The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate president

  • NASS: APC governors endorses Lawan, Gbajabiamila – Shettima

    Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno says former governors in the ninth National Assembly have endorsed the candidature of Sen. Ahmed Lawan for the seat of Senate President.

    Shettima, who confirmed this development when he fielded questions from newsmen in N’Djamena, Chad, said the affected senators-elect had also endorsed Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila for the position of Speaker of the House Representatives.

    The governor also revealed that all the Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect from Borno state have endorsed candidature of Lawan and Gbajabiamila.

    He, therefore, dismissed the insinuation in some quarters that former governors in the national assembly were against the election of Lawan and Gbajabiamila as leaders of the two chambers of the national assembly.

    According to Shettima, the only way APC governors can show appreciation to President Buhari is for them to support his programmes and political decisions.

    “All our governors including those coming to the senate are 100 per cent in support of our party’s stance as far as election of new leadership for the national assembly is concerned.

    “As far as Borno is concern, we are in alignment with the aspirations of Mr President and that of our party.

    “Whoever the party endorses for any position, we will solely stand behind such a person because party discipline is absolutely essential for the sustainability of our democratic experiment.

    “If everyone is to vote according to his own free will surely that would be a recipe for disaster or confusion.

    “So, we have to align ourselves with the aspirations of the president,’’ he said.

    The governor, who was part of President Buhari’s entourage to meeting of member nations of the the Community of Sahel – Saharan States (CEN SAD) in N’Djamena, expressed the hope that the body would come out with lasting solutions to the challenges of insecurity in the affected areas.

    While commending President Buhari for his role in promoting peace and stability in the region, the governor enjoined member nations of the CEN SAD to intensify efforts in addressing the problems of terrorism and banditry along the Lake Chad basin and beyond(NAN)

  • APC’s position on Lawan in line with global parliamentary best practices, says group

    A Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), led by Centre for Policy Advocacy and Leadership Development (CPALD), has thrown its weight behind the choice of Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan for the next Senate.

    The group described Lawan’s adoption by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as in line with global parliamentary best practices.

    In a statement signed by the Director, Democracy and Governance of CPALD, Comrade Joe Mesele, the CSOs expressed their support for the APC’s stance on Lawan’s candidature, declaring that there was nothing wrong with it.

    The statement reads: “We have watched with keen interest for some weeks now debates as to the proprietary of the leadership of the APC in nominating Senator Ahmed Lawan as its candidate for the President of the Senate of the Ninth Assembly.

    Read also: On APC’s near fall in Kano

    “We at the CPALD alongside 10 of our sister civil society organisations hereby unequivocally state that we are on the same page in advancing the course of democracy in Nigeria and, therefore, view the development as a welcome development because it’s in line with international parliamentary best practices.

    “We have studied parliamentary developments in several advanced democracies and came to the conclusion that the leadership of those parliaments are usually members with the requisite cognate experience – usually leaders of the ruling party’s caucuses. And right now in Nigeria, the leader of the APC caucuses in the Senate is Lawan.

    “He is, therefore, without sentiments, eminently qualified to hold the position. The people criticising the APC for taking the position of supporting Senator Ahmed Lawan are simply ignorant of parliamentary  ethics and norms the world over.

    “We are calling on other stakeholders to align with the initiative of the APC in order to flow along with international norms and procedures in the election of the leadership of parliaments”.

  • Make details of NASS budget open, Saraki orders

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has mandated the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Mohammed Sani-Omolori, to make details of the National Assembly 2019 budget available for passage into law.

    The mandate is contained in a letter addressed to the CNA dated 26 March, 2019.

    Saraki said that full details of the National Assembly budget with necessary line items should be made ready for passage as part of the National budget.

    Read also: Saraki: Education crucial for peace, security, rule of Law

    The letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, is entitled,  “Subject: NASS budget details.”

    It reads in part, “The President of the Senate has asked me to request you to please ensure that the NASS Budget Details with all the line items are ready for passage along with the National Budget when Senate resumes next week. Thank you.”

    END

  • Pressure on Goje to accept Lawan for Senate President

    Some former governors are mounting pressure on their former colleague, Senator Danjuma Goje, to accept President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of Ahmad Lawan for Senate president.

    The President is believed to have met Goje on the matter.

    Lawan, who is the Senate Leader, is forging ahead. He met yesterday with some senators-elect and pleaded with them to give him a chance, The Nation learnt.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) former governors, including some of them who are senators,  have opted to back Buhari’s decision on Lawan.

