Abbas the Great BUKite becomes 7th ADHA Speaker, Pwamnakaino Deputy
…As Fintiri Challenges the lawmakers to pass people oriented bills
By Adamu Muhammad Dodo
Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas PDP, representing Uba/Gaya Constituency, having elected unopposed, took the task Thursday, as the Speaker of the 7th Adamawa State House of Assembly, in Yola.
Abbas election was sequel to the nomination, during first plenary session, by Hon. Kate Raymond Mamuno PDP, a member representing Demsa Constituency, which was seconded by Japhet Kefas PDP, a member representing Gombi Constituency.
Similarly, Hon. Makwando Mickelson Pwamnakaino PDP, a member representing Numan Constituency, was elected Deputy Speaker of the House, unopposed.
The election of the Deputy Speaker followed his nomination by Hon. Simon Isa PDP, representing Song Constituency and was seconded by Haruna Jelentikiri PDP, representing Madagali Constituency.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, led the inauguration ceremony. The oath of office was administered by Mr. Frances Bangsenso the Clerk of the House.
In his remarks, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, challenged the 7th Assembly Members to have the human heart, not to be delaying passage of people oriented bills, to be able to accommodate fresh air away from suffocation out of selfishness and greed.
The House adjourned sitting till Monday June 17, 2019, after the inauguration.
Having thanked his colleagues for the confidence reposed in him, Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas, has pledged to carry along all and sundry, irrespective of party liking, lining and leaning.
Prior to the present tasks, Abbas has worked as an Accountant and Investigator with the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC from August 2003 to July 2007, before joining Africa Petroleum PLC as a Budget Accountant where he served for one year from July 2007 to March, 2008.
Abba was appointed Business Manager at KPMG Professional, Lagos Nigeria from March, 2008 to January, 2011.
However, the technocratic tendency in him influenced Abbas’ choice for self-reliance with a view to hatching his political interest, which he nurtured since school days; to be able to redefine the political rhetoric in tune with populist, participatory and emancipatory democracy.
Abbas, was elected to represent the same constituency during the 5th Adamawa state assembly, from 2011 to 2015 when governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri was the speaker.
Graduated in the year 2000, Abbas studied Accountancy at Bayero University Kano, BUK.
The great BUKite, not only academically, professionally but also politically; it was at Bayero University Kano that Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas started building his political carrier with the campus unionism, first as a treasurer before being elected president of the Adamawa State Students’ Union, BUK Chapter.
The Periscope reporting politics, spoke with Alh. Hamza Hamidu Modibbo, a banker; close confidant of Hon. Abbas, class and professional colleague, seeking to have his take on the great BUKite alumni member as speaker, whether or not there was any rather meaningful future associated with journey.
“This is the atmosphere ripe for the fresh air with the state legislatures having a technocrat, administrative accountant, professional and philanthropist, a man of tested and trusted integrity and transparent dealing with a full session legislative experience, taking the speakership.
“Rt. Hon. Aminu Iya Abbas’ unopposed election, in my judgement, has indeed crossed the barriers of religious and tribal sentiments; proving that we could get it right in Adamawa state.
“I lay the structure of my judgement based on the concrete foundation that those Honourable members who nominated Hon Abbas for speakership mandate to be elected unopposed, are neither his tribesmen nor profess the same faith with him. It was an election purely based on capability and competence,” Modibbo assured.
Abbas finished from Government Secondary School Uba, Adamawa state before joining BUK for undergraduate studies.
The great BUKite is put to litmus test to make a mark of difference in legislative leadership. The acceptance speech he delivering just after the swearing in was indeed a sign of hope.
BUK alumni Adamawa state chapter, having congratulated, resolved to give total support and necessary assistance to be able to have their member stand tall in realising the new Adamawa dream where ignorance said to be a cancer censoring success would be intolerable.
The following is the full text of speech:
ACEEPTANCE SPEECH DELIVERED BY RT HON. AMINU IYA ABBAS THE NEWLY ELECTED SPEAKER, ADAMAWA STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON THURSDAY 13TH JUNE, 2019
His Excellency, the Governor of Adamawa State Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru FintIri
The Deputy Governor of Adamawa state Chief Crowther Seth
The Secretary to the Government of Adamawa State
The Clerk of the House
Members of Adamawa State House of Assembly
Gentlemen of the Press
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Let me start by extending my profound gratitude to the Guide and Guardian, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful, the Almighty Allah SWT for making it possible for me to become the speaker of the 7th Assembly in Adamawa state.
“It befits the Majesty of our Lord, when he decrees a thing, he said onto it only ‘Be’ and it is”.
It is indeed, the decreed “Be,” that informed my choice and people’s mandate to be elected lawmaker with my colleagues who joined in the divine project to translating the “Be” and it is” divine decree.
I want to take this opportunity to thank His Excellency, the Governor of Adamawa state Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintri, for the supports, part of which is sparing his time to witness this memorable occasion, rather than being represented. This is indeed an endorsement of synergy in the service for the greatest good of Adamawa state, as spelt out in our manifesto of the servant-master service.
Your Excellency, I remain most grateful for the show
of cordiality, for which I am committed to assure you that the 7th Assembly as
a legislative arm, will partner with you in harnessing both the human and
capital resources in the state, to develop institutions and infrastructures
such as schools, hospitals, and roads project, among critical sectors of the
economy.
Your Excellency, we have a pact with the electorates and the entire people of Adamawa state to provide a befitting atmosphere for fresh air.
Therefore, under my legislative leadership, I shall strive to uphold and protect the integrity of the legislature, as well as ensure all inclusiveness in the leadership of the 7th Assembly where honourable members will be related with equally, untypical of the dystopian, satirically portrayed in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”
In the 7th Assembly, all members are indeed equal and will be given equal opportunity to bring to the fore, our individual wealth of experiences and expertise to be able to deliver effective legislation and efficient representation.
To my colleagues the legislatures who have found me worthy for this task as decreed, I enjoin us to consider Adamawa as a whole, as our first constituency requiring our selfless service for its growth and development.
While I look forward for a good and harmonious working relationship with the executive arm and my colleagues in the legislature, I promise to carry out my functions with all sense of fairness and transparency.
Your Excellency, our doors are opened to the good people of Adamawa to present their demands, register their complaints and offer useful suggestions so that together we can build a new Adamawa.
I therefore call on the people of the state to give the present administration, led by His Excellency Ahmadu Umaru Fintri, the necessary support and cooperation in order to address the plethora of problems confronting the state especially, as concerted efforts are being made to tackle the menace of insecurity in the state.
Finally, on behalf of myself, family, friends and well wishers, I thank you all for keeping our spirit strong with your presence indicative of support.
May the Almighty Allah SWT bless you abundantly. Ameen.