Bankole: Jonathan’s VP Nominee Acceptable to House

Written by This Day Wednesday, 12 May 2010

The House of Representatives yesterday distanced itself from the political intrigues surrounding the appointment of a new Vice President for the country and pledged to support any candidate that President Goodluck Jonathan will nominate for the position.

The pledge came just as the lawmakers held a special valedictory session in honour of Late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua with past and present leaders of the House paying tributes to the memory of the deceased political leader.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Dimeji Bankole and six former Speakers of the House namely Chief Edwin Umezoke, Mr Benjamin Chaha, Chief Agunwa Anaekwe, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari and Hon. Patricia Etteh, took turns to eulogise the late President who died last week after a prolonged battle with pericarditis.  Other past principal officers of the legislative chamber in attendance were former Minority Leader, Mohammed Kumaila; former House Leader, Mao Ohuabunwa; former Chief Whip, Bawa Bwari; former House Leader, Mohammed Wakil; former Deputy Minority Leader, Lanre Laoshe and former Deputy Minority Leader, Haruna Yerima. Also at the solemn session were three former Deputy Speakers namely, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso, Chibudom Nwuche and  Austin Okpara

In their separate tributes, the high profile mourners unanimous in describing the late President Umar Musa Yar Adua as an honest, humble and compassionate leader who meant well for Nigeria but had little time to actualise his visions for the country due to ill health.

They praised him for his transparency, recalling that he was the first Nigerian President to publicly declare his assets on assumption of office in 2007. Yar Adua also got kudos for bringing what they described as uncommon humility and courage to governance.

Ume-Ezeoke who was Speaker of the House between 1979 and 1983 said Yar Adua will be remembered for his humility, humanity and statesmanship. These qualities, Umezoke said, made Yar Adua to understand better the problems of the Niger Delta resulting in the Amnesty Programme; appreciate the dangers of arrogance in leadership, resulting in his admission that the election that brought him to power was flawed and the subsequent formation of a Government of National Unity.

Some of those who spoke also praised Yar Adua for his commitment to electoral reforms throughout his tenure, adding that the best way to preserve his legacies is to ensure that the current efforts to reform the electoral system produced free, fair and credible elections in the future.

Bankole disclosed that the House was encouraged and motivated by President Jonathan’s pronouncements in his  inaugural address wherein  he declared  total commitment  to good governance, electoral reform and the fight against corruption, adding that  the pursuit of these ideals  were also in tandem  with the agenda of the green chamber.

“In the last few days, the leadership of our nation has experienced some fundamental changes, arising from the death of President Yar’Adua on Wednesday, May 5, 2010, and the swearing-in of His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,  on Thursday, May 6, 2010. While we condole with the new president on the death of the late president, we also congratulate him in his new endeavour

“As was clearly evident, late President Yar’Adua embodied the rarest attributes of humility, gracefulness, compassion and transformative leadership. His unwavering commitment to a holistic transformation of our country was aptly captured in his administration’s comprehensive reform agenda which he pursued with extra-ordinary zeal.

“At this trying moment, the House of Representatives stand with the family of the departed President, and His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in this irreparable personal and national loss. Like fellow Nigerians and other sympathizers and eminent world leaders, the House of Representatives is deeply grieved at the passing away of our former President. We join President Jonathan in his resolve to uphold the values which our departed leader represented. We are encouraged and motivated by President Jonathan’s inaugural address where he declared:

“In this regard our total commitment to good governance, electoral reform and the fight against corruption would be pursued with vigour.”  Let me restate here that this commitment is in tandem with legislative agenda of the House. As we are aware, the President would soon perform one of his major constitutional functions for our dear nation. It is in the national interest that I pledge that this House will give full support to the President Jonathan’s nominee for vice president.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the House of Representatives are resolutely committed to supporting President Jonathan in his obvious quest to leave lasting legacies of good governance, electoral reforms, vigorous anti-corruption campaign and overall improvement in the wellbeing of the people of Nigeria. May the soul of the late president rest in perfect peace,” Bankole said.

Meanwhile, the House  has adopted a resolution  mandating the Speaker  of the House to lead a delegation of the House on a condolence  visit to  the President and Commander in Chief  of the Armed Forces, Dr Goodluck Jonathan on the death of the former President, Late Alhaji Umar Musa Yar Adua. The delegation will also commiserate with  the Governor of Katsina State, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema , the Yar Adua family as well as the people of Katsina.