Tribute
Lawan @65: Tribute to the Legislative Jinx Breaker
By OLA AWONIYI
Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the Distinguished Senator from Yobe North in Yobe State who is currently serving his seventh consecutive term in the National Assembly, turns 65 on Friday January 12. Lawan was the President of the Ninth Senate, which four-year tenure ended in June 2023. However, his legacies on that eminent seat continue to speak for him.
Lawan as Senate President and Chairman of the Ninth National Assembly presided over an era in which many legislative jinxes were broken.
At the time of his emergence as Senate President in 2019, many Bills had become “demons” for defying repeated attempts over many years or even decades to pass them into laws. It was like the Ninth Assembly deliberately picked on those difficult legislations and dealt with them to make a strong statement of its determination to serve the people.
The Ninth Assembly’s first notable feat in this respect was resetting and stabilizing the national budget cycle. Nigeria runs a January to December financial year. But at some point in the Fourth Republic, this calendar was lost as a result of late passage of Appropriation Bills.
By 2019, it was no longer certain when the fiscal year would begin or end as the Appropriation Bill was often still being processed in Parliament even by the first quarter of the year. But the Ninth Assembly decisively dealt with this anomaly and restored the fiscal year to its January to December cycle. This makes the system predictable and reliable for economic planning and investments.
However, the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract CAP D3 LFN 2004 was the first “demon” to be crushed by the Ninth Assembly. That Law was long overdue for amendment as Nigeria had been heavily shortchanged for many years in her share of oil proceeds. Although the unfair sharing arrangement was there for all to see, those it benefited employed all manners of subterfuge to delay necessary amendment to the law. That was until Ahmad Lawan arrived on the scene as Senate President.
The Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract CAP D3 LFN 2004(Amendment) Bill 2019 was quickly introduced, first at the Senate. After passage by the Upper Chamber, the House of Representatives concurred without much rituals. The Bill was transmitted to the presidency immediately after passage by the two chambers. President Muhammadu Buhari was in London (on medicals) where he signed the Bill into law without delay. The evidence is there for all to see that since the amendment of this law, Nigeria’s share of oil proceeds has increased significantly.
The Petroleum Industry Bill, otherwise referred to as PIB, was another “demon” slayed by the Ninth Assembly under the leadership of Lawan. The Bill had repeatedly moved back-and-forth between the Executive and Parliament. At some point, the Bill was split into three or four and became almost unrecognisable from its original form. The Ninth Assembly confronted the “demon” headlong and delivered for Nigeria the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Another example is the Electoral Act 2022 which was widely praised as a game changer ahead of the 2023 General Election. The legislation had suffered a series of setback in the Eighth Assembly, largely due to the rancorous relationship existing then between the Legislature and the Executive. But because Ahmad Lawan’s leadership toed a different route in that relationship, the Ninth Assembly was able to enact a law that was acceptable to Nigerians.
The Ninth Assembly delivered many other legacy Bills that had failed passage in the previous Assemblies. As a result, President Muhammadu Buhari in his second term assented to an unprecedented number of Bills, allowing him to sign into law more Bills than any of his predecessors.
All these were possible because of the smooth workings within the Parliament and productive strategic engagements with the other arms of government, particularly the Executive.
In the immediate period before the 2019 change of guards, the National Assembly had a rancorous relationship with the Executive and this adversely affected service delivery by the government to the people. But Lawan, from the outset of his leadership in 2019, promised to pursue an harmonious working relationship with the Executive without compromising the independence of the Legislature. This he achieved with ample evidence. Even critics of his leadership admit that his style cemented stability in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly and engendered harmony in governance generally at the federal level.
This piece is just to reflect briefly on some significant achievements recorded in the immediate past session of the National Assembly and to wish the Sardaunan Bade, “Senate President Emeritus,” His Excellency Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, a happy birthday and many happy returns of the day.
***Awoniyi was the Media Adviser to President of the Ninth Senate
The Senator representing Kogi Central in the national Assembly Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan has expressed deep grieve over the passing of Alhaji Siyaka Yakubu, a veteran chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, whose life and legacy have left a profound impact on the political landscape of Kogi Central.
