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Tag: Lawan

  • Lawan on the flip side of life

    A crack is all it takes for the edifice of integrity to crash. Anyone in doubt should ask Farouk Lawan. The former leader of the cacaus of self-proclaimed integrity campaigners in the House of Representatives and poster boy of progressive politics has been stranded in a desert of political irrelevance since he was implicated in a bribery scandal that rocked the House.

    Although he has been part and parcel of the political equation since 1999, Lawan rose to fame when he and his group took the then Speaker of the House, Patricia Etteh, to the cleaners over a $620,000  renovation scandal. Occurring at a time the nation was looking for credible leaders, the revelation instantly shot Lawan to the stratosphere of public adulation where he remained until he came crashing back to earth after he was implicated in a $620,000 bribery scandal involving oil magnate Femi Otedola.

    Gone with the scandal was Lawan’s ambition to rule Kano State and even his bid to represent his constituency for the fifth time. Now abandoned by those that formerly paraded themselves as his friends and rejected by erstwhile supporters, he is now in every sense in political cocoon.

  • My appointment as Majority leader to stabilise Senate, says Lawan

    My appointment as Majority leader to stabilise Senate, says Lawan

    Senate Majority leader Ahmed Lawan has said his emergence will bring stability and foster unity among senators.

    Lawan, who spoke to reporters at the weekend in Damaturu, observed that his appointment was predestined and divine, adding that the decision by his colleagues to make him the Senate leader was the original position of All Progressive Congress (APC) caucus of the Senate and the party.

    The executive, Lawan said, could not do without the support of the legislature, which he described as the key component of democracy.

    He stressed that the Senate will focus on supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to achieve its programmes and policies.

    “My appointment as Senate Majority leader by my colleagues in the APC caucus was an act of God; it was predestined. I want to thank my colleagues for having the confidence in me to do that job.

    “My appointment as you know was the position of the APC right from the beginning when we ran for the Senate Presidency with the Senate President Bukola Saraki. The party nominated me as the Senate leader, Senator George Akume as the deputy Senate leader and other two principal officers for other party positions. But something happened and we were never so appointed.

    ”But in the wisdom of our colleagues after one and a half years or so, the caucus decided that it was time to change what was done and that the party’s supremacy must be adhered to and here we are.

    “It is our believe that stabilising the APC caucus in the Senate will bring unity to the Senate and we can now face the real challenges of development in our administration. I believe that will also stabilise the Senate as a whole because a stabilised and unified APC caucus ensures that the APC caucus and the minority parties will work better. So, on the whole, we have a better Senate now, a more stable Senate and I am sure it’s going to be a more productive Senate.

    “We need to support our President, Muhammadu Buhari. The legislature is so important that whatever legislative interventions the President and his administration require should be done in good time. We have no time to waste. We need to do everything possible, particularly this year, as an administration to make life better for Nigerians and we are focused and determined to give the president and this administration the support for a better Nigeria,” Lawan said.

    On the hardship in the country and the position of the Senate, he explained that the Senate was always on the side of the people, adding that the 2017 Appropriation Bill was tailored towards making life better for ordinary Nigerians.

    “The suffering in the country is one of the serious economic challenges that we face at the moment. It is because the Senate has always been on the side of the common Nigerians. What we have tried to do, however, is that in the 2017 budget, we have made provisions to make the economy better.

    “I can tell you  that the appropriation bill that the president submitted to the National Assembly has so many provisions of estimates that are geared towards bringing some reliefs to Nigerians, such as social interventions, which target the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged in the society.

    “They will get access to some funds for agricultural purposes and employment opportunity for our teaming youth.

    “The Senate cannot do anything different from that because this administration wants to make life better for the people and the Senate has to key into that either through legislation or enlightening the public on policy and we remain with the administration,” Lawan said.

  • Lawan seeks colleagues’ backing

    Lawan seeks colleagues’ backing

    THE new Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, yesterday solicited the cooperation of his colleagues in his new position to ensure the smooth-running of the upper chamber.

    Lawan, who represents Yobe North, said such cooperation would enable the Senate to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) senator was announced Senate Leader on Tuesday, following his endorsement by the APC Senate Caucus.

    The caucus had on Monday passed a vote of no confidence on the erstwhile Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume.

     Ndume, on Wednesday, described his ouster as “a parliamentary coup” and insisted that God would fight for him.

     Lawan, in what seemed acceptance speech, noted that though he is a member of APC, he “is not leader of APC senators but Senate Leader”.

