The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, on Thursday, in Abuja, described as speculative, news of the appointment of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.
However, he said if confirmed to be true, the President would have made “the best decision” to appoint the outgoing Speaker as his CoS, saying his experience and network will be useful in the administration.
Speaking with State House Correspondents after a meeting with the President at the State House, Lawan said,
“The Speaker of the House of Representatives has been rumoured to be Chief of Staff designate. You are speculating, you are in the media, I’m not. I am waiting for the announcement. First of all, I pray that comes to pass. If that happens, Mr President would have made a very wise decision.
“At this moment, you need a chief of staff with very verse experience in the area of legislation and in the area of cooperating with the executive, which the Speaker spearheaded from the House.
“He has a very good network and the support that is required; when that happens, you know this administration is going to be administration of the legislators.
“You have a President who was a senator, a vice president who was a senator and of course our potential chief of staff designate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, is somebody who has been in the National Assembly for 20 years,” he opined.
Consequently, Lawan speculated that the Tinubu administration should have no difficulty in relating with the 10th National Assembly as both the President and his Vice president have passed through the National Assembly and, therefore, understand the sentiments and the sensibilities of its members.
“I’m sure that the appointment as Chief-of-Staff to Mr President will be a very welcome idea to many.
“So, I wish my brother well and wish that he will become the Chief-of-Staff, and in advance, I pray that Almighty God with continue to guide and protect him in his new job. As a gatekeeper, it is not going to be an easy job,” the outgoing Senate leader stressed.
Lawan who affirmed that he has never thrown his hat in the ring for the 10th Senate Presidency also remarked that fairness and national interest would guide the emergence of the next Senate and HoR leaders.
“What will inform the emergence will be the national interest, interest of the National Assembly, the legislature together and therefore, everybody matters in this process.
“We also believe that Mr. President, having been a senator himself and his vice president also having been a senator, this is something that they will always wish and pray for,” the Yobe State lawmaker added.
Meanwhile, the Gbajabiamila who was also at the Presidential Villa, was reticent to confirm or debunk the rumours.
When asked to confirm his appointment, he said,
“Be patient, be patient, the system works in its own way. Let’s allow the system to work.”
Asked if the announcement will come before the end of the day, Gbajabiamila hurriedly said: “We’ll see, we’ll see, we’ll see. Thank you very much.”
