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Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

Gbajabiamila eulogizes Femi Okunu (SAN) at 90
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has extolled famous lawyer, Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN) , on his 90th birthday.
Gbajabiamila said the likes of Alhaji Okunnu have shaped the legal profession in Nigeria from the early days of the country’s independence in 1960, noting that the legal luminary has made laudable contributions to the profession.
He said Okunnu, who served as the Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing from 1967 to 1974, has positively impacted the lives of many Nigerians, including the Speaker himself.
The speaker also recalled Alhaji Okunnu’s days as the pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, in the 1980s, which he said became a defining moment for the institution.
“Alhaji Femi Okunnu is a lawyer with a lot of experience and achievements to his name. In his over six decades of law practice, many lawyers of repute have gone through his tutelage.
“I consider it a rare privilege to be one of those to be so mentored and positively influenced by Alhaji Femi Okunnu. I learned a lot from him.”
“No doubt, Alhaji Okunnu has served his fatherland meritoriously and diligently in the various national assignments he was given, to the admiration of many.
“His contributions to the legal profession are legion, and we are all proud of him,” Gbajabiamila said.
The speaker prayed for sound health for Alhaji Femi Okunnu.
February 19, 2023
Gbajabiamila greets Osinbajo’s mother at 90
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has rejoiced with the mother of the Vice President, Mama Olubisi, on her 90th birthday.
Gbajabiamila said Mama Olubisi has been a blessing to the Osinbajo family, her community and the nation as a whole.
Speaker Gbajabiamila noted that it was the good training and discipline Mama Osinbajo inculcated in the Vice President and his siblings that made them what they are today.
He said marking the age of 90 in good health is indeed a blessing and prayed for good health as well as protection from the Almighty God.
“I celebrate Mama Olubisi at 90. She remains a role model to many Nigerians. As the matriarch of the Osinbajo family, she is a unifier.
“I congratulate Mama and her children, especially the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on this rare feat of marking the age of 90 on this mother earth,” Gbajabiamila said.
February 16, 2023
Gbajabiamila hails El-Rufai at 63
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has eulogized Kaduna State Governor Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai on his 63rd birthday.
Gbajabiamila described El-Rufai as a core progressive who has exhibited dependability and reliability, noting that “he is a man of his words at all times.”
Speaker Gbajabiamila said the Kaduna State governor stands to be counted among patriotic Nigerians whose major concern is the unity of the country.
“Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai is a man I will describe as a democrat and a dogged fighter for our democracy. Our democracy stands to gain more with his likes.
“He has demonstrated again and again that he is a loyal and dependable man.”
“We need the likes of Governor El-Rufai for Nigeria to flourish. I dare say that he remains a hero of our democracy, especially for us in the progressive family.
“I celebrate Governor El-Rufai on his 63rd birthday and I wish him more fruitful years in good health and increased wisdom from the Almighty,” the Speaker said.
February 16, 2023
Currency swap: Gbajabiamila launches second transport scheme to ease residents’, students’ movements
…rolls out 35 new buses to commute 7,000 people daily
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has launched the second edition of the GbajaRide community transportation initiative as part of plans to ease the movement of residents and students in Surulere, Lagos, particularly due to the hardship occasioned by the ongoing currency swap policy and fuel scarcity.
At the launch of the second phase of the GbajaRide initiative at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere on Tuesday, Gbajabiamila announced that a total of 15 medium-sized buses with a 26+1 capacity and 20 air-conditioned 18-seat buses were earmarked for the transportation scheme.
He said the two different sets of buses would commute an estimated 5,000 Surulere residents and 2,000 students on daily trips, noting that “we intend to add more buses to the service.”
The GbajaRide scheme was first launched in June 2018, when the Speaker was serving as the House Leader in the 8th Assembly. It kicked off with 30 brand new buses, 160 motorcycles, and 25 tricycles, used to empower and ease the movement of residents of Surulere.
He said: “GbajaRide is part of the relief designed to provide transportation service for the people of Surulere at a discounted rate. We must commend the government of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for the rollout plans to ease the pains Lagosians go through during this period.