     He promised to work for positive change in the Senate.

     He noted that though the Eight Senate started on a shaky foundation, “by the grace of God, this Senate will end on a solid foundation”.

    The Yobe North senator urged his colleagues to always display bi-partisan disposition in consideration of issues on the floor of the Senate in the interest of all Nigerians.

     Lawan said: “Nigeria is our country, it doesn’t belong to APC. It belongs to Nigerians. We should work together and ensure stability in the country. I urge the cooperation and understanding of my colleagues. The 8th Senate started on a shaky foundation. This Senate will end on a solid, stable and successful foundation.”

    Lawan hailed his colleagues for giving him the opportunity to serve in the capacity of Senate Leader.

    Minority Leader Senator Godswill Akpabio (PDP Akwa-Ibom) noted that the PDP Senate Caucus believed that with the elevation of Lawan, “all the grumblings and disaffections affecting the smooth-running of the Eighth Senate would be over.

    He urged Lawan to carry the senators along in the discharge of his duties.

    He said the Senate President and not the Senate Leader will run the Senate.

    Saraki assured Lawan of the support of the senators.

    Lawan, he said, should get the support he needed to succeed as Senate Leader.

    Saraki hailed Ndume for his service to the Senate as an institution and for his statesmanship in accepting his removal.

  • Senate crisis: Lawan group asks court to nullify Saraki’s election

    Senate crisis: Lawan group asks court to nullify Saraki’s election

    •As peace talks breaks down 

    The peace talks to end the leadership crisis in the Senate appears to have collapsed following the decision of the Unity Forum to challenge in court the June 9 election of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Chief Ike Ekweremadu as  Deputy Senate President.

    Some members of the forum are praying a court in Abuja to nullify the elections of Saraki and Ekweremadu.

    But the Like Minds backing Saraki hurriedly convened yesterday in Abuja to assess the situation and launch counter-legal attacks if they are joined.

    The Saraki loyalists, who were caught unawares, were still meeting at press time.

    Members of the Unity Forum are said to be angry at what they see as the hard line position of the Saraki group against the directive of the APC leadership on the sharing of principal positions in the chamber.

    Their decision to go to court is hinged on alleged lack of quorum in the chamber on June 9 when Saraki and Ekweremadu were elected and the use of alleged forged 2015 Senate Standing Orders (Amended) to conduct the election.

    Although the Police who investigated the alleged forgery are expected to release their report this week, the Unity Forum opted for legal redress irrespective of the outcome.

    A top member of the Unity Forum said: “We have decided to seek legal redress to contest the validity of the election of the Senate President and his deputy based on forged Standing Orders.

    “We want to lay all the cards on the table before the court. If at the end of the day, the court affirms the validity of the Standing Orders and the election of the Principal Officers, we will abide by such judicial pronouncement.

    “We have discovered that the Like Minds are not ready to yield ground despite the intervention of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a panel raised by the APC Governors Forum.”

    “Is it not better to follow the rule of law than impunity? The management of the National Assembly is expected to tell the court how it came about the forged Standing Orders,” the source said in response to a question.

    The Like Minds behind Saraki launched into a meeting last night in Abuja to review the situation, while leaving  the Clerk to the National Assembly and his team to handle the legal aspect of the matter.

    “Saraki had nothing to do with the Standing Orders whether legal or forged. It is the business of the Clerk to the National Assembly to handle,” a source in The Like Minds said.

    It was not immediately clear if the two warring groups would return to the negotiation table this week.

    The APC Governors Forum Committee on the crisis in the Senate is being coordinated by Governors Atiku Bagudu and Adams Oshiomhole.

    A source close to the committee said: “The governors are expected to meet Saraki and Lawan after the Eid-el Fitr break. The resumption of negotiation was one of the reasons why the National Assembly fixed July 28 for Senators to return from recess.

    “If members of the Unity Forum have gone to court, it means they have expanded the scope of negotiation. We can resolve everything with cooperation from all parties to the crisis.

    “The issue is how to respect party supremacy and abide by the directive of APC on the choice of principal officers.”

    The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on June 23 sent the party’s position to Saraki.

    The June 23 letter to Saraki, referenced APC/NHDQ/NAM/01/015/05, said: “Please find below for your necessary action names of principal officers approved by the party, after excessive consultations for the 8th Senate as follows: Sen.Ahmed  Lawan (Majority Leader)—North-East; Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip)—South-West; Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader)—North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip)—North-West.

