There are indications that President Bola Tinubu wants to personally cultivate opposition federal lawmakers for a harmonious relationship between the executive and legislative the arms during his tenure.
He has invited them for meetings scheduled for tomorrow, Monday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja ahead of next week’s inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
According to the invitation letter, Tinubu will first meet with Senators-elect at 3pm on Monday and with the Reps elect from 5pm on the same day.
An invitation letter signed by the Permanent Secretary State House Tijanni Umar, on behalf of the President’s Chief of Staff has already gone to each of the incoming federal lawmakers elected on the platforms of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Although the agenda for discussion could not be immediately confirmed, it is strongly believed that it may not be unconnected with ensuring a seamless working relationship with the two arms of government and fine-tuning the process of electing leadership of both Chambers of the National Assembly.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has already endorsed Chief Godswill Akpabio (South-South) and Alhaji Barau Jibrin (Northwest) for the positions of Senate President and Deputy Senate President, respectively as well as Tajudeen Abbas (Northwest) and Ben Kalu (Southeast) for the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
However, some APC NASS members elect have been threatening to defy the party on the endorsement by contesting against its official candidates.
Izunaso dismisses APC’s zoning, says he’s next Senate President. One of the APC aspirants to the position of Senate president, Osita Izunaso, on Saturday dismissed the party’s zoning formula for leadership positions in the 10th National Assembly.
Izunaso during a visit to the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Chief Chris Isiguzo, in Abuja, said he was sure of emerging the next Senate President.
