Gbajabiamila: Nation building is my priority

House of Representatives member Femi Gbajabiamila is on tour of the six regions to canvass support for his ambition for Speaker. Correspondent DELE ANOFI reports.

Nigeria’s cultural diversity, be it religious, political or ethnic differences has always been its greatest source of unity. This fact was succinctly displayed when the front runner for the office of the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Idris Wase, who is eyeing the Deputy Speaker took their campaign to the Southeast and Southsouth governors last week. These are two regions considered as the strong holds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The results of successive general elections confirm their stance against the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC). Notwithstanding this general notion, Gbajabiamila and Wase were pragmatic to make their aspiration to have a national with the belief that the legislative business they hope to lead is not for any section of the country or political party, but for Nigeria.

Against this background, the Gbajabiamila/Wase Campaign Council did not only deemed it fit to embark on a nationwide consultation, but also do it with emphatic message of national unity, as symbolised by the theme of the campaign logo, ‘FGB, Our Joint Task’. The message of the national joint task was on display with 103 and later 112 members-elect embarking on the tour to canvas for support for the candidate of their choice. Once  the planes touched down in Enugu, the overstretched convoy took off in a carnival-like fashion to Ebonyi, where the delegation was received with grandeur, as in each of the next four States.

The tour of the two regions, according to the Director-General (DG) of the  Gbajabiamila/Wase Campaign Council,  Abdulmumin Jibrin, was to seek the support of the region for the candidature of Gbajabiamila and Wase for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively. “Our main objective and desire is to pick a team that can stand the test of time and we know we have to be here to solicit for your support. We know your strength and commitment to this country and principles of intra party relationship for the benefit of the country. We are here plead for support and assistant, not only to your members-elect but in every other States where your influence reaches that can help in establishing this project. We assure you that you won’t regret your time and commitment to the project,” he told the governor.

Gbajabiamila told the governor that the support of the governor is paramount, while adding that “It is one thing to support but it is another to get the blessing, but I believe that by the time we leave here, we would have succeeded in getting your blessing. Our team comes with several years of experience through the offices we’ve held through the years”. He, however, emphasised that “We are not seeking the office for the sake of it, but seeking the office to contribute to using the legislature to better this country. Ours is for nation building, a joint task”.

Gbajabiamila emphasised the import of the visit and its implication for the larger interest of the Nigeria, saying, “I know you as leader who doesn’t see things from narrow perspectives of ephemeral differences and that’s why this is our  first point call. It is our belief that the blessing we get from you will give us the push that will propel, encourage us, so that when we get to other places, we can always be proud to put that forward that based on the quality of the team, you decided to join. With your vibrant Ebonyi legislators, together we will take this country to the next level”.

He also informed his hosts that the sheer large number of the entourage should be instructive, explaining that the 103 members-elect in the hall cutting across all geo-political zones and political parties bought into the vision of the Gbajabiamila/Wase team and made the trip on their own. “These lawmakers you see in this hall insisted on being on the trip and paid their ways and that is total commitment, to me,” he added.

Umahi, the Chairman of Southeast Governors Forum, who addressed Gbajabiamila and Wase as incoming Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively,  disclosed that the project was neither new nor strange to him as he was well into it.  He disclosed that some people have spoken to him on the need to support Gbajabiamila prior to the visit. On the need for the Southeast to support the candidature of Gbajabiamila and Wase, the governor pointed out that “No section of the country can go it alone, we need one another for the survival of the country.”

Next was Enugu State, where governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi hosted the delegation with pomp and ceremonies. His pledge to support the contestants was stamped with the delivery of the eight members-elect from the state to the Gbajabiamila/Wase’s team. The governor handed over the four members-elect, who were present at the consultation meeting to Gbajabiamila, while he made real-time phone calls in the presence of the delegation to the absentee four for the decision taken. It was like home-coming for Gbajabiamila because  Ugwuanyi, a former three-term House member, was a two-term Chairman House Committee on Marine, which Gbajabiamila was a member. The hospitality was total.

In Anambra, Governor Willy Obiano did not mince words as he challenged the two aspirants and the lawmakers, who formed more than a quorum of a legislative session, to always prioritise issues about his state when they succeed in their quest for leadership.

Obiano pledged the support of the 10 members-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for the duo, while also disclosing that long before the visit, plans had been concluded to support the Gbajabiamila and Wase project. He noted that the decision was not difficult to make, having known  Gbajabiamila from way back as a person of integrity.

In Imo State, Rochas Okorocha took the hospitality a notch further after which he promised to offer all needed support for the success of the Gbajabiamila and Wase as the presiding officers of the next Green Chamber. With the disclosure that he had been canvassing support for Gbajabiamila since he learnt of his Speakership aspiration, Okorocha assured that his conviction about the ability of the duo to reposition the House of Representatives for legislation that would benefit Nigerians was instrumental to the decision to impress the four legislators on the platform of his party to back the Gbajabiamila/Wase team..

Okorocha also ensured that the delegation visited the Okorocha Foundation School of Africa where the students made a  presentation on the plight of the African child, raised with a mind of a united prosperous Africa and dance drama from the Ethiopian contingent of the school. So touching was the story of the kids and the inspiration behind the Foundation that Gbajabiamila even promised to return in not too distant future to teach the students as part of his regular outreach programme. When the School informed the guests that five slots have created for the best students in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in each of State of the Federation to study Medicine and Architecture on scholarship, Gbajabiamila could not help but say, “This is pure kindness, this is beyond education but selfless service to humanity and God will reward you. As for you students, though your beginning might be tragic, the end will surely end in praise.”

In Port Harcourt, Campaign Council DG, Jibrin, admitted that Wike is a powerhouse in the Nigerian politics, which was the reason that brought the delegation to Rivers State. Gbajabiamila said Wike is a man he has deep respect for. “I know you wand true best for this country, a man of passion that brought same to the office,” he added.

Wike, on his part, pointed out that his support for the duo of Gbajabiamila and Wase was neither based on party line nor ethnic considerations but solely on competence and merit. He expressed his appreciation of the effort and risk taken, traveling long distances to consider him worthy enough to be consulted and visited for a national issue such as this. He further urged Gbajabiamila to put Nigeria first when he emerges as the Speaker of the 9th House by June 11.

Earlier, a former colleague and Deputy Speaker of the  6th House of Representatives, Mr Austin Opara, said having known and worked with Gbajabiamila over the years, he is able, capable and experienced enough to deliver a House of Representatives Nigerians would be proud of.