    Some of the former governors include Ahmed Sani Yerima, Adamu Aliero, Abdullahi  Adamu, Aliyu Wammako, George Akume, Bukar Abba Ibrahim,  Kabiru Gaya and Godswill Akpabio.

    It was gathered that the ex-governors appreciated the “cautious approach adopted by Goje to his aspiration without ruffling feathers but they felt he should defer to the President”.

    The ex-governors have sent a delegation to Goje to reconsider  his position.

    Although two of them were with Goje on Saturday for what was termed “ a social gathering”, it was unclear whether they were the ones who spoke  on behalf of their colleagues.

    A former governor, who pleaded not to be named, said: “It is true we are trying to avoid cracks in APC over the Ninth Senate President and some of us have met on the President’s choice and how to prevail on Goje to sacrifice his aspiration.

    “I can tell you that some of us have opened talks with him.  We are talking to him; we are mounting pressure. We also decided to send a delegation to him.

    “As a matter of right, Goje is qualified to lead the Senate but we do not really want him to disagree with the President. And he is not a leader who believes in confrontation.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “Our intervention is just a follow-up to the audience between the President and Goje.”

    Read also: Senate Presidency: erring senators risk expulsion from APC

    “The former governor of Gombe  State is yet to make any categorical statement on his ambition.”

    Goje, it was learnt, told Buhari, who persuaded him to support Lawan, that he would “get back to him”.

    “Goje has not returned to the President on what he intends to do,” a  source in the Presidency said.

    The Lawan Group is, however, waiting for Goje’s response before arranging a meeting between the two leaders.

    Another source said: “Since a presidential intervention is already involved, we have deliberately asked Lawan to leave the initiative to President Buhari. The truth is that the President’s meeting with Goje underscored the enormous respect he has for the ex-governor.

    “Lawan is ready to meet with Goje but after the elders and the ex-governors have brokered a deal.”

    Lawan and members of his campaign team last night met with some senators-elect in Abuja on his aspiration.

    The senators-elect are in the second batch of those to benefit from the induction course which was packaged by the National Assembly management.

    A source at the session quoted Lawan as saying: “Give me a chance, I will provide quality leadership, I will carry every Senator along in whatever I do.”

    A Senator-elect said: “The campaign team of the Senate Leader reached out to some of us across party lines. I am new, but I am impressed by his experience on legislative business. Let us see how it goes.”

  • Senate Presidency: Lawan steps up campaign in states

    Leading candidate for the Senate Presidency, Dr. Ahmad Lawan took his campaign for the post to Borno State yesterday where he met with stakeholders on his agenda for the Red Chamber of the National Assembly.

    Simultaneously, all the three Senators-elect from Niger State yesterday pledged their support for his aspiration, 24 hours after a similar endorsement by the three senators elect from Kano State.

    It was gathered that some supporters of the other aspirants for the post – Alhaji Ali Ndume and Alhaji Danjuma Goje – might be willing to push for talks with the Lawan camp with a  view to reaching a compromise in the interest of their  party, All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Sources said Lawan and his group are leaving nothing to chances this time around so that they are not caught napping as they were in 2015

    They are reaching out to as many groups and individuals who may have a say in who leads the 9th Senate.

    The Senator elect from Ekiti South, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, has urged the leadership of the APC to open discussions with Ndume and Goje  to assuage their feelings.

    Lawan’s campaign team, The Nation learnt, is concluding talks with a key aspirant from Northeast, a development which may pave the way for a sole candidate for the headship of the legislature.  Discussions were held last week in Abuja and “initial interactions show that in the coming weeks both camps will have cheering news to announce to APC leadership and Senators-elects.”

    A source said an area being ironed out borders on the fact that once the aspirant drops out of the race, he will not be in contention for any principal officer position since both Senators are from the same geo-political zones.

    A source at the meeting said: “In the light of the political reality, he came with a request that he should be given the Chairmanship of Appropriations Committee for the consideration of Senator Lawan and his camp.”

    Lawan’s men, it was learnt, pleaded for time to consult widely on the aspirant’s conditions. To this effect, the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been briefed.

    Lawan is the best choice to lead the 9th Senate – Niger Senators-elect

    In endorsing him  yesterday the three senators elect from Niger State said their decision  followed  due consultations and considerations and in recognition of the supremacy of our Party’s position on the matter.

