbajabiamila felicitates Tony Elumelu on 60th birthday

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has rejoiced with business mogul, Tony Elumelu, on his 60th birthday.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila said Elumelu, who is the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and the chairman of Heirs Holdings and Transcorp, is worthy of being celebrated owing to his humanitarian services to Nigeria and Africa.

    Describing Elumelu as a longstanding friend, Gbajabiamila recalled how the business tycoon started from a humble beginning and grew in leaps and bounds over the years.

    He said Nigeria needs the likes of Elumelu, who dedicated himself to philanthropic activities and changed the lives of many.

    At 60, Gbajabiamila said, Elumelu must be satisfied with his achievements. 

    “Tony Elumelu is one Nigerian that we all should celebrate. He has used his God-given resources to change the narrative in the lives of many of our compatriots. He has been an employer of labour who put smiles on the faces of an uncountable number of people.

    “In fact, the entire African continent is blessed to have Tony. We have seen how he transcends Nigerian borders with his activities and positively affects the lives of other Africans.

    “Despite what Tony has achieved, he remains humble, which is quite commendable. Nigerians should emulate Tony not just in his way of life but also in his service to humanity,” Gbajabiamila said.

    The Speaker wished Elumelu many fruitful years in good health.

  • Gbajabiamila congratulates Sanwo-Olu on second-term reelection

    Gbajabiamila congratulates Sanwo-Olu on second-term reelection

    …urges magnanimity in victory

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on his second-term victory.

    Gbajabiamila said the landslide victory that Governor Sanwo-Olu recorded was a testimony to his good governance and giant strides in Lagos State in the last four years.

    The speaker was elated that Governor Sanwo-Olu had won a second-term mandate, which he described as the “people’s mandate.”

    Noting that it was a deserved victory, Gbajabiamila said he was happy that Lagosians had seen the “good work” that Sanwo-Olu had done and elected him for the second time.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, in Abuja on Tuesday, Speaker Gbajabiamila applauded Lagosians for their resilience and determination to see that Sanwo-Olu was returned.

    He urged the governor to be magnanimous in victory, advising him to consolidate on the achievements of his first term.

    With the Sanwo-Olu that he knows, Gbajabiamila said, Lagos State would witness massive developmental projects during the governor’s second term in office.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila also congratulated other APC candidates who won governorship elections in Ogun, Katsina, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Gombe, Jigawa, Yobe, Kwara, Benue, Kaduna, Borno, Niger, Ebonyi, Cross River and other states where APC candidates are set to be declared winners.

  • We’ll miss your support, cooperation, Gbajabiamila tells outgoing British High Commissioner

    We’ll miss your support, cooperation, Gbajabiamila tells outgoing British High Commissioner

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has commended the outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing, for her selfless service and collaborative efforts with the Nigerian Parliament during her 5-year assignment in the country.

    Gbajabiamila said during her term, Ms. Catriona provided a lot of support to the House, which he said was helpful to the Parliament.

    The Speaker, who received Ms. Catriona and her team during a farewell visit to his office at the National Assembly on Tuesday, described the meeting as “bittersweet.”

    “We will miss you, Nigeria will miss you, and the Parliament will miss you,” Gbajabiamila said.

    He added that, “It’s a bittersweet visit, I’ll call it. Sweet because it’s always good to have you around, and bitter because you’re going. I personally enjoyed a great working relationship with you.

    “You and I, over time, had robust and engaging interactions. It was a very enriching time for me. I think your passion was so evident in our discussions.

    “My prayer is that whoever succeeds you on that trajectory will carry on with the good job.

    “I thank you for the interest in the work that we do here. You played a very critical role in the mentorship programme that I launched. At your age, I believe you still have so much to offer your country. We are really glad to have you around.”

    One of the bills that the High Commission contributed to, was the Electoral Act (Amendment Bill 2022), which was passed and was eventually signed into law. 

    Earlier, Ms. Catriona told the Speaker that she witnessed two election cycles in Nigeria, having resumed as the British High Commissioner to Nigeria in 2018. She described her experience in the country as wonderful.

    “I’m happy to have worked with Mr. Speaker on a number of issues, and a number of bills were passed during the period. I’m sure my successor will be glad to work with you.”

    The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria also lauded the speaker for his support for women’s empowerment.

