The House of Representatives Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that he would mentor the younger generation if elected as Speaker of the House.
He made the promise on Sunday while seeking support from different parties in an official declaration.
He stated: “I seek the office of the Speaker to bring governance closer to the people.
“I seek the office of the Speaker to mentor the younger generation.
“I seek the office of the Speaker to make life easier for every Nigerian irrespective of the tribe, religious background or political participation”.
Gbajabiamila, who has been in the House for about 16 years. said that he was a product of hard work and perseverance.
“My name is Femi Gbajabiamila, the House leader, the 8th Assembly of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I stand here before you hopefully as a symbol of encouragement and a point of contact for the many young men and women out there who believe in hard work and commitment, you can be whatever you conceive to be.
“Today I formally declare my intention to seek the position of the office of the Speaker of the 9th Assembly and offer my services to the nation in this capacity.
“As many of you are aware, I ran for the same office four years ago but it was not to be.
“With all sense of humility, I seek this office with a legislative background and pedigree, having just won a historic fifth term mandate to the House.
“I have in the last 16 years dedicated my life to the service of my constituency and Nigeria”.
He pointed out that the House of Representatives was established to be the people’s house and to handle the peoples’ business.
He added that the qualities of a Speaker should be one who will handle affairs of the House and champion their course; by doing so fulfilling their hopes and aspirations.
He, therefore, called on members of the House to support his ambition.
Mr Gbajabiamila was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and has won re-election four times after.
In 2015, he contested to become the Speaker of the house. He lost to the incumbent speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
The lawmaker was re-elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Surulere 1 constituency of Lagos State.
He was, however, elected by his APC colleagues as House Leader.