    Mohammed Sani Musa,  Sabi Abdullahi and  Muhammad Bima Enagi said in a statement in Minna that Lawan has the competence, charisma and integrity to preside over the affairs of the Senate.

    The Senators submitted that the 9th National Assembly needs someone like Lawan’s leadership qualities that will facilitate in making laws for the good governance.

    “His display of honesty, sincerity of purpose, respect for divergent views, loyalty to and believe in party supremacy as well as proven experience in the business of lawmaking makes him the obvious choice for the legislature’s top job”, they said.

    Sani Musa said:”There is no doubt that Senator Lawan has also demonstrated stability, reliability and fidelity towards ensuring sound and people-oriented legislation at the Senate as he demonstrated in the build-up to the 2019 general elections where despite the pressure from the opposition, remained resolute and committed towards promoting the good course of the Senate as the apex law-making organ in the country.

    “It is also worth noting that Distinguished Senator Lawan is one Nigerian who has remained detribalized, bi-partisan and accommodating to varying views as long as they are positive and can add to the growth and wellbeing of Nigerians.

    “He has demonstrated this in his support for legislations sponsored by lawmakers who might not have been in the same political parties with him at the floor of the senate.

    Sabi Abdullahi representing  Niger North Senatorial District said he was optimistic that Lawan would “promote homogeneity of purpose at the 9th Senate and foster unity among distinguished senators as well as other arms of government, in a manner that will add value to good governance in Nigeria.

    “I believe he embodies outstanding qualities that are germane to the success of the 9th Senate and the government as a whole. Therefore, I join my colleagues in endorsing his Senate Presidency ambition.”

    Muhammad Bima Enagi representing Niger South said:” the need for effective, selfless and patriotic leadership at the Senate has become imperative. I believe therefore that our party, the ruling APC decision to endorse Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan for the Presidency of the Senate is a wise and timely decision that has great benefits not only for the party but for the next phase of governance as a whole in the country.”

    Adeyeye wants  APC to discuss with Ndume, Goje, others

    Senator-elect Dayo Adeyeye (Ekiti South), said yesterday that it was important for the APC to dialogue with Ndume  and Goje in the interest of everyone.

    He told reporters in Abuja that the APC should strike a balance between its interest and the feelings of those who might not be favoured in the selection of process.

    “It is a matter of give and take. I think the leadership of the party should do well to assuage the feelings of those who might not have been favoured in the selection process by inviting them and let them see reasons,” he said.

    “The interest of the party is more important than individual interests. When we fight for, and protect the collective interests, individual privileges and interests can still be met”.

    Adeyeye acknowledged the right of Ndume and Goje to aspire to be Senate President since they are members of the APC and more so when the position had been zoned to their geopolitical zone, adding that, “However, I think we can always find compromise”

    He cautioned the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against fielding candidates for the President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate, saying doing so would negate the ethics and norms of parliamentary practice and procedure.

    The first time senator, who was the spokesman for the PDP until December 2018, cited the example of the United States where the Republican Party, with only a slim majority over the Democrats still controls the American parliament.

    “In America as we speak today, the Republicans are in the majority with three or four senators over the Democrats in the Senate and yet nobody in the minority party ever contemplated nominating any of their members to become the leader of majority.

    “Because that will be against the ethics and the norms of parliamentary practice and procedure. After 20 years of democracy, we should start experimentation. By now we should start a proper culture, ethics and norms of the advanced democracy

    “We should be able to do what the public expect should be the outcome of an election. Nigerians have given the APC majority of the seats in the Senate, they therefore expect the APC to control the Senate

    “Nobody should therefore try to subvert the will of the people by trying to play any game or causing any division even among the majority party such that the will of the people, freely expressed at the polls, could be subverted.

    “I do not expect any member of the PDP to come out and contest for leadership positions meant for the party with the majority seats on the day of inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.

    “All contestants on that day should be APC members. Since Nigerians deliberately voted for the APC to constitute the majority in the nation’s parliament with about 64 senators, the contest for the leadership positions should be within the APC.

    “The PDP should not interfere in it. The opposition party should not produce any candidate and its members should not contest on that day.

    “That is the practice in the advanced democracies. No minority party plays any game to take over the majority when it did not win the highest number of seats during the general elections.

    “Even if the APC is presenting the three senators to contest for Senate President, I do not expect that the PDP will try to take  advantage of the situation by sponsoring one of its members to contest the position.

    “We don’t want such attitude in the Senate anymore. I think by now, we should have rules and develop proper democratic norms and values that would prevent us from doing what is not expected of us as a party and as members of a party”.

