National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, has called on the newly inaugurated National Assembly to work with the Executive to ensure progress in the country.
He equally tasked them to work towards the deepening of the institutions of the legislature and nation’s democracy.
He cautioned them to jettison the confrontational posture of the 8th Assembly and extend a hand of fellowship and friendship to the Executive.
Tinubu, in a congratulatory message to the 9th Assembly titled: “Nurturing and Deepening National Assembly Institution, Democracy,” issued by his media adviser, Tunde Rahman, in Lagos, told the lawmakers that their task was to complement and support President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his administration’s agenda to take the country to the Next Level with detailed, timely and progressive legislation.
The message read in part: “It is imperative that the new leadership quickly departs from the adversarial posture of those that came before and extends hands of fellowship and friendship to the Executive.
“A convivial and cooperative relationship between the legislative and executive arms of government is our best chance at achieving the progress that we, as Nigerians, deserve and it’s incumbent on our new leaders to make this a reality in this next dispensation.
“Our system speaks of complementarity between the Executive and Legislature and does not preclude the Legislature from working harmoniously with the Executive in the service of our people.”
The former governor of Lagos State, while congratulating the new leadership of the NASS on their election, also told them to see their emergence as an honour and cautioned them not to disappoint.
Recall that the Senate on Tuesday elected Ahmed Lawan and Ovie Omo-Agege as President and Deputy President while the House of Representatives chose Femi Gbajabiamila and Ahmed Idris Wase as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
Tinubu said: “To have been selected by such overwhelming majorities by their peers is a wonderful honour and a clear demonstration of the implicit confidence reposed in them as leaders and legislators.
“The offices these leaders have been entrusted with are sacred and must not be toyed with.
“Their emergence as leaders of the 9th National Assembly comes at a crucial time in our nation’s history. As we celebrate 20 years of uninterrupted democracy and our new National Democracy Day of June 12.
“We look backwards to recognise the sacrifices and valour of our heroes past. We also look forward with hope for the future of our nation and our democracy.”
Also congratulating those who contested the various positions, but did not win, for their effort, the APC leader noted that the NASS election reaffirmed party supremacy as the leaders were also the choice of the ruling APC and the party’s caucus in the National Assembly.
He urged other members of the Assembly to put aside their differences and rally round the new officers to work together.
