Nigerian Governors across party lines have keyed into the choice of Senator Godswill Akpabio, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas , Senator Barau Jibrin and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu as the Presiding Officers of the incoming 10th National Assembly, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has said.
The Ogun State Governor said himself and colleagues took the decision after their meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday.
He spoke when he received a delegation of the Tajudeen Abbas/Benjamin Kalu Campaign Team under the Joint Task – 10th Assembly in Abuja on Thursday.
“We (governors) met with the President two days ago. During our meeting, he told us that campaigns are over. He said that he’d be President for all. So, he sought our understanding and collaboration.
“It is within the right of the President to seek those that will make his job easier. He has decided in collaboration with the party that these are the people that he wants to work with.
“All of us across party lines keyed into what the President told us. We had our meeting after meeting him and decided that we should support the President,” the Governor said.
He said he met with the members-elect of Ogun State and told them “you’re standing solidly with Mr. President and the party.
He added that God gives power to whom He wishes at the time He wishes hence, noting that with the array of members-elect that have aligned with Abbas and Kalu, “it shows the level of support that you have.”
Speaking earlier, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas said the visit to the Governor was to seek his support, blessing and cooperation to be able to clinch the position and stabilize the 10th House.
He lauded the purposeful leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun and promised to carry all members along irrespective of their party affiliations if he emerged victorious on June 13.
Also, the Chairman of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Usman Bello Kumo, told the Governor that the forum adopted Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas after the APC leadership announced him as its choice for Speaker.
He said the Joint Task is at the forefront of marketing the lawmaker, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency, purely based on merit.
PR/IBRAHIM SHEHU
