One thing that one can’t denied about Femi Gbajabiamila’s qualities of Representation is always firm in the line of justice and his commitment to his constituent in the last 16 years. The majority leader had dedicated his life to the service of his constituents and Nigeria at large.
Having working with him as a green chamber member from 2015 to date I will not be making a mistake if I say that Hon. Femi stands out as the best candidate we cannot miss. Without any contradiction i have stand to says One thing that many know that candidacy of Femi is not about him himself it is but about sanitanizing nation’s democracy. It is about practising what he always preach, global best practices.
Having being deeply involved in the pro-democracy movement that battled and finally ousted the military dictatorship in May 29th 1999, a feisty Hon Femi Gbajabiamila does not care a hoot whose ox is gored in the process of advancing the fundamental human rights of his people, as far as he is concerned all citizens are equal before the law; what is good for the goose is also sauce for the gender, the popular Gbaja surmises. During the unpopular third term gambit by then President Olusegun Obasanjo regime, Hon Gbajabiamila was in the forefront of the massive mobilization of democratic and progressive forces that sealed the fate of the third term promoters and their paid hatchet men in and outside the National Assembly. Having won a historic 5th term mandate to the House with 16 years’ experience this enable him understood the intricate workings of the legislature, a critical arm of government and has come to understand the imperative of striking a delicate balance in the relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of government.
Looking at Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila marvelous score card as a legislator he is the one widely acknowledged as a politicians’ worth of his onion in the quest for making the nascent democratic system ticking. Gbajabiamila had sponsored the highest number of Bills in the National Assembly amongst all the legislators. Amongst his Bills and Motions in the House, Gbajabiamila has been very passionate about the Employee Rights Bill, Local content in Construction Industry Bill, Vocational Schools Bill, The Economic Stimulus Bill, Interest-Free Students Loan and Establishment of Nigeria Education Bank Bill etc. Other bills to his watch are bill to criminalize the use of ‘estimated billing’ in the calculation of electricity consumed and to be paid for by consumers by Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies.
Despite All Progressives Congress stand on the leadership of 8th assembly but in clear defiance of party directives that the position had been zoned to the South west. But than APC renege members with support of opposition party members in the green chamber played itself out with the emergence of Hon. Yakubu Dogara as speaker.
Even though the contest was tough and even bitterly fought with all manner of recrimination and rancor from opposing camps after what the renege APC members does. A mature Hon Femi Gbajabiamila accepted the outcome , he served superbly and loyally as House Majority Leader co-operating and collaborating with previous rivals and contestants in moving the House Legislative Agenda forward.
Femi Gbajabiamila as i have fondly called him (Baba Jamila) promised opposition parties serving and newly elected lawmakers to be inclusive and really needs them. To proved his effort to runs inclusive 9th National Assembly Gbajabiamila’s Speakership campaign logo embodies the logos of all political parties represented in the House (9th Assembly) And also have tagged his campaign NATION BUILDING, A JOINT TASK , saying he humbly invite each one of them to join him so together can build a more perfect union. I seek the buy-in of all colleagues in the green chambers in respect of party affiliations and Nigerians to this Joint Task.
If the postulation is anything to go by, Femi Gbajabiamila is the one who can be entrusted with such a challenging responsibilities of becoming the speaker of the federal House of Representatives, considering the fact that the nation democratic system is in dire needs of reforms that will have the far reaching positive impact on the lives of Nigerians. Looking at his marvelous score card as a legislator he is the one widely acknowledged as a politicians’ worth of his onion in the quest for making the nascent democratic system ticking.
In a speech announcing his declaration for the Speaker, Gbaja said “I stand here today before you hopefully as a symbol of encouragement and point of contact for the many young men and women out there who believe that with hardwork and commitment whatever the mind can conceive is possible. As a beacon of hope and faith and a testimony to the endless possibilities that abound in this great country. That you can be whatever and whoever you want and with focus, hardwork and perseverance, the sky can sometimes be the beginning”.
Having working with him in the green chamber member I will not be making a mistake if I say that Hon. Femi stands out as the best candidate we cannot miss. Without any contradiction stand to says One thing that many not know candidacy of Femi is not about him himself it is but about sanitanizing our democracy. It is about practising what he always preach, global best practices. Another good aspects for Hon Femi has shown over the years his desire to take the legislature to the next level standing tall and shoulder to shoulder with the most advanced legislatures world over.
The majority leader of 8th national Assembly quest for the office of the House of Representatives speakers is for the strengthening nation’s democracy and Femi Gbajabiamila possess priceless acumen needed to take up this task and another pivotal point that cannot be taken out of the FEMI is his political worth to his party and Nigeria . He has manifested a sophisticated political capacity that only few can boast of.
Hon Gaya wrote in from Abuja can be reached at abdullahigaya@yahoo.com
