From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives Philip Agbese has said that that the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, spoke the mind of members, on the “social media attacks” against the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Agbese, told journalists, in Abuja, that Gbajabiamila is an ” institutional legacy” of the National Assembly, noting that the parliament will always defend his integrity any time.
The speaker, at a world press conference on the state of the nation, last week decried “social media attacks” against Gbajabiamila and urged those behind the attacks to stop. However, Abbas stance had generated diverse reactions, with some accusing of defending the executive.
Nevertheless, the deputy House spokesman noted that Nigerians know Abbas as an advocate of the masses.
According to him, “those who hate Gbajabiamila should have a rethink. We all don’t have to like Femi. No. Everybody cannot like him. But we will not allow vested interests to sacrifice Femi’s integrity.
“Gbajabiamila spent over 20 years in National Assembly, where he served in various leadership capacities, as Minority Whip, Minority Leader, House Leader and eventually Speaker of the 9th House.
“I’m sure if his integrity was in question, the totality of the House, numbering 360 Representatives of the entire Nigerians, would not have entrusted him with much leadership responsibilities every other dispensations.
“That was all the Rt Hon Speaker tried to say in his speech at that press conference and the entire House is in agreement with Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass, in defending the sanctity of the institution of the National Assembly, which is the only beacon of democracy in Nigeria.”