The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate Presidency

  • Senate Presidency: Gemade backs Akume

    Senate Presidency: Gemade backs Akume

    Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, on Tuesday threw his weight behind the bid of Senator George Akume to become the next Senate President.

    Gemade, who represents Benue North East Senatorial District, described Akume as not only the highest ranking Senator from the North Central geo-political zone but very suitable to assume the position of Senate President when the eight National Assembly is inaugurated.

    He noted in a statement that the clarification became necessary following mischievous and unfounded rumour making the rounds in parts of Benue State that he is against Akume’s candidature for the position.

    He described the insinuation as “baseless and absolute falsehood and should be disregarded in its entirety.”

    He said that some people who lost election were sowing seeds of discord in the All Progressives Congress (APC) by peddling unfounded rumour.

    He said, “My attention has been drawn to the mischievous and unfounded rumour on cyberspace and some newspapers circulating within Benue State that I am not in support of Senator George Akume’s candidature for the office of Senate President.

    “This is no doubt the handwork of our political opponents who suffered defeat at the just concluded elections and can’t seem to get over it, that are now bent on sowing seed sof discord in our party.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, I hereby reiterate that if our party, the APC zones the office of the Senate Presidency of the 8th National Assembly to the North Central zone, Senator George Akume who is the highest ranking Senator in the zone should be its choice.

    “Let it be known therefore that as a loyal member of our party I am in complete agreement with the decision of the party and will abide by it.”

  • Senate Presidency not vacant, says Suswam

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has said the Senate Presidency, occupied by Senator David Mark, is not contestable in 2015.

    Suswam spoke yesterday at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja at the public presentation of a book written on him by his Media Adviser, Cletus Akwaya.

    The 320-page book is titled: “Suswam, Politics and Governance in Benue, An Insider’s Account.”

    The event attracted dignitaries from all walks of life, including Vice-President Namadi Sambo; Mark; Secretary to the Government of the Federation Anyim Pius Anyim and Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu.

    Suswam said just as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s presidential candidate last week, all PDP organs should maintain the status quo on the Office of the Senate President.

    He said: “In Benue, Mark’s position is not contestable and I believe Northcentral people will agree with me. We have to endorse the Senate Presidency to remain not only in Benue, but that the occupant of that position will also stay there.

    “We are not moving the position and the actor. So there is no reason to endorse one actor at one place and endorse another actor from another place. We in Benue are solidly behind Mark. I urge those of us who will be going to the senate to stand behind him so that he can continue to stabilise the politics of this country.”

    He said the presence of eminent persons at the event testified to the unity Benue people and the performance of his administration.

    Suswam said the support given to Mark in the state was responsible for his long stay in office.

    Sambo said the Suswam administration had transformed Benue, making it the food basket of the nation, with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the zone.

    He said the administration’s legacies would inspire future administrations.

    Mark said peace was the greatest achievement of the Suswam administration, noting that for eight years, the Tiv and Idoma lived peacefully together.

    He said although he did not support Suswam at the PDP’s primary election in 2007 because of the rotation of power agreement, he backed him the moment he emerged the party’s candidate.

    Mark praised Suswam’s maturity and integrity, urging politicians to always keep to their promises.

    Over N70 million was realised at the book launch.

    The Chief Launcher, Aliko Dangote, donated N5 million. Kebbi and Niger states donated N5 million each; Jigawa State, N3 million; Alhaji Baba Danagundi, N5 million; and Katsina State, N2 million.

    Mark donated N5.5 million; the Senate, N5.5 million; Mr Demian Dodo (SAN), N2 million; Senator Abubakar Bagudu, N1 million; Mr Hassan Saleh, N1 million; and Oloye Jumoke Akinjide, N1 million.