  • Gbajabiamila salutes Osinbajo at 66

    Gbajabiamila salutes Osinbajo at 66

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has rejoiced with Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on his 66th birthday.

    Gbajabiamila, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, lauded the VP’s commitment to Nigeria.

    He described Osinbajo as a blessing not just to his family but also to humanity, owing to his selfless service to Nigeria.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila noted that Osinbajo has paid his dues and served the country diligently even before becoming the Vice President.

    Gbajabiamila prayed for more fruitful years in good health for the Vice President.

  • Gbajabiamila hails Supreme Court’s judgement on currency swap

    Gbajabiamila hails Supreme Court’s judgement on currency swap

    …says CBN must respect apex court’s decision

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has hailed the decision of the Supreme Court, which invalidated the deadline for the currency policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and extended it to 31st December, 2023.

    Gbajabiamila noted that, by the decision, the apex court has once again proved that it is the highest court of justice in the land. 

    He said the House had faulted the implementation of the policy as it went contrary to the law establishing the CBN, and that the Supreme Court’s decision has validated the position of the House.

    In a press statement on Friday, Gbajabiamila said, “It has always been the position of the House of Representatives that, despite the noble intentions behind the currency swap policy, the design and implementation of the policy have been fatally flawed and contradictory to the ends of law and public policy.

    “The decision of the Supreme Court suspending the currency swap policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and extending the implementation deadline to December 31, 2023, validates the position of the House in its entirety.”

    Describing the implementation of the policy as “remarkably haphazard,” Gbajabiamila stated that it fell way short of international standards.

    “It deviated from the prior practice of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without providing any benefits to the Nigerian people or the economy of Nigeria, both of which have suffered significant harm as a result.” 

    He said the CBN “must respect the apex court’s judgement and act quickly to give it full effect. This is necessary to reverse some of the damage done to our economy and prevent the continued suffering of the Nigerian people.”

    Gbajabiamila commended the governors of Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara as well as their other colleagues, for approaching the apex court to make a decision on the matter, describing their action as “the right thing to do.” 

    “It showed their collective adherence to the rule of law and their determination to take bold actions that serve the best interests of the Nigerian people.” 

    “While we anticipate action by the Central Bank, there is still a need to examine and understand how this policy intervention turned out in the way it did.”

    “The House of Representatives will exercise its authority to review the actions and inactions, the failures of law and procedure that set the conditions for this profound failure of public policy. This is necessary to ensure we take the right legislative actions to prevent future reoccurrence.”

  • Gbajabiamila celebrates Tinubu’s victory

    Gbajabiamila celebrates Tinubu’s victory

    …says democracy has won

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on his victory in the just concluded presidential poll.

    Gbajabiamila said Tinubu’s victory is a testament to his years of hard work, building bridges across the country, tenacity, and belief in Nigeria’s unity.

    Describing Tinubu’s victory as a victory for democracy, Gbajabiamila noted that the president-elect fought a good fight and gave a good account of himself as always.

    He said that as a courageous, dogged, and determined democrat, Tinubu weathered the storm and emerged victorious against all odds.

    The Speaker noted, “The victory of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a victory for democracy. I have said time and again that Tinubu is the best for Nigeria at this time, and God has answered our prayers.

    “Since the beginning of the journey, we were convinced that Nigerians would vote for him because he did it before and he will do it for the country. Today, Lagos is what it is courtesy of Tinubu’s vision. With Asiwaju’s victory, Nigeria will witness unprecedented development.

    “But this victory did not come on a platter of gold. It was a well-fought and deserved one. Like I said before, many obstacles had been deliberately placed in his way. Trust Asiwaju; he confronted them head-on and emerged victorious.”

    The Speaker said he believed Tinubu would deliver on the mandate given to him by Nigerians going by his track record and called  on the candidates of the opposition parties to put Nigeria first and concede defeat.

    “Whatever faith we are, we all believe and profess that all power belongs to God and He gives to whoever he pleases. This spiritual belief of all faiths has been greatly manifested in Asiwaju’s victory against all odds, I therefore call on all Nigerians, no matter your political bent, to see God’s hand in this”, he said.

    Gbajabiamila expressed confidence that the Tinubu that he had known for decades would be magnanimous in victory.