  • Saraki, Lawan have agreed to come together – APC govs

    Saraki, Lawan have agreed to come together – APC govs

    Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are convinced  that the bitter disagreement  rocking the party over the  choice of  principal officers of the National Assembly is over for good.

    The governors met last night with Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara on the issue and told  reporters  that a broad outline for peace had been agreed by all the parties involved in the crisis.

    Details of the  agreement are being worked out and will be made public in due course, Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said at the end of the meeting, which was a follow up to the APC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

    The NEC itself deliberated extensively on the crisis and mandated the governors to deal with the matter.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, at the NEC meeting, said the party  must not throw out its success through unnecessary bickering.

    The NEC passed a vote of confidence on the party National Chairman,Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Emerging from the APC governors’ meeting at about 6 pm, Okorocha said  the discussion went well.

    He said: ”We have had discussions and we have all agreed for peace. So, you will not see any more disagreements as it  had been in the  past.

    “Peace has come to our party. Both the Senate President and the Speaker and Senator Lawan and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila will work together for the unity of the National Assembly and for the progress of our party.

    “By next week, we shall give you the details of the (final) outcome of this arrangement.  But so far, so good; to God be the glory,” Okorocha stated.

    Also speaking  Oshiomhole  said  that the  presence of the leaders of the warring factions at the meeting was a confirmation of the outcome of the governors’ peace-building efforts.

    “The only way to sort matters out is to talk; we have started the process,” he said.

    “The fact that the two sides are present shows that the foundation for peace is there. If people refuse to see eye-to-eye or they refuse to sit together, then you can’t even discuss.

    “But the fact that they all turned up and they met, we listened to all sides, we had consultations and we have agreed to continue with the conversation.

    “So, I believe that we are making some progress. It is just not that everything is signed sealed and delivered; that is why Governor Okorocha said that we are continuing the process.”

    The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had earlier in the day briefed reporters on the NEC meeting, saying the APC governors had accepted the responsibility to resolve the crisis in the National Assembly.

    He said the NEC meeting  upheld  party supremacy and also resolved to make the Buhari administration work.

    He said: “We did have the National Executive Committee meeting today with the President in attendance. Not just is this the first NEC meeting we are having after the victory of the party, I think it is also symbolic that the President agreed to come to the party’s headquarters.

    “When we offered to hold the meeting at the Villa, he opted to come here because he believed that coming here will also raise the morale of the party. And we had a meeting and I am happy that you listened to both the addresses of the President and the National Chairman of the party.

    “And what you want to know is what transpired after you left. After you left, the National Legal Adviser came to seek the approval of NEC as to certain categories of members who should be members of the BOT. And the motion was moved and it was carried unanimously after which the National Executive Committee and the governors passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the party.

    “I think also important is the fact that the NEC has also provided an enabling environment to look into ways of resolving the National Assembly logjam.

    “And I know that today the governors will be meeting with both the Speaker and the Senate President. The governors are meeting today with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in a further attempt to find a lasting solution to the lingering logjam in the National Assembly.

    “But also, it is important to point to it that everybody in the party is united on two issues. One, party supremacy, secondly that this government must work. That this government must deliver its electioneering promises. That this government must bring about the change that Nigerians want. These I think, in a nutshell are the highlights of the meeting. “

    Alhaji Mohammed  said it was not just in the interest of the APC to resolve the problem but the nation itself and “all of you who voted for change.”

    “What the country wants is stability. What the country wants is peace, a government that can function properly. And I think that is what we are working towards.”

    Asked why the APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and  the party’s former Interim national Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande were not at the meeting, Alhaji Mohammed said: “If you look at the constitution, neither of them are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. I think it is at the discretion of the NWC and NEC to invite. And it is not out of respect to question why they are not here. But the bottom line is that neither of them is a  member of the exco of the party.”

    On the alleged slow approach of the Buhari administration, he said: “I think that this is just a perception, because if you look at the circumstances of this government, it is unlike what happened like say in 2003, 2007, and 2011.

    “This is the first time that really there has been a transition. It is not just one president being re-elected or one president passing the baton to another candidate of his own party.

    “This is the first time in the history of Nigeria when the opposition has defeated the ruling party. And that will also have a lot of implications.

    “Two is the fact that when we were coming in at this time, the government as opposition, we need to know the depth of the challenges we are facing. This is what the President-elect of the party realised when he set up the transition committee.

    “Our idea of the transition committee was to allow interactions between the outgoing government and the incoming government to give us the opportunity to know what is the state of the affairs, which projects are ongoing, which one has changed, what is the state of the economy?