“While GbajaRide will be moving residents of Surulere at a discounted rate, the transport service will move all our secondary school students, teachers and residents of age 75 and above from designated bus stops in Surulere free of charge.”
“The GbajaRide transport service in partnership with Lagos State Government will key into existing rules of engagement of LAMATA on routes and operations that will meet the transportation needs of the people of Surulere.”
The Speaker said, learning from the first phase, GbajaRide was now structured under a proper management service that would run the new service in partnership with the Lagos State Government and with the cooperation of members of the Lagos State Park and Garage Administrators.
Gbajabiamila noted that as the representative of his people, he had a good understanding of the current hardship and discomfort being faced by many Nigerians, including his constituents.
“The House of Representatives under my leadership has been on the side of the people, working tirelessly to rescue you from economic saboteurs seeking to derail the successes of President Buhari and the APC administration. I am glad that the judiciary also confirmed our position on the implementation of the naira redesign policy of the central bank. The good news is that relief is underway.”
He said as Nigerians prepare to vote on February 25 and March 11, the development of Surulere, Lagos State, and Nigeria will be on the ballot for consideration, and that the sustenance of the transportation initiative would “be guaranteed if we choose APC in the forthcoming elections.”
“I strongly believe that residents of Surulere, irrespective of tribe or religion, will affirm and attest to all the developmental projects facilitated in Surulere 1 and 2 Federal Constituencies and beyond.
“Surulere is enjoying all these developments because our community has enjoyed the support of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from 1999 till date. It is our time to return this support and love to the man we believe will bring relief and succour to many Nigerians when elected.
“As we all go out on February 25, 2023, I urge you to vote APC in the Asiwaju for President, Rt. Hon. Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun for Senate and my humble self – Femi Gbajabiamila – for House of Representatives. While on March 11, 2023, we should vote APC to return our Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Hon. Desmond Elliot back into office.”
Gbajabiamila also urged the people of Surulere and Lagos Park and Garage committee members to cooperate with the management of the GbajaRide Transport service for ease of movement of residents and students.
“I also urge the management service and drivers of GbajaRide to make safety a top priority, and I pray that GbajaRide will be safe from accidents and our people will find joy in subscribing to GbajaRide any day any time. God bless you all.”
Also at the function was the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Defence, Rep. Jimi Benson; APC Lagos State Chairman, Hon Cornelius Ojelabi; Special Adviser to Lagos Governor on Transportation, Hon Sola Giwa; SSA to the Lagos Governor on Sports, Mr. Anthony Adeyinka; MD of Lagos State Housing Development Corporation, Hon. Ayo Joseph; the Oniba of Iba, Lagos, Oba Suleiman Raji; the Onikate of Ikate-Surulere, Oba Lateef Adams; Secretary of Lagos GAC, Alhaji Mutiu Are; Member of Lagos GAC, Chief Olorunfunmi Bashorun, among other dignitaries.
February 14, 2023
Gbajabiamila congratulates Ajaero on emergence as NLC president
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated Mr. Joe Ajaero on his emergence as the new president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Speaker Gbajabiamila also congratulated other members of the national executive committee of the NLC.
In a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker said he believed Mr. Ajaero would bring his experience to bear in his new position as the president of the NLC.
Gbajabiamila wished Ajaero a successful tenure, urging the new NLC president to be innovative in his leadership.
February 9, 2023
Currency swap: We’ll reconvene before elections if…. – Gbajabiamila
…says Tinubu stands with Nigerians
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the House would have no option but to reconvene before the February 25 elections if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) failed to address the hardships Nigerians face due to the currency swap policy.
The speaker said the House would continue to monitor the CBN’s implementation of the policy closely following the Green Chamber’s meeting with the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, on the issue.
Speaking during a town hall meeting with some ethnic groups in Surulere, Lagos, on Sunday, Gbajabiamila said he was on the verge of signing an arrest warrant against Emefiele following his initial failure to appear before an ad hoc panel of the House.
“The House of Representatives intervened on several occasions. We summoned the CBN governor the first time and again, but he refused to answer, because we had many hard questions for him.
“It was until I issued the threat of warrant of arrest before he came, and I would’ve signed that warrant; it would’ve been the first time in the history of National Assembly that a CBN governor would be arrested. I would’ve done it.
