Preparatory for the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly next week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday met with Senators and Reps members-elect and asked them to choose good leaders among themselves.
The lawmakers-elect who spoke with journalists after the meeting disclosed they were invited by President Tinubu to primarily work for the unity of the country.
They said Tinubu did not lend his support for a particular candidate or asked any lawmaker to step down for the other as portrayed in some quarters.
Tinubu, they maintained, held a meeting with a joint session of the National Assembly elected members across all political parties at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
This, they said, was against some misleading report in some of the media that Mr President on Wednesday night, “made a strong appeal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators-elect and Members-elect to abide by the zoning arrangement as announced by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in electing presiding officers of the Senate and House of Representatives.”
The member representing Ningi/Warji Federal Constituency in Bauchi State, Adamu Ranga, said the President did not voice support for any of the candidates vying for the Senate or House leadership, adding that he called for a united front.
According to him, “The lawmakers were told to work together to choose good leaders in the 10th National Assembly.
“Mr President spoke to the general assembly, both the Senate and the House of Representatives in order to ensure that we have a solid government. Second, he emphasized that he will perform an open-door policy for everybody.
“Whoever wants to see him can see him without any hindrance. And whatever you want to discuss with him, he will give you that privilege to discuss.
“Thirdly, he said we should put our constituency first since we are here to represent them. He mentioned that he wants the Senate and the House to cooperate to elect good leaders.”
On his part, the member-elect for Enugu East/Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Prof Paul Nnamchi told reporters that Tinubu appealed to lawmakers to uphold national interest.
“He appealed that we should forget about party politics and face national interest. That was the major part of his speech.
“He didn’t mention anybody’s name to be voted for. Maybe he is appealing, but I didn’t hear anybody’s name,” Nnamchi said.