    “But the President has made some progress. You see, the President took a particular step which I think is not being appreciated by many people.

    “A part of it is adherence to Section 8 of the constitution which says that every money accruing to the Federal Government should be paid into the Federation Account.

    “Now, by calling the Federal Inland Revenue, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Customs Services, and the NNPC, to close all other illegal accounts, I think that is the beginning of probity in this administration.

    “Again, the abolition of general prohibition of goods, I think it is another point that the government is actually working, because before now, what we had was what was referring to the general list of things that are prohibited which had cause to find their ways into the country. “

    The APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun and Senate President Saraki also spoke to reporters.

    Oyegun said: “This is the beginning of the end of that crisis. We are still going to sit down and dot the i’s and cross the t’s.  By the way, there was a resounding vote of confidence from the entire meeting.

    “It has been underlined, it has been underscored. And it has been emphasised by all levels of the leadership; Mr. President, members of the National Assembly, and our governors. That has today been thoroughly underscored.”

    Saraki said: “Be rest assured that the leadership crisis in the National Assembly is over, and as the chairman said, we just have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. And we are very pleased and this will be put behind us very soon.

    “You can see the smiles from the faces of everybody coming out. It is a good meeting.”

  • Lawan group faults Saraki over principal officers

    Lawan group faults Saraki over principal officers

    Unity Forum senators write APC Chairman Oyegun

    For the second time in three weeks, the Unity Forum backing Sen. Ahmed Lawan yesterday wrote  All Progressives Congress( APC) National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, faulting Senate President Bukola Saraki’s excuse for appointing the principal officers of the Senate.

    The Forum said Saraki was incorrect in claiming  that Zonal Caucuses had taken decisions on the choice of principal officers before the President of the Senate received the list of candidates favoured by APC from Odigie-Oyegun.

    The group also said the APC’s letter got to the Office of the Senate President a day before the zonal meeting was said to have been arranged

    It also stated that the Zonal Caucuses do not exist in the Standing Orders of the Senate.

    The Forum, which made its position known in a June 29 letter to the APC National Chairman, said” “Our attention has been drawn to the letter written by the President of the Senate to our party, the APC, which was published in some newspapers on Saturday the 27th of June 2015 in response to the nomination of principal officers earlier forwarded by the party to the Senate President and we wish to state the facts of the matter as follows:

    ” In the said letter the Senate President alleged that: “The said letter was received after various APC zonal caucuses had taken their decisions to nominate candidates as principal officers of the Senate –  in line with parliamentary convention and extant provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended (Chapter VI: Rules 28,29 & 31 refers). This was a follow-up of the prior APC Senate caucus meeting held on 23rd June 2015.”

    ”We wish to state that it is not true that the so-called zonal caucuses, which do not exist in the Standing Orders of the Senate,  acted before the letter from the party was received by Senator Bukola Saraki .

    “This is so, as Senator Suleiman Nazif announced during a meeting of all APC senators on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 that the party had already forwarded the names of those who are to lead the APC caucus to the Office of the Senate President.

    “Thus, the letter got to the Office of the Senate President a day before the so-called zonal meeting was said to have been arranged. To the best of our knowledge no such meetings of the zonal caucuses ever took place but probably a meeting of a clique of the supporters of the Senate President.”

    The Forum explained that attempts by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa to draw the attention of the President of the Senate to the procedural error was overruled.

    ”It is to be noted that Senator Gbenga Ashafa on Wednesday the 24th of June 2015 raised a point of order in the Senate Chamber, asking the Senate President to announce the names of the APC Principal Officers of the Senate as submitted by the party. Senator Bukola Saraki overruled,” the Forum added.

    The Forum alleged abuse and misinterpretation of the Standing Orders of the Senate by the President of the Senate.

    It insisted that it was the prerogative of the APC, not zonal caucuses, to nominate the principal officers in line with Rules 28, 29 and 31 of the Senate.

    It added: “It is a fact that Democratic Convention conferred on the party to appoint those who are to lead its Caucus in any parliament, as they are those that shall lead and galvanise members of such party in the parliament towards the actualisation of the manifesto of the party.

    “Hence, Chapter VI: Rules 28,29 and 31 of the Senate Standing Orders referred to by the Senate President do not confer on the so-called zonal caucuses the right to appoint the APC principal officers as they state as follows:

    *Order 28: There shall be a Majority Leader of the Senate. The Majority Leader shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of Senators.

    *Order 29: There shall be a Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate. The Majority Leader shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.

