Atiku, Tambuwal, Owie, others hail lawmakers

MIXED reactions, yesterday, trailed the emergence of the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Reacting to the development, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State commended the lawmakers for exhibiting maturity and for the defence of legislative ethos in the choice of their leaders.

He said the outcome of the elections indicated that democracy had come of age in Nigeria, adding that the doctrine of the independence of the legislature was gradually taking firm root.

Tambuwal admonished those who were unsuccessful in the contests to regard their actions as positive contributions to democratic process and accept their defeat in good faith.

He urged Nigerians to rally round the new leadership for them to execute their mandates.

Similarly, a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, congratulated the newly-elected leaders, admonishing them to see their elections beyond the interests of their respective political parties.

Atiku, in a statement, noted that with the elections of its presiding officers, the eight assembly should swing to work and put the overall national interest beyond the personal political interests of its members.

He said: “The Nigerian people look up to the new National Assembly to work with the executive arm in finding solutions to the problems of insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and joblessness in the country.

“Their election is indeed a call to duty, and it is a call for which they cannot afford to fail the nation.”

APC calls for sanctions

On its part, Lagos State chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, called for sanctions against the members who voted against the party’s directives.

The party, in a statement, affirmed that party discipline must be enforced.

The statement reads: ‘’As a party and given the circumstances of our present politics, APC stands no risk of being eroded by this treachery.

“Rather, we see the clear road to enforce discipline in the treacherous conduct of some members of the National Assembly.

“We see the need for the party to wield the big stick now to send a message home that treachery will not profit those who might want to cash in on similar circumstances to spite the party and cash personal benefits in the long run.

“It is certain that these sell outs are not members of APC and we feel the party must weigh in now and discipline these betrayers.”

Owie, Agbaje

Also speaking, a former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie said: ‘’I congratulate my colleagues for making the legislative arm proud by the way they elected the new leaders of the red chamber.

“It is only in a democracy that the legislative arm exists and that is what gives a government anywhere in the world democratic status.

“Therefore, responsible legislators all over the world must guard jealously the independence of the judiciary. I congratulate distinguished Senator Saraki and distinguished Senator Ekweremadu on their elections.”

Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, said: ‘’The honourable members and distinguished Senators have clearly demonstrated that lawmakers need not be divided along party lines, when it comes to matters concerning the country’s interest and the people’s welfare.”