Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Abdulkarim Lawan has become the longest-serving Speaker in the country after ten years of uninterrupted stewardship.
Lawan on Wednesday, 9th February, 2022 clocked 10 years in office having emerged as Speaker on Thursday 9th February 2012, after the impeachment of Hon Goni Ali Modu, his predecessor.
According to many political watchers, the cordial relations between the Borno State House of Assembly and the Executive Arm during the administration of former governor, Kashim Shettima and the present governor, Babagana Zulum had led to the unprecedented development, specifically in the area of education, agricultural revolution, health care delivery service, poverty alleviation, securing life and property of the citizenry and managing the plight of millions of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in camps, reconstruction, rehabilitation, resettlement processes and ongoing stabilization efforts in liberated communities despite the insurgency for the past 12 years.
Members of the House of Assembly led by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Abdullahi Askira have continued to pour encomium on the Speaker for his simplicity, principles and transparency in all legislative matters in the last 10 years, describing him as a detribalized politician.
Many of the lawmakers said there existed cordial relationship among the Executives, Judiciary and the Legislature, and this was being spearheaded by the Speaker and Borno people had been the greatest beneficiaries of this as could be seen in development projects springing all over the state.
The lawmakers said Governor Zulum had within just two and a half years executed over 600 people-oriented projects spread across the 27 local government areas, and this was largely as a result of the cordial relationship existing between the Assembly and the Executive.
Lawan, while speaking to journalists on his landmark achievements, thanked God, and the present government under the leadership of Governor Zulum, his colleagues at the assembly, and the good people of the state, especially those from his constituency (Guzamala) for giving him the mandate to offer service to humanity.
He passed a vote of confidence in the leadership style of Zulum’s APC- led administration, especially in the ongoing stabilization and resettlement of millions of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, back to their ancestral homes.
Lawan said, during the years under review, many bills were passed into law under his leadership.
He, however, explained that, he always felt proud of the bill passed which led to the establishment of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) that came into force in 2013 as a volunteer group helping the military to combat Boko Haram, and as well as the bill that was recently passed and signed into law for domestication of Child Rights Protection Act, which would provide western education, healthcare delivery service and other needs for children roaming the streets in the state.
He said: “On behalf of humble myself and family, i want to use this opportunity to thank God Almighty for making it possible for me to clock 10 years of uninterrupted leadership in office.
“I want to also commend government, all my colleagues at the assembly, and the good people of the state, especially those from my constituency (Guzamala) for their unflinching support and by giving me the mandate to offer service to humanity.
“I want to also express confidence on the leadership style of governor Professor Babagana Umara Zulum’s APC- led administration, especially in the ongoing stabilization and Resettlement of millions of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs back to their ancestral homes as well as execution of over 600 people oriented projects across the 27 Local Government Areas.”
He added that: “Since the establishment of the Civilian-JTF there has been a tremendous improvement in return of gradual peace, and relationship between the civilian populace and the armed forces.
“I want to pay tribute to all our gallant officers and men who have paid the supreme sacrifices for us to have peace in this part of the world” he said, adding that the tribute also was for CJTF, many of whom have died, paying the far reaching sacrifice for the state to have peace.”
He equally enjoined the people of the state to continue to give their maximum support to the present administration of governor Zulum’s transparent and accountable leadership which has taken Borno to greater height within the shortest time.
Speaking about the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abdullahi Askira described Lawan as a team player, very humble and hardworking Legislator, who believes in transparency and rule of law in all his dealings in the House.
He said in the last 10 years, the Speaker had brought stability and due process, “as we have never had any problem among ourselves, as we operate rancour free despite our ethnic or socio cultural backgrounds.”
He said: “I can recall that at a point in time, youths became worried over the incessant killings and destruction of properties by insurgents, and the House under the leadership of the Speaker had to pass the Bill for establishment or emergence of the Civilian JTF.
“The constitution of the Civilian JTF was a Child of Necessity, which has brought sanity, normalcy and peace not only in Borno, the north east, but the country as a whole. Infact, it was when Borno established its own Civilian JTF before some other states of the federation started emulating us, so the credit must be given to the Speaker in this regard.”
On the recent passing into law of the Child Rights Act/ Violence Against Persons (VAPs), and subsequent signing into law by Governor Zulum, the Deputy Speaker said, it took the House more than nine months, studying the voluminous and contentious nature of the Bill, “before we engaged all stakeholders who critically contributed by coming up with some clauses that replaced the ones that suit our own system.”
According to member representing Hawul State Constituency, Hon Ayuba Wakawa: “Hon Abdulkarim Lawan is a natural born leader who united the House under one umbrella for the common good of Borno state, I tend to learnt alot Working with him”.
Likewise, Member Representing Marte Local Government Area, Hon. Mohammed Gambomi in his response said: “It is neither by accident nor by surprise for Hon Abdulkarim Lawan to be leading the Borno House of Assembly for over 10 years as Speaker.
“Indeed his honesty, transparency, respect for the rule of law and his principle of ‘one for all, all for one’, have made him a Leader with respect and integrity. I congratulate him and wish him well.”
Another Member representing Nganzai State Constituency, Hon Mohammed Ali Gajiram said, “the Speaker has exhibits successful leadership, by making the lives of his team members and workers better.
“This he achieved by setting a harmonious working relationship between the House and the Executive, by maintaining a cordial relationship with the entire assembly members and the management.”
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