    *Order 31: There shall be a Chief Whip of the Senate. The Chief Whip shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.

    The Forum also said the nomination of Sen. Ali Ndume and others as principal officers contravened Order 3 Rule 2 of the Senate because ranking was not followed.

    The aggrieved senators added: “We want to draw the attention of the party that the names of those announced by the Senate President to lead the APC Caucus in the Senate is in contravention of Order 3 Rule 2 of the Senate Standing Rules which stipulates as follows : “Nomination of  senators to serve as presiding officers and appointment of principal officers and other officers of the Senate or on any parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking  of senators.

    “In determining ranking, the following order shall apply: (i)    Senators returning based on number of times re-elected; (ii)  Senators who have been members of House of Representatives;  and (iii)    Senators elected as Senators for the first time.

    ”It is important to note that those nominated by the party are not only the highest ranked in their respective zones but the entire APC caucus:-

    1. Majority Leader: Senator Ahmed Lawan (Two- term member of the House of Representatives and serving third term in the Senate) North-East; against Senator Ali Ndume who was announced by the Senate President that did two terms in the House of Representatives and is currently a second term senator.

    2. Chief Whip: Senator Adesola Adeyeye (One-term member of the House of Representatives and second term Senator) South-West.

    3. Deputy Majority Leader: Senator George Akume (3rd term in the Senate) North-Central

    4. Deputy Chief Whip: Senator Abu Ibrahim (3rd term in the Senate) North-West, as against Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah, who was announced by the Senate President who did two terms in the House of Representatives and is a first term senator.

    ”We strongly believe that the nominees of the party were arrived at in accordance with the provisions of the Senate standing orders.”

  • APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts

    APC backs Lawan, Akume, Gbajabiamila for top posts

    Why Ekweremadu should go, by Unity Forum

    All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders are backing Ahmed Lawan,  Femi Gbajabiamila,  George Akume and five others as principal officers of the National Assembly, The Nation learnt last night.

    The party has adopted the lists submitted to it by The Unity Forum (Senate) and The Loyalists (House of Representatives) to heal the wounds and reconcile all after the June 9 controversial elections.

    This has put pressure on Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    It was learnt that more than 12 members of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) supported the candidates recommended by The Unity Forum and The Loyalists.

    Those recommended by the party as principal officers in the Senate are Lawan(Majority Leader); Prof. Sola Adeyeye( Chief Whip); Sen. George Akume( Deputy Majority Leader); and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip).

    The list for the House of Representatives has  Gbajabiamila( House Leader); Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa( Deputy House Leader); M. T. Monguno(Chief Whip) and Hon. Pally Iriase (Deputy Chief Whip).

    A source said: “Most members of the NWC and leaders of the APC are fully in support of the lists from the Unity Forum and The Loyalists. We need to heal wounds and move forward.

    “It will only be fair and just if the aggrieved legislators are allowed to choose among themselves the principal officers.”

    The leaderships of the two groups generated lists which they sent to the APC National Chairman, who is expected to send them to the Senate President.

    Asked if the lists are binding on Saraki and Dogara, the source said: “They have no discretion in the matter; they must abide by it if they are really loyal party members.

    “It is the responsibility of the party to recommend these principal officers. In 2011, we were told that the President of the 7th Senate, Chief David Mark was not going to work with Akume as minority leader but the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria insisted on Akume.”

    None of the officers of the party was willing to speak with the press last night.

    For the first time after the crisis of confidence erupted among APC Senators Saraki and Lawan met at Oyegun’s residence to explore the possibility of reconciliation.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said after Oyegun sued for reconciliation, Saraki and Lawan were asked to retire into a room for “frank talks.”

    The source said: “We were all happy that Saraki and Lawan agreed to hold a tête-à-tête for the first time and we waited with bated breath for what they will agree upon.

    “Two issues were at stake: whether the party should recommend nominees for principal offices in the Senate or zonal caucuses should nominate candidates.

    “Neither of them spoke on the outcome of their talks. But we learnt they have gone back for consultations with their groups.”

    A national officer said: “The party’s decision must be respected. The party cannot sacrifice loyal members for those who conspired with PDP.

    “Look at the House, is it proper to do away with the wish of 174 APC members? Absolutely no.”

    The Unity Forum has tabled six reasons why the election of the Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu is dangerous for the APC-led Federal Government.

    The June 21st letter reads: “It is with utmost humility and a deep sense of responsibility that we write to appraise you of the dire implications of the emergence of the PDP Senator, Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy President of the Senate at this critical time when our party should have been properly positioned in the Senate to enable the smooth take-off of this administration.

