Reps Hold Valedictory Session In Honour Of 4th Assembly Speaker, Late Ghali Na’Abba

Reps Hold Valedictory Session In Honour Of 4th Assembly Speaker, Late Ghali Na’Abba

…colleagues describe him as one who gave his life for the nation

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has held a Valedictory Session is held in honour of Speaker of the fourth Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, on Thursday at the National Assembly.

This is in accordance with the tradition of the House, when a former or sitting members passes on.

Naijablitznews.com reports that the former Speaker died on December 27, 2023, in Nigeria.

In accordance with the House rules, the Leader of the House, Rep. Julius Ihonbvere, moved the motion for the commencement of the Valedictory Session and it was seconded by the House Minority Leader, Rep. KingsleyChinda.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that on Wednesday at plenary the House moved a motion for the admission of non members into the Lower Legislative Chamber for today’s ValedictorySession.

Former members of the National Assembly from 1999 till 2023 were present and they include former Speakers Aminu Bello Masari, Femi Gbajabiamila, former Deputy Speakers Chibudum nwuche, Austin opara, Lasun Yusuf, Emeka ihedioha, former House leaders Bawa bwari, Ahmed Gamaliel among others.

Also present at the session was the family of the late Ghali Umar Na’Abba.

In his opening speech, Speakerof the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, described the deceased with his simplicity, modest and religious man who gave his life for the service of the nation.

He said: “While this is a moment of grief and national mourning it is a moment of celebration and sober reflection. As we reflect on his life we are reminded of our democracy”.

Former Speaker and current Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, described Late Na’Abba as a talented politician, worthy public servant and ‘a true Nigerian whose death has brought us sorrow”.

“I appear in mixed emotions but I take solace that we are here not to mourn but to celebrate a giant.

“The evident abound that he lived a very good life. He was a follower of Mallam Aminu Kano and was concerned about the downtrodden in the country.

“He served the downtrodden and chose to be a servant of the people, his voice was to speak for the voiceless”, he stated.

According to Gbajabiamila, “Our democracy is young but after two decades we have become comfortable with the present situation. When we returned to democracy in 1999 the political rules that guided us today was not there but Rt. Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba understood what it took to lead the House.

“As a Speaker, I consulted with him on a regular basis and I thank him for that. He was a beloved father, brother a mentor and guardian”.

Former Speaker Aminu Bello Masari who spoke on behalf of the Body of Former Speakers said the history of the legislature cannot be written without the name of Late Ghali Umar Na’Abba.

According to Masari, Ghali has paid his dues and he prayed for God to grant him eternal rest.

He added: “For those of us who were with Ghali from 1999-2003, I remember when the House was constituted none of us had any experience of legislative duties. We had an executive who was a former military General with no experience of democracy. This was the situation that Ghali found himself at that particular situation.

“Ghali came from a radical political background and it gave him courage to face the situation.

“He was a distinguished Nigerian and parliamentarian, he had the courage to provide leadership under such difficult times. But he survived and completed his tenure despite all the challenges. The sad part of it in Nigeria is that you are taken care of when you are dead and not when you are alive”.

Masari therefore the lawmakers to provide leadership that will give the citizens hope.

Hon. Chibudum Nwuche spoke on behalf of the Body of Deputy Speakers, described the late Ghali Na’Abba as a “Leader Per Excellence” who led the House in the 4th Assembly without a compass.

Hon. Nwuche stated: “Between 1999-2003, I had the singular opportunity to serve under two Speakers, Hon. Salisu Buhari and Hon. Ghali Na’Abba. This House was full of members who had dreams for the country and were independent.

“Ghali ensured the NDDC Act was passed in the Assembly and Ghali ensured that he mobilized the House to override the President’s Veto. Ghali passed the Act without the President. They tried to remove us several times but with the support of members we stayed till full term”.

The former deputy speaker said the late Ghali was a leaders that should be mortalized. “Ghali was a good man”, he added.

On behalf of the Body of Principal Officers, Hon. Bawa Bwari, described today as a day of mixed feelings.

He said: “We had a special bond filled with mutual trust. He was a mentor. I recall the countless times we worked side by side in transparency. He was a pillar, strength and beacon of hope”.

Hon. Bwari said one of his qualities was fearlessness and he always worked for what he believed in.

“What I will always remember was his ability to unite a House of various divides. He impacted on me, the 1999 House and Nigerian.

“Na’Abba has left a void in the House of 1999”, he added.

Senator Binta Masi Garba, who spoke on behalf of female parliamentarians, described how the late Former Speaker gave all 12 female parliamentarians in the 4th House the same opportunity to assent “our contributions to nation building”.

“He was a dogget fighter, detribalized Nigerin. What the National Assembly is doing today, he was the man that started and gave the independence of the parliament”, she asserted.

The House Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, described the late Ghali Na’Abba as a nationalist.

He narrated his experience with the late Former Speaker: “I schooled with one of his children when I did my Masters in Law. I bought handout and text book for one of his daughter and she went home and told the father who insisted on speaking with me. Her father had asked her how she got the books and she told him it was a serving Honourable member that bought it.

“I had the benefit of speaking with him and one of the things he told me was that the time had come for the counter to make a difference in the lives of the downtrodden.

“This spurred me and today we have presented three bills on constitutional amendment.

“Firstly there are several Ghali Na’Abba” living today, please let’s begin to locate them. Secondly, I want us to tap from what we are seeing today, that it is not “How Far”, “How Long” but “How Well”.

“Thirdly, from the life of Ghali everything made, created, were made to bring life to other. A little selfishness and more selflessness will bring joy to the minority”, Rep. Chinda narrated.