The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has admonished the front runners in the race for the Speakership and Deputy Speakership positions of the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, to always have the interest of the country at heart in the discharge of their duties as presiding officers.
Recall that the duo were endorsed by the leadership of the ruling all Progressives Congress (APC) on May 8 as the party’s preferred candidates for the position of Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the 10th House respectively.
Since the party’s zoning and endorsement, Hon. Abbas and Hon. Kalu have been visiting stakeholders in the country for consultative meetings and to solicit for support.
The Ife monarch who played host to the duo on Wednesday evening in Abuja after they paid him a courtesy visit enjoined Hon. Abbas and his aspiring Deputy, Kalu to always have the interest of Nigeria at heart in the course of discharging their duties.
He said: “Carry everyone along so that they will love you for who you are, not for the fact that when you get to be the Speaker, they will lobby you for positions. But they’ll love you for the great things you will do for the betterment of our dear nation.”
The monarch who reminded the Candidates of their changing positions and their attendant responsibilities noted that the country must come first in their leadership estimation.
“You have become a servant from your constituency, you want to be a bigger servant to be the Speaker of the House and a much bigger servant to serve our dear nation.
“Always remember that the interest that is number one to you is the interest of our dear nation, followed by the interest of your party, for what is important is that you carry your people along,” Ooni said.
He therefore offered his royal blessings for the duo with prayers in anticipation of their success, just as he urged them to support and encourage the women among them.
“May God almighty be with you. May God almighty bless you. May God almighty honour you, guide and protect you.
“Also, give women support and encouragement, the feminine ones, support them,” he said.