    “While doing so, we reckon the great expectation the Nigerian people have had on us as agents of change and our party manifesto as a facilitator of this breakthrough.

    “Although the tradition in the Nigerian Senate concedes much power to the Senate President, it is indeed the Deputy Senate President that directly interacts and controls the day to day activities of the Senate.

    ” Some of the functions of the office include:

    •Regularly presiding over the plenary session of Senate especially during those times the Senate President may be away attending to other functions. This could afford him and his party the opportunity to frustrate the good intentions of our government.

    •The Deputy Senate President is chairman of Constitution Review Committee, which conducts the exercise of carrying out fundamental changes in our Supreme Law. This position may give him and his party, the PDP the opportunity to frustrate necessary and vital constitutional amendments in the course of this administration.

    •By legislative convention, the Deputy Senate President collects and supervises the final budget documents in the preparation of the Appropriation Bill. This is the most important piece of legislation in the realization of our party’s manifesto which must not be left in the hands of the opposition party.

    •The Deputy Senate President is statutorily the chairman of the Governing Council of the National Institute of Leguslative Studies (NILS). This institution is charged with the responsibility of building capacity for our legislators and their supporting staff.

    •The Deputy Senate President also represents the Nigerian Legislature at the ECOWAS Parliament as Speaker. It is certainly a misnomer for a government to be represented at the international level by someone outside our party.

    •And many other functions that might be assigned him by the President of the Senate.

    “With the above functions of the Deputy Senate President, we feel extremely concerned about implications of a PDP Senator occupying this exalted position at this time when Nigerians have voted for change.”

  • Saraki reaches out to senators as Lawan plans suit

    Saraki reaches out to senators as Lawan plans suit

    Barely 24 hours after the controversial inauguration of the Eighth Senate, Senate President Bukola Saraki and his loyalists have started reaching out to his rival, Senator Ahmed Lawan and 50 other aggrieved senators shut out of the process.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The President of the Senate and members of his group of Like Minds, have started reaching out to Lawan.

    “They have also sent emissaries to him on how the issues arising from the choice of the Senate President and Deputy can be resolved. They are asking for what can be done.

    “It was learnt that at a stage, Lawan had to switch off his phone when the pressure became persistent from some senators and eminent Nigerians who were soliciting on behalf of Saraki group.”

    Also yesterday, Dr. Saraki, in a statement from his media office, urged all members of the National Assembly to put politicking behind them and settle down for the proper business of legislating.

    “Our country is going through  very trying times. We have the challenge of insecurity in the Northeast. The massive problem of youth unemployment and general economic challenges occasioned by mako fall in revenue. All these against the huge public expectation that propelled our party into office. We  have pursued our legitimate aspirations appropriately. Now that the issues have been settled, we need to move on in the larger interest of our people without whose mandate we would not have been in a position to aspire to these positions in the first place.”

    He expressed his readiness to embrace every member of the Senate, regardless of their political leanings in the leadership elections.

    Saraki described President Muhammadu Buhari’s reaction to Tuesday’s election of National Assembly leaders as a “great mark of leadership” and a demonstration of  the President’s commitment to democracy.

    He lauded Buhari for remaining steadfast in his commitment to the principle of non-interference in National Assembly politics even in the face of great pressure on him to act otherwise.

    “This shows that Mr. President is a man of great conviction who, in his own words, belong to everyone and to no one,” he stated.

    Saraki denied that he planned to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He described the insinuation as “absurd and laughable”.

    “It is just cheap blackmail by political adversaries who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it,” he said, adding:

    “And those making such desperate allegations should remember that I willingly left the PDP on matters of principle when the party was in power.

    “Is it now that the party is out of government and in opposition that I will now return, having worked so hard for my party in the last general elections?”

    He stated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a loyal party member and a leader of the party, committed to contributing his quota to building the party and helping it to deliver its promise of change to Nigerians.

    It was also learnt that a team of 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria on Tuesday night met with Lawan and volunteered to handle his brief in court.

    Lawan is expected in court today to challenge the election of Saraki and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

    The position of Lawan is that the Senate was not “properly constituted” for the election of its principal officers.

    According to the legal advice made available to Lawan, if two-thirds of members of the Senate can remove a Senate President or deputy, only two-thirds must be present for the election of the same officers.

