Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has been urged by President Muhammadu Buhari to continue to be as patriotic to Nigeria as he has always been.
President Buhari commended Gbajabiamila for changing the public’s perception of the relationship between the legislative branch and the executive branch while urging him to continue serving the nation in any way he can.
At a special prayer gathering held on Saturday at the Ansar-Ud-Deen Central Mosque in Wuse 2, Abuja, in celebration of the Speaker’s 60th birthday, Buhari gave a speech.
Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, the president’s chief of staff, who claimed that the president had instructed him to wish the Speaker a happy 60th birthday, added that President Buhari has always supported free and fair elections, which is why he was pleased when Tinubu won the election as the APC’s presidential flag-bearer in such an election.
I’m writing to wish you a happy 60th birthday on behalf of the President. He also wants to encourage you to keep doing good work for the nation, he said.
In contrast to the perception in some quarters that the National Assembly should “be antagonistic to the Executive,” according to Gambari, the House of Representatives under Gbajabiamila has ensured a good working relationship with the Executive branch.
Additionally, he stated that President Buhari wanted to reassure Nigerians that he had no plans to violate the constitution in order to extend his term in office.
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According to Prof. Gambari, President Buhari also wanted to reaffirm his commitment to the goal of a peaceful and united Nigeria.
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC’s presidential candidate, also referred to Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as a patriotic Nigerian who uses his position to advance good governance.
God has enabled Gbajabiamila to have a positive impact on Nigerians’ lives through the Legislature, according to Tinubu, who is also the National Leader of the APC.
The APC presidential candidate prayed that God would continue to favour the Speaker and give him long life and wisdom so that he could serve Nigeria more effectively.
“May God keep blessing you with good health. I hope He hears your prayers as well. Only God can set us on the right course and help us stay there as we navigate life and the leadership challenge.
“May God grant you health so that you can work for Nigeria. You have to travel through a complicated country. The stability, peace, and love we share for one another, as well as the patriotism that will make us proud of our nation, may Allah grant us in His boundless mercy, he prayed.
Dr. Musa Olaofe, the Chief Imam of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Mosque, who oversaw the prayers for Gbajabiamila, prayed to Allah for protection and direction for the Speaker.
Dr. Olaofe claimed that Nigeria is challenging to govern due to its nature in a brief lecture on leadership, good governance, and tolerance.
He urged Nigerians to show tolerance toward one another in order to make genuine progress, saying that good leadership will result in good governance.
As he brought people from various parts of the nation together to work with him, he observed that Gbajabiamila is a unifier.
Imam Olaofe emphasised that the Speaker exemplifies the good and compassion that Muslims are commanded to show toward all people in the Qur’an.
Gbajabiamila thanked the president in his votes of thanks for his kind words and for sending his Chief of Staff to the prayer meeting.
The Speaker also claimed that God, in the person of Tinubu, had helped him and many others, both politically and otherwise, on their way to success in politics.
Both his wife Salamatu, who coordinated the prayer session, and his mother, Hajiya Lateefat Olufunke Gbajabiamila, who raised him in a moral manner, were thanked by Gbajabiamila.
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“Let me begin by expressing my gratitude to the president via the COS. Let me thank my donor as well. Many people think that Allah has all power, no matter where you are.
But Allah doesn’t descend to grant you authority. You are led and directed by him. He then pointed me in the direction of Asiwaju. He not only did it to me, but to others as well. May Allah, the Almighty, continue to grant you this extremely rare ability.
He expressed his gratitude to his House colleagues for helping him fulfil his duties as first among equals and for their support and cooperation.
The Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, the Special Adviser to the President, Alh. Yau Darazo, numerous House members, Senator Gbenga Ashafa, and Dele Belgore (SAN), among others, were among the dignitaries who attended the prayer session.