    The senator-elect cautioned APC members contesting for the position of Senate President against picking a member of the opposition PDP as candidate for Deputy Senate President just to leverage on bloc votes expected from PDP senators.

    Read also: Osun Guber: Appeal Court dismisses suit against Adeleke

    “I do not expect a person contesting the seat of Senate President to make a member of the opposition party, his deputy in order to win the election. That would be a total betrayal. I expect that the party with the majority seats should produce the presiding officers and the principal officers meant for the ruling party.

    Meanwhile, a group, the Society for Grassroots Political Participation, has urged adherence to international best practices in deciding the leadership of both the National Assembly.

    The group, in a communiqué after its meeting, said adherence to internationally-recognised best practices would save the country from the sad experience of the outgoing National Assembly.

    The communiqué released in Ibadan and signed by Executive Secretary, Sewaola Johnson, and the External Communication Officer, Musbau Alade, urged senators-elects, Reps-elect and political parties to ensure that “the foundation blocks on which other programme and activities of the legislature are cemented by proven parliamentary experience”.

    It asked political parties to “put forward experience parliamentarians for the leadership of our National Assembly. Being a returning parliamentarian is not enough. Consideration must be accorded past legislative accomplishments of those to lead other distinguished Senators and honourable Representatives.”

     

  • Saraki learnt nothing

    It is said that you can’t give what you don’t have. So it isn’t surprising that the outgoing President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, missed the point when, according to an April 2 report, he “advised political party leaders to allow elected federal lawmakers to choose their leaders on the day of inauguration in order to achieve stability of the 9th  National Assembly.”

    There is no doubt that Saraki, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), targeted the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), whose members will be in the majority in the 9th National Assembly. Under normal circumstances, the APC is expected to produce the principal officers of the next federal legislature.

    Saraki had talked to journalists after a lecture by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, at an orientation programme for newly elected federal legislators in Abuja. He said: “The point I am making is that we should not make too much noise on the process of electing presiding officers. What is important is for the members of the Senate to decide who is the best to lead them, so that they can have stability.”

    Considering how Saraki became Senate President in 2015 when he was an APC member, his words show that he learnt little or nothing from the scandalous episode. He attained the position by scheming, pure and simple.  Saraki’s political manoeuvrings had got him the office against his party’s preference. But, predictably, it was a Pyrrhic victory; and it worked against him at the helm of the Senate.

    Saraki’s anti-party plot to get the top seat in the Senate had resulted in a strange power-sharing arrangement. Normally, the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President should have been members of the majority party.  But a member of the minority party, Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP, became Saraki’s deputy in a leadership combination that left a lot be desired.

    The APC’s response to Saraki’s advice was predictable.  The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Isa-Onilu, said:  “The position of the party remains that those positions that belong to the majority party belong to us. Members of the minority party should mind their own business. They should find a way of occupying the positions that belong to them. It is not in their place to start telling us what to do and what not to do.”

    Indeed, Saraki needs to learn to distinguish between what is normal and what is abnormal.

  • Ndume steps up campaign for Senate President

    Senator Ali Ndume has stepped up his campaign for the position of Senate President in the Ninth Senate, despite the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan by the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC)

    Ndume, who represents Borno South senatorial district, has rolled out a nine-point agenda in handbills he circulated in Abuja on Monday.

    One of the points in the agenda was a promise to improve upon the performance of the 8th Senate, stating that he will make the office of the Senate President less attractive by reducing unnecessary privileges attached to the office

    Also on his agenda is the independence of the legislature, operation of checks and balances and strict adherence to the principle of separation of powers.

    He added that he will prioritise and ensure the passage of the Constituency Development Bill, which will make constituency  projects more transparent, accountable, efficient and effective.

    Ndume also stated that if elected, he would mobilise other senators to agree on timeline for confirmation of nominees of Mr. President, passage of bills. The third-termer senator said with him in the saddle, the national budget would be passed within 90 days from the day of submission to the National Assembly.

    He pledged to make laws that will block leakages in the system; devise improved means of generating revenue, amendment and review of tax laws, and emphasis on reduction of reliance on local and foreign loans to finance budget.

    “To run the Ninth Senate transparency, through open accountability with full participation of all senators. For example, we will transfer the approving powers of the privileges of the senators like foreign travels, allowances to Senate Services Committee or a new committee to be known as Ways and Means  Committee”, the document added.

