Memories and emotions were high on Wednesday during the valedictory session of the House of Representatives, as Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila officially dissolved the 9th assembly.
Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, moved a motion to commence the valedictory session, while Ndudi Elumelu, minority leader seconded the motion.
Gbajabiamila, in his emotion-laden valedictory speech, said the joint efforts in nation building by members were to ensure the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers did not die.
Chairman, House Committee on Rules Business, Abubakar Fulata, said the House considered 2,232 bills and 2,000 motions on various issues.
Fulata explained that the bills consisted of 52 from the executive, 163 from the Senate while 2,017 were private member bills sponsored by members of the House.
The lawmaker further said: “Out of these figures, bills awaiting second reading are 1,197. Bills referred to committees are 581. Bills reported by the committees are 275. Bills pending in the committee are 308. Bills within the committee of the whole are 106.
“Bills laid on table awaiting consideration are 64. Bill far passed are 510. Bills killed (negatived) are 13 and bills withdrawn by their sponsors are 5.”
Julius Ihovhere said he would forever cherish the friendship he made in the 9th Assembly, adding that such relationship would last forever.
He commended the speaker for leading the House well and perfectly and demonstrated that he could manage a diverse group of people.
“In your new roles as the chief of staff to the president, the challenges you will face are more than here, we plead with you not to abandon the spirit of excellence,” he said.
He said Nigeria required the kind of leader with a sense of mission, while urging Gbajabiamila to ensure the Federal Government paid attention to basic education.
The legislator House of Representatives, Luke Onofiok said members had made relationships that would last forever and commended his constituency for giving him the privilege to serve.
He commended the speaker for accommodating members and relaxing the rules to give new members a voice, noting that the speaker was gentle enough to accommodate their errors. He also urged the House to take the judiciary seriously with salary review.
Member house of reps, Yusuf Gadgi, on his part, said: “In my constituency, Muslims are 30% while Christians constitute 70 per cent but they have always sent me here and for using me as a good example of how Nigeria should behave.
“What I want to say is the message of forgiveness, I want, on your behalf and other members, to forgive one another. In these assignments, we must have offended one another.”
His comment on forgiveness generated some uproar, as members grumbled endlessly.
