President Bola Tinubu’s special adviser on Senate matters Senator Basheer Lado has said that the president was not trying to undermine the Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas with the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honour.
Since announcing in his speech on Independence Day anniversary that Abbas would receive the CFR honour while Senate President Godswill Akpabio would get the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) honour, the matter has generated controversy among lawmakers.
Some House members raised objections, stating that the House is equal with the Senate, according to the constitution, and should not be discriminated against.
The House via a statement by the spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, said the lawmakers sought clarity on the titles, not reject it as reported in the media.
In a statement on Friday, Lado explained that the honours were based on established precedents and procedures, not on any arbitrary criteria.
The statement said, “I would like to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, exercising his authority under the National Honours Act, conferred the esteemed title of Commander of the Federal Republic on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas PhD, based on established precedents, and it was not meant to undermine the Speaker or the House of Representatives.”
He further commended the House for clarifying the situation, stating, “I, however, commend the House of Representatives for its clarification regarding the National Honour conferred on the Speaker by the President during Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day celebrations.”
Lado also reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining a harmonious working relationship with the National Assembly, emphasising that such cooperation is crucial to achieving the nation’s development goals.
He added, “It is noteworthy that the House did not reject the honour conferred on the Speaker but rather sought clarification on the National Order of Precedence.
“The motion presented before the House was framed as an institutional issue, not a personal request by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.”
He further acknowledged the supposed House’s appreciation of the honour, stating that their concerns will be forwarded to the president.
