The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has disclosed that the Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani and his predecessor Nasir El-Rufai, encouraged him to vie for the speakership of the House long before the 2023 general elections.
This is just as he said that the two political leaders have offered him incredible support since he became a federal lawmaker a few years ago.
Abbas who represents Zaria Federal Constituency, Kaduna State, made this known on Wednesday when he received Governor Sani and the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, in his office in Abuja.
A statement issued on Wednesday night by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Musa Krishi, quoted Abbas as saying, “It is indeed gratifying that in the first month of the Year 2024, we are receiving a very important visitor – a visitor that is coming from my dear state and coming for the very first time to pay a courtesy visit to me in my office. I am delighted. I am very honoured and I will remain indebted for this.
“It may amaze a lot of people if I tell you that my governor and the honourable minister have been very supportive of my aspiration from day one. It may amaze you that the whole idea of even contesting for this (speakership) position started with these two gentlemen and, of course, my elder brother, the former governor of Kaduna State (el-Rufai). The three of them and my humble self started this.
“Some people will be amazed because you hear a lot of stories in the media (that) Governors don’t like Speakers (of the House) to come from their state; that I, in particular, was not on good terms with my Governor; that my Governor was not happy with me; that we were not operating on the same frequency. This visit is a demonstration to everyone that if there were previous Speakers who were not on good terms with their Governors, this is the first that will set an example for others to follow.”
The Speaker added that he and Governor Sani “Talk together, dine together and share our problems,” stressing that they have remained together even after he emerged as Speaker of the House.
“There will be no obstacle that will come our way that will obstruct any communication, unity, harmony, mutual relationship between my dear self as the Speaker and my dear Governor of Kaduna State. We are a family and will remain a family.
“I have been in the National Assembly for quite a while, and I have never seen a set of people who are so cooperative and supportive of any leadership like the present members of the 10th House of Representatives.”
“Most importantly, I need to inform you that members from our own (Kaduna) state caucus have been very supportive and that is why you can see that even the caucus leader (Amos Magaji) who is from Southern Kaduna and a party different from Peoples Democratic Party is here” the Speaker noted, stressing that governance is for all Nigerians regardless of political party affiliations.
Meanwhile, Governor Sani earlier noted that the visit was “on behalf of the good people of Kaduna State.”
He said: “The reason for this courtesy call is to express our appreciation and support for the leadership of the Right Honourable Speaker. I must say here that we the people of Kaduna State are proud of your leadership style, of stabilising the National Assembly.
“For me as a former legislator, I know how difficult it is to lead a very complex institution like the House of Representatives. But in two or three of my discussions with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, he made it clear to me that this House of Representatives is the best. He made it clear to me that he, himself as a former legislator, the level of debates, and the bills and motions being promoted on the floor of the House are in the best interest of Nigerians.
“I also want to make it clear here that Mr President also made it clear to me that most of the important interventions that he decided to relate with the National Assembly; that whenever he discussed it with the Speaker; he finds it very easy to convince the members of the House because as we are speaking, we can see the level of relationship between the opposition and the ruling party.”
Present during the courtesy call were the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda; and the Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi among others.