  • Senate: Lawan, Saraki split PDP senators, governors

    Senate: Lawan, Saraki split PDP senators, governors

    Bloc votes
    plan collapses

    Oyegun: party’s decision supreme

    Saraki dumps Ndume for Ekweremadu

    Plans to get Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect to vote en bloc for principal officers during today’s inauguration of the Eighth National Assembly collapsed yesterday.

    There was also a split among the PDP governors on who to support between Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Bukola Saraki for Senate president.

    Some senators and members-elect rejected the suggestion by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose that PDP senators should vote Saraki.

    Lawan at the weekend emerged the choice candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after a mock election by the party’s senators-elect. But the Saraki camp rejected the straw poll and vowed to contest for the position on the floor today.

    The APC is the majority party in the Senate, with 59 senators-elect. The PDP has 49 senators.

    It was learnt that at a meeting held by the PDP caucus on Sunday night in former Senate  President David Mark’s residence in Apo, Abuja, the divided PDP senators-elect and their governors were said to have threatened to draft one of them into the race if the APC failed to agree on a consensus candidate.

    Some of the PDP senators said to be rooting for Saraki allegedly suggested that they should forge a vibrant opposition on Tuesday by voting against the APC consensus choice as a signal of what form of opposition to expect in the Senate in the new dispensation.

    The PDP senators were said to have contended that voting against APC’s preferred candidate would signpost a resolute stand to keep the PDP alive.

    A source at the meeting said a former principal officer in the Seventh Senate was the brain behind the proposal.

    The source said most of the senators disagreed vehemently with the suggestion.

    Those opposed to the suggestion, it was learnt, averred that toeing the line of action would only serve the interest of a few, particularly the governors, rather than that of the PDP as a party.

    The source noted that most of the senators agreed that “we should wait and see what the APC senators will come up with”.

    He said: “The surprise of the night was that some of the governors who former President Goodluck Jonathan laboured to install were those at the vanguard of the Saraki project, a man who practically destroyed PDP.

    “Most senators at the meeting viewed supporting Saraki as robbing Peter to pay Paul.

    “They contended that it will be bad politics to reward a man who took up arms against his party, destroyed it and moved to build another one.”

    The meeting was said to have ended without the Senators taking a final decision on who to back for Senate president.

    A former acting National Publicity Secretary of PDP Chief Bode Ojomu, yesterday warned the party against supporting any of its defectors from either being the Senate President or the Speaker.

    Another source said: “At the end of the day, we could not agree on bloc votes for any of the candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives. Governor Fayose pleaded with party leaders to see the battle as one between the PDP and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He begged the party to ‘clip’ Tinubu’s  wings.

    “But some senators-elect warned Fayose against going personal. They queried the morality behind PDP supporting candidates who defected from the party to the APC. They alleged that their defection led to the defeat of PDP at the polls.

    “The governors were also split on who to back for the National Assembly offices.”

    “At the end of the day, we could not reach a consensus on casting our votes en bloc for either of the candidates. I can tell you that everyone is on his own.”

    The difficulty in arriving at a consensus has created an upset in Saraki’s camp.

    It was gathered that those who are pro-Saraki were trying to strengthen the accord between their candidate and the immediate past Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu.

    The latest plot will lead to Saraki dumping Senator Ali Ndume as his favourite for Deputy President of the Senate.

    Another source added: “They will continue to sell a dummy to Ndume that he will be Deputy President of the Senate if Saraki gets the ticket.

    “But as soon as Saraki wins, they will nominate Ekweremadu who is expected to deliver the bloc votes of the Senators-elect from the SouthEast in collaboration with Senator Andy Uba.”

    Uba and Ekweremadu could not be reached for comments last night.

    It was gathered that the collapse of consensus by PDP has created a serious setback for Yakubu Dogara who is seeking to contest for Speaker of the House of Representatives with the party’s candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Dogara could only garner support from 55 out of the 209 APC members-elect for the House of Representatives.

    Another source said: “Dogara had banked on permutations that 120 PDP members-elect will vote for him but his hope was dashed last night by the split in the party.

    “In fact, to earn the support of PDP, he was mandated to mobilise at least 70 members-elect from the APC. But Dogara is stranded as he could only secure the backing of 55 members-elect from the APC.

    “As it is now, the moves to frustrate Gbajabiamila’s aspiration have failed. This is why they have resorted to blackmail and wild-chase in the court.

    “Some pro-Dogara members-elect were also last night whipping up religious sentiments to set the core North against the party’s candidate.”

    Ojomu warned the PDP against supporting any of its defectors from either being the Senate President or the Speaker.

