Right this moment, I need to have fun a person that has labored onerous for the folks of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State and the nation usually. A person who spent a serious a part of his grownup life serving the Nigeria parliament positively is certainly price celebrating on his 58th birthday.
“As human beings, it’s our normal perception that profitable persons are particular and that they’re born destined for greatness. It’s simply too troublesome to grasp that the principle issues that separate these folks from us is just not something significantly particular; it’s merely their mindset and habits.” – Patrick G. Manifold.
For many of us who coated the proceedings of the Home of Representatives as journalists throughout the Sixth Nationwide Meeting, between 2007 and 2011, it was an thrilling time within the historical past of the Nigerian legislature. Overlaying the parliament can typically be boring and monotonous, as Payments and motions slowly make their manner by the rituals of the parliamentary course of on a journey to turn out to be legal guidelines or affect authorities coverage. The chamber of the Sixth Home was something however that.
It was a time of participating debates, with nearly assured verbal fireworks throughout the aisle. One of many lawmakers who stood out then was Consultant Femi Gbajabiamila. A few of us waited on the sting of our seats for the just about predictable second, when he would, like a watchman leaping ahead to grab an intruder, rise to his toes to problem a movement or piece of proposed laws that he believed was not within the curiosity of the Nigerian folks. Being the chief of the minority events within the Home, he was most occasions the voice of motive that will prompt a extra thorough scrutiny of the matter earlier than the parliament.
Marshalling level after level, with an sufficient sprinkling of references from the Structure and the Standing Orders of the Home, Rep. Gbajabiamila would stand and make his case. Logical, incisive and persuasive, he would attraction to his colleagues to take a distinct route than the one it appeared they had been bent on treading. Serving as a Minority Chief at a time when the ruling get together had majority of members within the Home who had been bent on having their manner, irrespective of the clear folly of their path, meant that Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila stood extra occasions than he sat. Aside from standing to place ahead his observations throughout the debate, he would additionally transfer round to persuade his colleagues and win over opponents earlier than a matter was put to vote. That’s how passionate and dedicated he’s every time he’s satisfied concerning the course he’s on.
He was typically on the shedding facet of the vote. Because the parlance goes within the parliament, ‘minority can have their say, whereas the bulk can have their manner.’ This didn’t, nevertheless, present in his manner, as he would at all times enter the battle of a debate satisfied of victory and undeterred by the wall of opposition. It was clear that this was a person who had discovered his calling. It was clear he did his analysis and was passionate concerning the parliament and the folks. His drive, ardour and information shone forth and gained him consideration inside and outdoors the parliament. From these days until date, Gbaja has turn out to be a family identify in Nigeria. As a matter of truth, since his days as Minority Chief, he had turn out to be a task mannequin to even a few of his colleagues.
Born 58 years in the past, precisely on June 25, 1962, to a senior Justice of the Peace father and a mom who’s a educated nurse and later a politician, one can say the seeds of Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila’s future had been laid from beginning. This knowledgeable a lifetime of service, of assembly with folks, of addressing the wants of individuals and of working with the legal guidelines of the land. Seeds which have grown and formed the person. Rising up, he was drawn to check regulation, and upon finishing his research, he served in chambers in Nigeria and overseas, an expertise that proved invaluable when he determined to step into the political area. In response to the lawmaker, “I see politics as an extension of my authorized follow, which is one other avenue to the touch lives”.
In making his selection of how and the place to serve the folks successfully, he was naturally drawn to the legislature. His authorized background, which includes working with the legal guidelines of the land, got here into play as he turned from working with the legal guidelines to serving to to make the legal guidelines that others will work with.
Coming into the parliament, his mettle turned clear nearly instantly, and as destiny would have it, he turned a principal officer in his first time period. In what has now come to be a primary within the historical past of the Nigerian parliament, Rep. Gbajabiamila has now served in 4 completely different positions within the Physique of Principal Officers within the Home of Representatives in nearly all his 17 years within the parliament.
Arriving on the Nationwide Meeting first in 2003, Rep. Gbajabiamila shortly turned the Minority Whip between 2005 and 2007. After profitable election for the second time, he simply turned the Minority Chief in 2007, serving as much as 2011. As soon as once more, having led members of the minority events within the Home with all dedication and dedication, his colleagues selected him for a similar place of Minority Chief between 2011 and 2015. Gbajabiamila then turned the Majority Chief of the Home between 2015 and 2019. In June final 12 months, he turned the Speaker of the Home.
In 2015, he had contested for the place of speaker however misplaced narrowly. That gave him the chance to achieve extra expertise as he served as Majority Chief for 4 years. In 2019, he was elected to serve for his fifth time period by his constituents and to function speaker by his colleagues, with the best margins ever seen within the historical past of the speakership contest.
Thus, Rep. Gbajabiamila holds the enviable document of being the primary lawmaker to have served by the ranks from Minority Whip, to Minority Chief twice, to Majority Chief after which to Speaker. For many individuals, Rep. Gbajabiamila is a poster boy for the parliament, having spent 17 years serving the folks to the very best of his means. Gbajabiamila’s identify resonates nicely as an mental and a hardworking gentleman, who strives for the very best.
Now, as a speaker, he’s bringing his expertise to bear in guaranteeing that the Ninth Home of Representatives is actually the Home of the Nigerian folks. He’s serving to to pilot the affairs of the Home by this historic interval because the world and the nation regulate to a distinct world below the COVID-19 pandemic.
Right this moment, I need to have fun a person that has labored onerous for the folks of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State and the nation usually. A person who spent a serious a part of his grownup life serving the Nigeria parliament positively is certainly price celebrating on his 58th birthday. Right here’s wishing the Speaker of the ninth Home of Representatives a Glad birthday and a few years forward in good well being.
Lanre Lasisi is the particular adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Home of Representatives.
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Supply: opinion.premiumtimesng.com