    Ndume concluded that the Senate under his leadership will uphold the governing party’s principles and policies, in addition to making laws and reviewing existing ones, to key into APC’s Next Level Agenda for the country.

     

    The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Borno South senatorial district in the 2019 general elections, Kudla Satumari popularly called Haskey by his supporters has asked one of the candidates for the position of Senate President in the 9th Assembly, Senator Ali Ndume to forget his ambition.

    Satumari said Ndume was not the right candidate for such a high leadership position, describing him as a self centred person who has contributed nothing to the upliftment of the people he is representing in the Senate, while accusing him of being part of the problem that rocked the outgoing Senate when he worked against his party in favour of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the PDP in 015

    Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Satumari also warned the All  Progressives Congress (APC) not to nominate Ali Ndume as senate president because he will reclaim his mandate at the Election Tribunal as the rightful elected senator for the senatorial district.

    He claimed that his victory at the polling units was upturned between the polling stations and collation centre where the results were rewritten in favour of Ndume, adding that no amount of pressure and persuasion can make him accept an out of court settlement, expressing confidence that the overwhelming evidences at his disposal are substantial enough to upturn the Ndume’s temporary victory at the Election Tribunal.

    “For the records, I contested Borno South senatorial district on the platform of the PDP. The immediate result of the election is not what is expected. I initially evaluated the outcome of the election to see what action to take, but I have overwhelming appeal from my people and even the contestants from other political parties that have supplied me with hard facts and evidences to prove substantial breach of electoral process.

    “The evidences have shown that I won the election but was upturned between the polling units and the collation centre. For us to deepen democracy and ensure that the process of election is abided by, I decided to take the case to the tribunal. It has been submitted and the papers served to all the respondents involved,” he said.

    According to him, if Ndume had won him fair and square; “I would have been among those campaigning for him to be the senate president because he is from my senatorial district and I believe that as senate president he could attract some interventions and developmental projects to our area.”

    “What people don’t know is that I have worked assiduously for him to become the senator in 2011. I was among those that worked hard to ensure that he won the election. I even named a primary school I built in area after him. The fight is not personal, but we should not reinforce failure”.

    On whether he will consider the option of an out of court settlement, he said: “Never. Out of court settlement is never an option. It is not about me but my people because the level of insecurity in my area has gotten to alarming stage. I doubt if we still have men to stand for the people.”

    Read also: PDP opponent to Ndume: you are not fit to be Senate President

    “Our problem is that nobody is bringing the issue to the centre stage. My over 80 year-old mother slept in the bush last week. It pains when the federal government claims Boko Haram has been degraded, yet the kind of insecurity we are experiencing on daily basis before, during and after the general elections has never been so under Goodluck Jonathan.

    “It was better under him because they can take control over a Local Government but the kind of hit and run we are having now and the seeming lack of concern or tangible effort made by the appropriate authority to curtail the attacks, make us to wonder if we are still part of this country.

    “That is why I will never accept any out of court settlement. Let the court decide and confirm his victory. I will appeal and if the Appeal Court still gives it to him, I will accept and leave for God. My life has been threatened and there has been nothing that has not been done.

    “There is nobody on this earth, including my mother, I cherish and respect so much that can prevail on me to step down for whatever consideration. I will never concede and even if lawyers refused to defend me, I will defend myself”.

     

  • Why we want Lawan as Senate President, by APC Governors

    Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have begun the battle to smoothen Senator Ahmad Lawan’s road to the Senate presidency.

    Some of them last night met in Abuja on how to push “the Lawan Agenda.” He is the party’s and President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for the job.

    Lawan was at the meeting, which was said to be part of steps to keep APC caucuses united ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly.

    Last night’s meeting, The Nation learnt, was to:

    • sell Lawan’s candidature to all senators-elect, irrespective of political parties; and
    • debunk the notion that Lawan is being imposed.

    The meeting, which began at about 8pm, was still in progress as at 10.30pm.

    The list of the governors and others at the talks was kept under wraps.

    It was gathered that upon endorsement of Lawan by the party last Monday, the President mandated members to “sell the qualities of the nominee to Nigerians, especially senators-elect.”

    One of the organisers of the meeting, who spoke with our correspondent, said: “ The meeting was informed by the directive of the President to the governors to see the Lawan Agenda through in the interest of the country.

    “We want to change the narrative being sponsored by the opposition PDP  that Lawan’s choice and zoning amounted to imposition.

    “Most senators-elect may not be aware that the President actually raised an eight-man search team which recommended Lawan and a few others.