Alhaji Yakubu, a foundational member of the PDP in Okehi Local Government Area, dedicated his life to the party’s growth and ideals, serving with loyalty and dedication from the party’s inception in 1999 until his passing at the age of 97.
His decades of commitment and passion have been described as an invaluable asset to the PDP both in Kogi Central and across the state.
In her tribute, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan lauded Alhaji Yakubu’s enduring dedication to the PDP’s vision, noting that his passing represents a significant loss for the party.
“Alhaji Yakubu’s commitment to the PDP was unwavering, and his life serves as an inspiring example of dedication to public service,” she said.
The senator extended her heartfelt condolences to Alhaji Yakubu’s family and the entire PDP community in Kogi, urging them to find solace in his lasting legacy and contributions to the party.
“While we mourn this great loss, we also celebrate a life lived with purpose and integrity. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide us in our efforts to build a better future for Kogi and for Nigeria.”
Alhaji Yakubu’s passing has left a deep void within the PDP ranks, as leaders and members remember him for his wisdom, resilience, and lifetime of service.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the passing of Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Taoreed Abiodun Lagbaja, who died on Tuesday night in Lagos at age 56 after a brief illness.
Lt. General Lagbaja, born on February 28, 1968, had a distinguished military career spanning over three decades. Appointed Chief of Army Staff by President Tinubu on June 19, 2023, he was respected for his leadership and commitment to national security.
His career began in 1987 when he entered the Nigerian Defence Academy. By 1992, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Nigerian Infantry Corps as a member of the 39th Regular Course.
Throughout his service, Lt. General Lagbaja held several key positions, including roles as platoon commander in both the 93 Battalion and the 72 Special Forces Battalion.
He led numerous operations critical to Nigeria’s internal security, such as Operation ZAKI in Benue State, Lafiya Dole in Borno, Udoka in the Southeast, and Operation Forest Sanity in Kaduna and Niger States, all of which reinforced his reputation as a dedicated military leader.
In addition to his field achievements, Lt. General Lagbaja held a Master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, an accomplishment that underscored his commitment to advancing his strategic and leadership skills.
He leaves behind his wife, Mariya, and their two children.
President Tinubu expressed his condolences to the family, acknowledging Lt. General Lagbaja’s significant contributions to the Armed Forces and Nigeria.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said,
“The President extends his heartfelt condolences to the family and prays for the peaceful repose of Lt. General Lagbaja’s soul, honoring his legacy of service to Nigeria.”
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has expressed his condolences to three prominent Nigerians grieving the loss of their children.
In a message posted on his X handle, Obi extended his sympathies to former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, who lost his son Faisal, NNPC Limited CEO Mele Kolo Kyari, who mourns his daughter Fatima, and former Plateau State Deputy Governor Dame Pauline Tallen, who lost her only son, Richard Adamu Tallen.
Obi emphasized the profound pain of losing children with bright futures, noting the significant void their deaths create in their families.
He offered prayers for forgiveness and peace for the deceased, urging for divine protection and blessings upon the Makarfi, Kyari, and Tallen families.
Obi’s condolence messages read, “On behalf of my family, I condole with my dear elder brother and Former Governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi, on the loss of his son, Faisal Makarfi.
“I also condole with my dear younger brother, Mele Kolo Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, on the death of his daughter, Fatima Kyari.
“My heartfelt condolences go to all of them, including my dear elder sister Dame Pauline Tallen, whom I visited last week on the death of her only son, Richard Adamu Tallen.
“One can only imagine the pain of losing children with very promising future at such young age.
“The vacuum created by their death will surely be felt in all the families, but we can only accept the painful incidents as the will of the Almighty, who alone has the power of life.
“May God Almighty, who called them home at this time, forgive their sins and grant them Aljanna Firdausi. May God continue to protect and bless the Makarfi, Kyari, and the Tallen families, always. -PO”
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