    “I believe Asiwaju will deliver a new programme of democracy, prosperity, and national security, as well as invest in public infrastructure as part of a broader strategy to drive human capital development and create economic opportunity for Nigeria.

    “For any leader to succeed, he must assemble the best hands to work with him. Asiwaju has proven over the years that he can gather the best team and empower them to do the hard work of making Nigeria the best it can be”, the Speaker added.

    Gbajabiamila urged Nigerians to support the Tinubu presidency to deliver on his campaign promises.

  • Gbajabiamila salutes constituents for historic 6th term victory

    Gbajabiamila salutes constituents for historic 6th term victory

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has hailed his constituents in the Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State for electing him for the 6th term.

    Gbajabiamila emerged victorious during the presidential and National Assembly elections that took place on Saturday.

    He polled 19,717 votes and defeated his closest opponent, Bosun Jeje of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 5,121 votes.

    Speaker Gbajabiamila said he remained grateful to the people of Surulere 1 for giving him the sixth term mandate, noting that he would not disappoint them.

    He said he would continue to work assiduously and bring more developmental projects to Surulere and beyond.

    “I am immensely grateful to the people of Surulere for their overwhelming support. I do not take your support for granted.

    “As your representative for the past 20 years, I have always protected your interest. I am proud of you as my constituents. I thank our teeming supporters, our Surulere APC leaders, party members, CDAs and residents for their massive support.

    “This victory is not mine alone. It is a victory for democracy. Surulere has made history by this sixth mandate given to me, which would definitely spur me to do more for you,” Gbajabiamila said.

    The Speaker was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 to represent Surulere 1 Federal Constituency. Since then, he has won elections in the subsequent five election cycles, including Saturday’s.

    Gbajabiamila remains the only lawmaker from South West geopolitical zone to have been elected six times to represent his constituency.

    During his 20-year journey in the House of Representatives so far, Gbajabiamila has served as Minority Whip, Minority Leader, Opposition Leader, and Majority Leader before getting elected as Speaker in 2019. He remains the only lawmaker in Africa to have done this. 

  • I remain committed to legislation that’ll improve citizens’ lives – Gbajabiamila

    I remain committed to legislation that’ll improve citizens’ lives – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has reiterated his commitment to attracting legislation that will improve the lives of Nigerians.

    Gbajabiamila hinted that he would also do more to bring infrastructural projects, employment, and empowerment to his people.

    “By God’s grace, we will do more. I remain committed to attracting more legislation that will improve the lives of many Nigerians, as well as more infrastructural projects, employment, and empowerment of our people,” he said during his empowerment programme for the people of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency in Lagos on Thursday.

    Recalling a similar empowerment programme around the same time last year, Gbajabiamila noted that Surulere has become “a shining example to Nigerians.”

    He said: “We embody the spirit of legislative democracy. Your support and confidence in returning me to the National Assembly to represent you is something other constituencies are learning from. So let us never take for granted what we are doing here in Surulere. 

    “This empowerment programme has been successful in many areas. We have tried to ensure that we touch every sector in Surulere, be it in education, health, business, or security.”

    In the area of education, the speaker said he was able to provide over 5000 laptops and ICT gadgets to students and teachers in all 23 secondary schools in Surulere as well as education grants for 1000 students from Surulere in federal and states universities 

    On the economic front, he said, over 15,200 traders, artisans, and SMEs in Surulere have been empowered in various ways, and 145 automobiles, including fully equipped medical ambulances, security vehicles, and gadgets, new school buses, and e-hailing cars, were given out.

    At the Thursday empowerment programme, a total of 161 e-hailing cars and buses were given out as transportation empowerment to boost income earning for his constituents.

    Similarly, 555 laptops were given to students and teachers, 502 industrial machines for artisans, and 200 million Naira to over 2,500 traders, market women, artisans, and other businesses. 

    Also, business support was given to businessmen and women to help stimulate the economic sector of Surulere. 

    Security patrol vehicles were equally given for the protection of lives and properties in Surulere. Apart from the 161 cars and buses, 

    “Our desire and commitment are to ensure that Surulere is a shining example in Nigeria. And we are getting there.”

    Already, Gbajabiamila has attracted the reconstruction of over 200 roads, the construction of eight mini stadiums, the construction of many hospitals and the provision of ambulances and medical equipment, ICT centres in public secondary schools, as well as the provision of over 8000 solar street lights in Surulere.