    “It was after weighing options that the President opted for Lawan. It is not a case of the Executive breathing down on senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect.

    “The governors met with Lawan on how to project his inherent qualities, especially his rich legislative experience, and the need to build inter-party confidence/ collaboration before the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated.

    “We do not want the race for the office of the President of Senate to be beclouded by sentiments. This is the time of merit and we want to stick out our neck for these candidates we have recommended.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “The meeting will come up with strategies to reach out to all stakeholders on the Lawan project.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari is expecting Senator Danjuma Goje to set his terms for stepping down from the race for Senate President.

    Goje (Gombe Central), one of the leading aspirants for the job, is expected to quit the race for Dr. Ahmed Lawan, the Senate Leader who is being backed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the President.

    Goje is believed to have visited Buhari with Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai.

    Details of their discussion remained unknown at the weekend, but a source said Goje was asked to state his terms for dropping his ambition. He is said to be willing to let go.

    Also in the race is Ali Ndume who is said to be planning to formally present a nine-point agenda this week.

    APC leaders are said to be persuading Ndume not to go against Lawan because “the President and the party have spoken.”

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “So far, the race is still open, despite the endorsement of Lawan by the party. The Presidency, APC, governors and national leaders of the party have been reaching out to senators-elect and the  two other aspirants (Goje and Ndume).

    “In fact, one of the governors, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, brokered last week’s talks between the President and Goje at the Presidential Villa.

    “At the session, Goje was asked to name his terms which are still being awaited. So far, Goje and Ndume have not stepped down.

    ”All the aspirants have been holding meetings with senators and senators-elect. The comforting aspect is that the APC, governors and our national leaders still have about two months for rapprochement before the inauguration of the Ninth Senate in June.”

    On Ndume, a Senator-elect said: “Although a strategist of the President has had audience with him, he is unrelenting in his ambition to contest for the seat.

    “As at Saturday, Ndume has presented his nine-point agenda to senators and senators-elect who are backing him.

    “The agenda will be presented to the public any time this week. What Ndume told his supporters was that if he is the only senator left in the race, he will vie for the office against Lawan. He said it is either he wins or loses.

    “He is embittered that after sticking out his neck to defend Buhari’s government, he is being sidelined. And he complained against the way the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, allegedly breathed down on senators-elect last Monday in the presence of the President on the choice of Lawan.”

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) may field candidates for Senate President and deputy Senate President if Goje and Ndume step down.

    A PDP senator-elect said: “At a meeting, we agreed to work with any of the aspirants not imposed by the APC. Some of us are discussing with both Goje and Ndume.

    “In one of the sessions with some PDP senators-elect, we insisted that if Goje and Ndume withdraw for Lawan, we will nominate candidates for Senate president and deputy president. We are not bound by the APC’s zoning formula.

    “Left to us, we want the Southeast to retain the office of the Deputy Senate President . We are thinking of either the present occupant, Chief Ike Ekweremadu and ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu, who is a ranking lawmaker, being a former member of the House of Representatives.”

  • Senate president: Buhari, APC leaders pacify Goje

    LEADERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have moved fast to nip in the bud any disaffection on Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan’s choice for Senate President.

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with one of the leading contenders for the job, Sen. Danjuma Goje.

    Besides, top APC leaders, senators and senators-elect have held series of meetings with Goje to prevent him from being “hijacked” by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    It was learnt that Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima and Lawan’s supporters met another aspirant, Sen. Ali Ndume, to prevail on him to accept Lawan.

    Parliamentary Support Group Chairman Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, who wanted to be Senate president, is backing the President and the APC on the candidature of Lawan.

    The President, APC governors and party leaders have spent the last 24 hours clearing the intrigues surrounding Lawan’s recommendation for the job.

    It was gathered that the President personally coordinated the initiative to keep the party’s caucus in the Senate united ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly in June.

    Eleven meetings have been held between Tuesday and yesterday to reduce tension among APC senators-elect, The Nation learnt.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are getting closer to an amicable resolution of all issues/ grievances on the recommendation of Lawan. There have been meetings in the last 24 hours on the need to respect the wishes of the President and APC.

    “As the leader of the party, the President has been in charge of the initiative. He has had audience with Goje on why Lawan was picked and the need for all stakeholders to work with him.

    “Some APC governors, top leaders of the party and senators-elect have also reached out to Goje. We want to avoid any rancour in the party and reduce tension. We know the PDP is waiting in the wing for any slip but we won’t allow it.

