Seventy-two former federal lawmakers on the auspices of Non-Serving Senators of the Second to the Fourth Republics, have endorsed the choices of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Senator Jibril Barau as the next Senate President and Deputy of the 10th National Assembly, respectively.
But, a group loyal to another Senate presidential aspirant, Good Governance Initiative (GGi), has blasted the former Senators for their action, describing it as double standard and undemocratic.
The former Senators, however, said their decision was informed by the need for equity, fairness, and political expediency.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, convener and protem chairman of the Non-Serving Senators group, Senator Basheer Lado, said the former lawmakers were in support of zoning the Senate President position to the South-South geo-political zone.
“We are a group of non-serving Senators of the Second to the Fourth Republics.
“We, in the spirit of equity, fairness, political expedience and following extensive consultations with stakeholders, hereby express our total support for the zoning of the position of the President of the 10th Senate, to the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria.
“We also affirm our unfettered support for the position of the President of the 10th Senate who also doubles as the Chairman of the National Assembly to be conferred on His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON.
“The position of Senate President represents the third position in hierarchy of our current democratic dispensation.
“This position carries considerable weight in discharging vital constitutional responsibilities and for charting the right course for our national development.
“It is also important that the holder of such a position enjoys the confidence and support of the party leadership and that of his peers as Senator Godswill Akpabio undoubtedly does.
“With this same spirit of fairness, we also affirm our solid support that the position of Deputy President of the 10th Senate be conceded to Distinguished Senator Barau I. Jubril, CON, representing Kano North Senatorial Zone, Kano State.
“It is our conviction that a diverse and united legislative leadership is critical to good governance,” Lado stated.
He noted that at a trying period of the nation’s political history, the National Assembly required experienced and level headed leaders at the helm of its affairs. He, therefore, called on other aspirants to withdraw from the race.
“Gentlemen of the press, as you are all aware, the stakes are high and that a successful transition to a new political dispensation is key in ensuring national unity, cohesion and overall progress as one nation.
“In view of the above, we wish to respectfully appeal to all other aspirants to these key positions to kindly support our position by withdrawing their respective bids.
We believe that their withdrawal and cooperation will reduce the acrimony that commonly characterises the jostle for power in the National Assembly amongst the geo-political zones
“This will go a long way in ensuring a peaceful and smooth take-off of the incoming administration,” the group added.
Other former Senators present at the press briefing included Barnabas Gemade, Abba Aji, Magnus Abe, Ayogu Eze, Ridwan Soji Akanbi, Eta Enag, Ayo Arise, Sunny Ugbuoji, among others.
But, reacting to the development, a group committed to the emergence of Senator-elect Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari as the next Senate President in the 10th National Assembly, Good Governance Initiative (GGi), has berated the Non-Serving Senators of the Second to the Fourth Republics, for calling on Senate presidential aspirants to step down from the race for Senator Akpabio.
The pro-Yari group said the call by the former lawmakers amounts to double standard as many members of the hitherto unknown group had championed the independence of the legislature in the past when it suited their interests.
National President of GGi, ‘Kunle Sanusi, while reacting to the endorsement of Akpabio and Barau by the Non-Serving Senators and their subsequent call on other aspirants to quit the race, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, also noted that such call was undemocratic and uncalled for in a constitutional democracy.
“These were people who functioned as lawmakers at the highest level of this country previously. They ought to understand fundamental rights of individuals as enshrined in the constitution. They ought to understand constitutional democracy like ours. Many of them on the list once championed the independence of the parliament. So, what has changed?
“The best answer to the question is double standard on their part, for their selfish gains. However, His Excellency Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari will exercise his rights within the confines of the Senate Standing Rule and the 1999 Constitution as amended. He can’t be intimidated by this kind of gang-up since the former Senators have no voting rights on the floor of the Senate on one hand.
“On the other hand, Senator Godswill Akpabio was part of the PDP Senators who voted for a Senate President to ensure the independence of the legislature in 2015. Now he has changed, he want to be handpicked and not emerged through a democratic exercise. That tells you the kind of Senate President they want to install on the 10th National Assembly,” Sanusi stated.
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