“Many have argued on the independence of CBN, the autonomy of CBN. That does not make CBN above the law. The constitution gives the House the power to issue an arrest warrant against anyone, we can summon anybody, and that was exactly what the House was going to do until the CBN governor came.
“So, we are watching, and we are monitoring very closely. If need be, we will reconvene the House, even though we’ve all been away for our elections. I will call the House back, if need be.”
Gbajabiamila also said that amidst the ongoing hardship, the presidential candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has identified with Nigerians and faulted the implementation of the policy at this time, which necessitated the extension of the deadline for the collection of the old currency.
“On the currency swap, let me explain something to you. We are all very intelligent people. Many are suffering, we have paid your salary, and you cannot withdraw it; people cannot eat, what kind of thing is that?
“But I have news for you. There’s one man who is running for president of this country, and that man has courage and audacity. This man came out boldly and identified the problem, that the fifth columnists, in cooperation with the PDP are the ones trying to sabotage this election.
“Many have said he’s talking about Buhari, but he told them ‘no, I’m not talking about Buhari; I’m talking about fifth columnists.’ If you don’t know the meaning of fifth columnists, go and check your dictionary. Fifth columnists infiltrate people, they even infiltrate families, otherwise how do you explain this type of policy?
“The president, being a compassionate person that he is, has asked for a few more days to look at everything that is going on and see if anything could change. We pray that things will change. If nothing changes, we will intervene again, but be sure of one thing: that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stands with you and stands with Nigerians in their suffering.
“He was the first to shout that what is going on? He has cried, he has begged, he has screamed that people are suffering, what did the PDP candidate say? He said, ‘no, CBN don’t listen to them; you must not extend this thing; let people continue to suffer.’ That is what the PDP candidate said. He said it publicly.
“So, you have the tale of two presidential candidates: one who stands with the people and says this currency swap must stop; the second one says,’ no, it cannot stop, it’s a good policy. CBN, don’t listen to him. Let the people continue to suffer.’ I leave the rest to you to determine who is with you and who is against you.”
February 5, 2023
Gbajabiamila mourns as container kills 8 in Surulere area
…calls for restriction of container trucks to ojuelegba under bridge passage
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described as unfortunate and sad, the killing of eight people by a container in the Ojuelegba area of Surulere, Lagos on Sunday.
Gbajabiamila said he received the news of the falling of the 20-feet container on a commercial minibus, popularly known as Korope, with indignation, and was pained that innocent people lost their lives in such a manner.
The Speaker lauded the quick efforts of the officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), FRSC, Police and others in evacuating the victims and rescuing one person.
Gbajabiamila called for immediate action and an investigation into the incident.
“I was sad and shocked at the news of the killing of the eight innocent people by a container. I became more brokenhearted when I saw the gory images of the incident. This is unfortunate and unacceptable.
“This is not the first time such incident is happening in Lagos. I, therefore, call for immediate temporary installation of barriers as the case on Oba Akran – computer village, Ikeja to prevent trailers from using the bridge and compelled to use the under bridge alternatively to avert future occurrences. It is unacceptable for people to die in such a way at same spot multiple times,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker said such an unfortunate incident was one of the reasons why he sponsored the Federal Highway (Amendment) Bill which amongst other things provided for latching of containers and access to container trucks on overhead bridges at only restricted hours, and stiffer penalties for those that kill innocent Nigerians on the road.
Speaker Gbajabiamila sent his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people of his constituency, Surulere, and the Lagos State Government.
He prayed to God to repose their souls and give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.
January 30, 2023
Osun election tribunal verdict: Gbajabiamila congratulates Oyetola
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has congratulated the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Osun State governorship election held last year, Oyetola Adegboyega, on his victory at the election tribunal.
Gbajabiamila said the tribunal verdict was a welcome development and a fair deal for the people of Osun State who stood behind Oyetola to return for the second time.
With the judgment, the Speaker noted that APC remains the party to beat at all times, especially during the forthcoming general elections.
Saying that the people of Osun State have been vindicated by the verdict, Gbajabiamila called on all APC members in Osun and across the country to remain law-abiding and brace up for the general elections.