    “We will come out with power-sharing formula in a way that all stakeholders, including Senate presidential aspirants, will be fully integrated.”

    A senator-elect from the Northcentral said: “When some of us met with Goje, he simply said: ‘If that is what the President wants, I will not drag it. As at this stage, I cannot afford any crisis.’ He is so patriotic about it.”

    Regarding Sen. Adamu, a senator-elect from Northcentral said: “The former governor has really keyed into Lawan’s project.”

    Read also: APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    But a rapprochement could not be fostered with Ndume who left Abuja on Tuesday for his Borno State home.

    A senator-elect from the Northwest added: “Sen. Ndume is away; we are expecting him back on Thursday. But Lawan’s strategists have raised a team to meet with him on why the President and APC took the decision on the Senate presidency.

    “In fact, Governor Kashim Shettima has volunteered to discuss with Ndume to allow the choice of Lawan.”

    The APC is battling to keep its members united to avoid a repeat of the situation of 2015 as being allegedly plotted by PDP.

    “We will not allow the opposition to break our rank this time around. It is a global convention that the party that has more members in the parliament will produce the leadership.

    “We have the majority; we will not succumb to the tyranny of the minority this time around,” a source said, adding: “Notwithstanding, we will extend the olive branch to PDP senators-elect. We are also talking to them to come on board.”

  • APC: why we picked Lawan for Senate President

    After picking Senator Ahmed Lawan for Senate President, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working out a zoning formula for other positions, the party said yesterday.

    The APC said it settled for Ahmed Lawan for Senate President after wide consultations with the President and other leaders of the party, considering all options available.

    The party also said the stand of the party not to share power in the National Assembly with the PDP was borne out of the fact that it has a clear majority and does not need the PDP to run a successful government.

    APC’s National Publicity Secretary Lanre Issa-Onilu told reporters in Abuja that having settled for Lawan as Senate President, the party was working out an acceptable zoning formula for all other positions in the Senate and House of Representatives, including Speaker.

    The formula will be announced within the shortest possible time, he added.

    Issa-Onilu said the party will not allow what happened in 2015 to repeat itself, adding that what the leadership of the Eight Senate did was treachery and not democracy. All members with ambition are expected to situate such ambition within the larger interest of the party and the nation, he said.

    Lawan’s choice was based on a wide consultation with senators-elect, governors, members of the National Working Committee, leaders of the party across the country and the President. It was presented to the senators and other stakeholders during its meeting at the Villa.

    The party, according to Isaa-Onilu, does not hope to see any formal election of principal officers when the Assembly is inaugurated as the party hopes to have concluded its plan to present to members acceptable candidates on a consensus basis.

    Issa-Onilu said the party considered allowing the zones to choose who should occupy the positions that will be zoned to them. “That is also an option because there is nothing that says that has to be the only option. It is one of the several options. You also know that before you arrive on an individual, we must have considered what zone he comes from,” he said, adding: “So, the party, in its own judgement, believes that we will not only zone, but go as far as to decide who from that zone is fit and proper as the Senate President.

    “You should know that from every zone, we have ranking members in the National Assembly who are eminently qualified to be Senate president. But there is only one vacancy to be filled because we don’t have two Senate presidents. In this case, considering other factors, the party took a decision.

    “When I say the party, not just the NWC, because there was a wide consultation across the country; the party leaders, governors and the President and so, it is not just Adams Oshiomhole or the NWC. That is the position of the ruling party.  So, the idea of taking the thing to the zones is an option which we have also considered before arriving at a particular individual from the  Northeast, only after we have zoned that position to the Northeast.”

    The APC spokesman insisted that the statement by the party’s National Chairman that it will not share positions with the PDP was not a threat as the country practices a presidential system of government where the winner takes all.

    He said: “It was not a threat. That is democracy. I have listened to PDP react to this and in their usual style, they exhibited crass ignorance. What we practise in Nigeria is the Presidential system of government and in a presidential system of government, it is winner takes all. Once you win, you take whatever you want. There is no room for power sharing.

    “We don’t need it because we don’t need them to run this government. We have enough members to run this government. In any case, when we were campaigning, we never told Nigerians that we were going to share power with any other party. We told them to entrust power on us fully because in the last four years, we have made good use of power and we will make better use of it in the next four years.

    “Nigerians graciously assented to that. It will be a betrayal of that trust to go ahead and start sharing power with a party, particularly the PDP that has been rejected by Nigerians.

