The Deputy Speaker of the 9th session of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase, congratulated the newly elected Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, and his Deputy, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on their election as presiding officers at the just ended presiding officers election on Wednesday.
Hon. Wase, who ran alongside the current Speaker, who received 353 votes, received three votes, as did the third contender, Hon. Sani Jaji (APC-Zamfara), during the most tense election in the Green Chamber’s history.
In his congratulatory letter, Hon. Wase noted that his choice to run was motivated by the North Central’s marginalization and the uneven allocation of major political offices in the country.
“I wish to express my heartfelt congratulations to Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu on their election as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, respectively,” he added.
“Despite being on opposing sides of the political spectrum, we have always recognized that we were all partners in the project of deepening our parliamentary democracy.”
“I believe my campaign for Speaker was much more about arguing for what I saw as a lack of equity and fairness in the way my Party’s zoning was handled than it was about winning.”
“As a politician who has been running for office since 2007 and has returned to the House for a fifth term, I am well aware that every election must generate the necessary contentions.”
“However, in the end, we must come together to confront the larger issues of Parliamentary stability and enriching Legislative Governance in order to deepen our collective democracy.”
“In this regard, I would like to congratulate the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu on their victory, and I would like to urge my supporters and well-wishers, as well as my fellow candidates, to give them all the cooperation necessary to achieve a stable and united 10th House of Representatives.”
“I intend to fervently and actively participate in all Legislative Business of the 10th Assembly and will continue to proudly represent not only the good people of Wase Federal Constituency, but Nigerians at large,” Hon. Wase stated.
He also praised his followers and President Bola Tinubu for his “continuous fatherly support and counsel which he has sustained from my early days in ACN to date.” I am and will be indebted to you, sir.
“I thank my constituents for consistently demonstrating their unwavering trust and support for me by returning me to the Green Chambers for a fifth term to represent them.” I shall continue to represent you well.
“I want to thank my Campaign Team and supporters for their unwavering support throughout the campaign.” I am deeply grateful to you.
“I thank all of my Honorable Colleagues for their encouragement and advice.” I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me. I appreciate those who did not vote for me. I am grateful to those who voted for my opponent even if their hearts were with me. I will be eternally grateful to you all and must state that the experience has enhanced me.
“I assure all of my colleagues that I will continue to show ‘Charity to all and Malice to none,’ in the words of Abraham Lincoln.”
“Thank you very much, and may God bless the House of Representatives and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