    He said those who defected from PDP to APC could not turn back to the party they decimated for succour.

    Ojomu, in a statement, warned the PDP against playing politics of “pay back time” against the APC.

    The statement said: “It is worrisome to observe that many of those who walked out were former PDP members who joined the APC and are acting out exactly the same script of ‘give a dog a bad name to hang it’ adopted as strategy to exit from the PDP for their safe landing in the APC.

    “Today, by their actions and inactions alongside, other several factors left PDP comatose and one wonders if everybody acted like them who will be PDP senators and House of Representatives members to be now courted to defend their interest for victory at all cost against their ruling party’s official position.

    “They decimated the PDP and now want to rely on it as strength to climb to number three and four in our nation. That’s crass opportunism and the PDP leaders in the Red and Green Chambers should not provide themselves as ready tools for self-serving pursuits.

    “Strengthening party supremacy, party discipline, national stability and cohesion in government are the gains of PDP in National Assembly, standing firm that any political party official position or policy shall stand.

    “Nigeria needs men of stable character. After all, those who stand for nothing fall for anything. The men and women that constitute the Nigeria’s Legislature must stand for something and in these circumstances it is principled position on party supremacy, notwithstanding that the former A.C.N botched that principle in the choice of speakership in 2011.“

    Ojomu said the APC had the right to put forward those who should be on its platform in the National Assembly leadership.

    The statement said: “Let it be noted that if the party was ever right to sponsor senatorial/House of Representatives candidate for election, it must also be right to determine who to put forward on its platform.

    “No responsible political party in a democratic process that outlaws individual, independent candidate for elective offices will abdicate its historical and natural responsibility to present a sole candidate for each of the NASS Principal Offices.

    “It will be unconventional for APC to watch helplessly for its members to contest in a free for all manner in the Red and Green Chambers.

    “The gladiators need to drop sophistry in their argument and be educated that there is nothing undemocratic in the ruling party adopted open balloting process as opposed to secret balloting that was preferred by contending parties. Option A4 adopted in the Third Republic with SDP and NRC was adjudged one of the best democratic processes this country has ever witnessed. You queue behind your preferred candidate or party.”

  • APC to its lawmakers: stick with Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    APC to its lawmakers: stick with Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    Members back party nominees

    Ahead of tomorrow’s proclamation of the eighth National Assembly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), which controls majority seats in the Senate and the House of Representatives, yesterday cautioned its members against going against its consensus candidates on the floor.

    At the weekend, the party held straw polls in Abuja where Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) emerged as consensus candidate for Senate President. Senator George Akume was picked for Deputy Senate President.

    House of Representatives member Femi Gbajabiamila (Surelere Constituency, Lagos) was nominated for speaker. Alhaji Tahir Monguno (Monguno/Tahir Constituency, Borno State) was picked for deputy speaker.

    But the camp of Senator Bukola Saraki boycotted the meeting.

    For the House of Representatives, the supporters of Yakubu Dogara, who is alo vying for speaker, protested. They have vowed to present their candidate on the floor of the House for the position tomorrow.

    But the APC said last night it had started reaching out to its members who might be aggrieved following the primary. It requesting them to put their interest below that of the party.

    National Secretary Mai Mala Buni, in a statement, also told members not to go against the party’s s decision, saying “it will be a shame” if the party, in spite of its majority, cannot pick the parliamentary leaders of its choice.

    He said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) is reaching out to all its members in the incoming eighth National Assembly who may be aggrieved after the emergence of the party’s official candidates on Saturday.”

    The party said “it is natural for some members to be disappointed by the outcome of the straw poll that was conducted to select the party’s official candidates for the post: Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila for Speaker, House of Representatives.”

    Buni added: “We must put the interest of our party above personal interests and avoid a situation whereby any other candidates, apart from those picked by the party, will emerge as Senate President and House Speaker on Tuesday.

    ‘’Any outstanding issues will be resolved by the party so we won’t go into Tuesday’s election with more than one candidate each for the two posts, Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives,’’ it said, adding that “it would be a shame if, despite its majority in both chambers of the National Assembly, the APC is unable to produce a Senate President and a House Speaker of its choice.”

    The APC explained that its role in ensuring a common front within the party ahead of Tuesday’s election “is that of an honest broker”, saying its goal of ensuring that the party does not go into the election with more than one candidate for each post has now been achieved.

    The party appealed to all aggrieved members to sheathe their swords and allow peace to reign, in the overall interest of not just the party but the entire nation.