    “We are smarting from the experience of the last four years, precisely what happened in 2015 when some traitors within the APC fold sold our birthright to an opposition party and some people now considered that as the normal thing. That action was not democratic. It was treachery and we thank God that Nigerians punished the people that were involved.

    “They have been rejected with many of them now on compulsory retirement from politics. That is the verdict of the people of this country for compromising basic democratic principles, which say that when you have majority, you have the trust of the people to form a government without conceding anything to the people they have rejected. If they had wanted PDP, they would have voted for them.

    “We pattern our presidential system along side that of the United States of America. When last did you see to the floor to elect Senate President. In their own case, the Speaker?  Any party that has the majority automatically has the Speaker.

    “What we had in the last one year when those traitors defected back to where they belong was an aberration and not democratic. It is an expression of lack of value and a commitment to personal aggrandisement and not a commitment to national interest. We should not think that it has now become the new normal. If we truly wants to practise democracy, we should consign such to the dustbin of history and never allow such to happen.

    “The problem we have had with party politics in this country is the fact that no ideology drives any political party. But APC is daring to be different. What that means is that we are progressives and the worldview of progressives includes the ideology that speaks to those values that are very important to the common people.

    “That is why most of the policies of this government has been pro-poor policies. All the social investment programmes were patterned along the world view of progressives.”

    Speaking on members who might have ambition, Issa-Onilu said: “You must know that party discipline is collateral to party supremacy. So when you begin to have interest other than the collective  of the party that present you for an election, then you are voluntering excusing yourself from that fold of that party.

    “So, what we expect of any member who has interest in anything is to work within the party structures to ensure he achieves his interest. But he may not succeed if that interest is at variance with the world view that this party shares. So, as we go to the next Senate, how it is done will be the way it will be done.

    “You have principal officers and all of them are determined by simple majority and because Nigerians have given us more than enough, we have enough to elect all our officers. We don’t need a single vote from PDP. In any case, we don’t envisage any election on that day because we are going to present our members to occupy these positions as the collective position of the party and all our members are experienced politicians who understand what this means.

    “When they get to the floor, they are going to read out the names and if the PDP so desires, they can bring a candidate up and follow that candidate with the number they have. It will be an exercise in futility for them to want to share from what Nigerians have taken from them. There are positions for minority party and the APC will not contest those position because it belongs to them.”

    He said Senator Ali Ndume’s protest against the decision of the party to adopt Lawan as the sole candidate for the position of Senate presidency was his fundamental right, adding that he must have been hit badly by the news of Lawan’s adoption.

    Onilu said: “He is only expressing his fundamental rights. But those rights were taken care on that very day you subscribed to be a member of a particular political party, in this case, the APC. That day, he signed up to abide by the position of the APC. We take what happened in the last 24 hours as how badly the news hit him.

    “He is  a human being and we are also conscious of the fact that Senator Ali Ndume is a respected member of APC, a leader in this party and he knows the right thing to do and on both sides, the right thing will be done. That also includes other members who have the same issues, but at the end of the day, party supremacy will have to take precedence. The party will also to conscious not to be found wanting and not to be seen to be breaking its own rules.

    “What happened in the national Assembly when APC members kept the national budget for seven months is a betrayal of the party  on which platform they were elected and also a betrayal of the trust of the people of this country and Nigerians have passed a verdict on them.”

    Read also: Senate president: Buhari, APC leaders pacify Goje

    He said that at the consultative meeting with Senators-elect, governors, the National Working Committee and the President, it was presented to stakeholders that the party intends to present Senator Ahmed Lawan as the next Senate President, adding that since that came out, the party has not contradicted itself.

    He said the zoning arrangement for all other positions was in the works. Just as Nigerians have been informed about our preferred candidate for the Senate position is, we will also tell the world what the zoning formula is for all other positions both in the Senate and House of Representatives. That will be done very shortly.

    On the mode of selecting the leadership, he said “It is not the party that will determine whether there will be election or not, and that’s what I said but by the time we announce one person standing in with a clear majority on the floor and anybody who says  that I object to that then that person has to come up with a candidate and back it with his number.

    “So there will be only one person being put forward and what do you have, a consensus. Even if there is going to be an election, it is going to be an exercise in fulfilling all righteousness. That’s what I am referring to. We don’t envisage a situation where two APC senators will stand as candidates for a position. And that is if the APC has not done his homework. That is the essence of the majority we have and that is the practice in a proper presidential system of government.”