Speaker Gbajabiamila was glad that the Osun governorship election tribunal was convinced that indeed there were anomalies during the election, which is why it restored the people’s mandate.
He urged Oyetola to be magnanimous in victory at the end of the whole process
January 28, 2023
Polls: Get balanced views on Nigerian election process, Gbajabiamila tells EU mission, others
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has urged election observer missions and monitors in Nigeria to get balanced views by speaking to a broad range of stakeholders before making their conclusions on the outcome of the forthcoming general elections.
He noted that being a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious country, different people would naturally have different biases and push opinions that, though they represented their interests, might not necessarily be correct.
Gbajabiamila, who spoke when a delegation of the European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria visited him at the National Assembly in Abuja on Friday, stated that reports on election outcomes could only reflect what truly transpired when observer missions engaged with multiple stakeholders.
The delegation was led by Mr Barry Andrews.
For instance, the Speaker said there were 18 political parties contesting various elective positions, beginning on February 25.
He added that among the contestants, there were those who, by his assessment, were frontline contenders, others with their areas of strength and so on.
Gbajabiamila advised the mission to speak to not only every political party but also to as many stakeholders as possible, adding that this would help shape the reliability of any report on election outcomes this year.
The Speaker assured the delegation that Nigeria was fully prepared for the elections and had made every possible arrangement for the process to be successful.
“We are prepared for it, and those saddled with the responsibility, from Mr. President, the National Assembly, INEC, the political parties, to all the other stakeholders along the chain, we are all ready to make the votes count.”
“The electoral law is in place. We have done all we needed to do, and now we have to wait and see how things pan out.
“Election is a process that leads to the final day. It’s very complex, but at the same time it can be very simple, depending on the attitude of the actors”, Gbajabiamila added.
He also told the delegation that the use of technology this time around was an added advantage, which INEC would deploy to fast-track the process.
“We are hoping there will be no problems in the area of deployment of technology and also security issues, we hope not to worry about it much”, he said.
The Speaker informed the group that an area of concern remained the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), which he said was still not very high, compared to the number of registered voters.
However, he told the visitors that sensitisation was ongoing and “it is our firm belief that the number of PVC collections will be ramped up way before the elections proper.”
On the part of the National Assembly, Gbajabiamila said the Legislature did much to improve the electoral law to expand the opportunities for participation by many Nigerians.
He stated that the Legislature, particularly the House, had hoped that ‘Direct Primaries’ would be captured in the law as the main method of picking political party candidates in order to transfer the power of decision-making to the majority of party members, but the move suffered a setback.
“Nonetheless, there is no law that is perfect. We have come a long way with the current law and it is work in progress for our electoral system”, the Speaker further said.
Earlier, Andrews, told Gbajabiamila that the EU Mission was happy to be invited to observe the polls, just as it had done on seven previous occasions.
Andrews assured Gbajabiamila that the body had its work cut out and had a reliable data-collection methodology to give a report on the outcome of the polls.
He informed the Speaker that the body would formally unveil its work plan at a news conference on Monday in Abuja, while it would release a preliminary report on the elections two days after the conclusion of voting.
January 28, 2023
Gbajabiamila condoles Gov. Sule over son’s death
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has condoled with the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi A. Sule over the death of his son, Hassan A. Sule.
Gbajabiamila expressed shock at the death of the young Hassan, whom he described as a promising and respectful young man.
The Speaker said he was pained that the governor lost a son who would have been counted as one of the leaders of tomorrow owing to his education and training.
“I received the news of the passing of Hassan A. Sule with rude shock. Here was a young man who was ready to take after his father as a leader.
“It is painful when a father loses his son, especially a young, promising one like Hassan. But as believers, we cannot question our Creator.
“As painful and devastating as the death of Hassan is, we find solace in the fact that he had a good upbringing and lived up to the expectations of not just his parents but also of society as a whole.”
“I pray that Allah (SWT) will rest his soul peacefully and give His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule and his entire family, especially Hassan’s mother, the fortitude to bear this painful death,” Gbajabiamila said.
January 27, 2023