SPEAKERSHIP: Gbajabiamila gets Umahi boost

The speakership ambition of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday, received a boost when Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi openly endorsed him.

Umahi gave the endorsement when he received Gbajabiamila at the Presidential Lodge of Government House, Abakaliki, the state capital.

Gbajabiamila, who accompanied on the visit by 103 members-elect, was in Ebonyi to seek for the support of the Governor and members-elect of the House of Representatives from the state for his aspiration.

Umahi enjoined Gbajabiamila to carry every member of the ninth Assembly along, irrespective of party affiliation, if he emerged the Speaker, adding that members of the House in the zone, especially from his state, should be appointed into key committees of the House.

He said the next leadership of the House should not dwell much on party affairs but should think of how to build and develop the nation.

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“When members of the House from Ebonyi spoke to me about your coming, I told them that Gbajabimiala is very intelligent and he has no problem and we should work with him.

“We can do nothing but to keep allying with you and so, it is important that God’s willing and by his grace, if you get there, think of our national unity and development.

“I am the chairman of the South-East Governor’s Forum and people have been asking us, ‘what do you think about the issue of the National Assembly leadership? what do we stand to get?’

“But I believe in something, if you can’t beat them, you join them. Because we don’t have the majority of the House of Representatives and even if we decide to pull out, there is little we can do. But it is important that we are remembered and carried along. I assure you that I am with you and I will support you.”

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