The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: House of Assembly

  • Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Reconciliation

    Desmond Elliot Apologises to Gbajabiamila, Seeks Reconciliation

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Lagos State House of Assembly member and Nollywood actor, Desmond Elliot, has renewed his apology to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, over his role in events surrounding the last All Progressives Congress primary election.

    Elliot made the appeal during a meeting with Gbajabiamila and other party chieftains, where he went down on his knees and prostrated before the former Speaker of the House of Representatives as he sought to mend their relationship.

    In a video shared by Lagos Junction on X on Sunday, Elliot expressed remorse over his actions, admitting that he may have been misguided during the political contest.

    The lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I also reaffirmed his commitment to the APC leadership and appealed for forgiveness.

    “I’m sorry. I have no excuse; I have nothing other than to say I’m deeply sorry. I’m deeply sorry, sir. And in our culture, we prostrate. Don’t be angry, Daddy,” Elliot said.

    Gbajabiamila subsequently asked the lawmaker to rise.

    The latest apology comes after Elliot had previously expressed regret over his relationship with Gbajabiamila during an appearance on TVC’s *Your View*.

    At the time, the actor-turned-politician acknowledged that he might have offended his political mentor through his political activities, while stressing that any disagreement between them was not deliberate.

    “I’m not saying, oh, yes, media will come out, oh yes, Desmond begs again. Yes, because he’s my egbon. And I grew up learning everything I knew in politics through him,” Elliot said.

    He added, “To err is human, to forgive is divine. So I’m sorry, my daddy, if I’ve offended you in any way.”

    The renewed reconciliation effort comes amid the political disagreements that previously surrounded the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    During the crisis, Gbajabiamila disclosed that he had encountered difficulties at the Presidency over allegations concerning Elliot’s political activities.

    Gbajabiamila had said President Bola Tinubu confronted him over intelligence reports alleging that Elliot was involved in moves connected to the Assembly speakership dispute. Elliot had denied the allegation.

    The disagreement was linked to internal leadership tensions within the Lagos APC and was eventually resolved following interventions by senior party leaders.

    The latest meeting appears to signal an effort by Elliot to restore his relationship with Gbajabiamila and strengthen his ties with the party’s leadership in Lagos.

  • Ubosi at 50: Celebrating a Distinguished and Dogged Parliamentarian.

    Ubosi at 50: Celebrating a Distinguished and Dogged Parliamentarian.

    Ubosi at 50: Celebrating a Distinguished and Dogged Parliamentarian.

     

    Onochie Igwesi

     

     

    Born on April 3, 1971 into the family of Late Chief Felix and Lolo Cecilia Ubosi of Umuchigbo in Iji-Nike part of Enugu East Local Government Area, Enugu State, Edward Uchenna Ubosi has since, through the ever lasting mercies of God, become a household name in Nike, Enugu state and beyond.

    The young Ubosi was enrolled by his parents in Community Primary School, Amorji Nike from where he would later proceed to the College of Immaculate Conception (C.I.C), Enugu; one still wonders what it is with C.I.C and success. By 2002 and 2003, Ubosi had obtained an OND and HND respectively from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko. He took his academic pursuit some steps further when he recently obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration from UNICAL and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from ESUT.

    His penchant for public service could ostensibly have been responsible for his decision to join Politics in 1997 when he served as Councilor for his ward and later a Supervisory Councilor for Finance from 1999-2002. At a time, he was also the Administrator for Enugu East Central Development Council and the Executive Chairman, Umuchigbo, Iji-Nike community from 2002-2007. In 2009, he was found worthy to be the PDP’s State Financial Secretary up till 2011. He was also the Chairman of Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) Board from 2010-2011. Having done wonderfully well in his stint in all the offices mentioned above, it didn’t come as a surprise when he, in consultation with, and likely persuasion from his Enugu East people, ran for House of Assembly in 2011 to represent Enugu East Urban Constituency at the State House of Assembly.

     

    Ozege, a three time member of the Enugu State House of Assembly was elevated to the hallowed position of the Speaker of the House in the Sixth Assembly, a position he has held till date, through his humility, smart antecedents, brilliant negotiation strategies, excellence, dedication, resilience and loyalty-not solely to whatever powers that be, but to the people, to the tenets of democracy and to the oath of the Legislature.

    Attesting to his national prominence, Ubosi was unanimously elected as the National Vice Chairman, Nigerian Conference of Speakers and in March 2018, he was given the chieftaincy title of Sabbenen Gusau in faraway Zamfara state by the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello. It is important to cull some lines from the Emir’s remarks- “We confer him (Ubosi) with this title considering his contributions to nation building, peace and unity of the country. “Sabbenen” means great man and a man with high level of maturity” he said.

    Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi has shown and continues to show that leadership in the Legislative arm of government is not rocket science. It is on record that in the Sixth Assembly, he passed over 60 Bills, 52 Motions and Resolutions. He was, together with his colleagues, responsible for returning Enugu’s Budget to the January-December cycle. Remarked casually for his intimidating height, Ozege yet again won the applause and admiration of ndi Enugu when he suspended the widely condemned and controversial Enugu State Life Pension Bill for Governors and their Deputies.

    Ubosi is a devout Catholic and a faithful family man married to an Amazon, Lady Princess Akunna Ubosi, a union blessed with beautiful children.

    Suffice it to say that these and more not written are reasons why one may be tempted to scream “Happy Birthday” from the mountain tops. Ozege, as you celebrate today, I join family, friends, colleagues and the good people of Enugu to wish you God’s unending grace to maximally fulfill your assignment on earth. May you be encouraged to do best where you have done better and to do good where you may have done worst, for we understand the imperfection of man. May you find courage when you need it most and to legislate having the people in mind.

    Happy Birthday Rt. Hon. Edward Uchenna Ubosi!

    Happy Birthday Ozege!!

    Happy Birthday to the tallest Speaker in Nigeria!!!

     

    Onochie Igwesi writes from Enugu.