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Senate: Beyond the noise

It is just three weeks since the Eight Senate was inaugurated on the proclamation prepared by President Muhammadu Buhari. Since then, a lot has happened within the institution which under normal circumstances should have attracted positive attention from members of the public, including the ardent critic of the nation’s legislature. However, all the developments in that upper chamber of our legislature had been overshadowed by the din emanating from the circumstances in which its leadership emerged.

The quest and hunger for sensationalism and controversy by the press and its audience as well as the deliberate propaganda by a power group in the polity has made it impossible for people to see the Senate beyond the externally propelled and inspired schemings, quarrel and struggle for power that attended the election and selection of its leadership.

After the June 9 inauguration in which Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki was elected Senate President, he has continued to articulate the issues which he believed should be the focus of the eight Senate. The man had talked about the need for the Senate in particular, and the National Assembly, as a whole, to be prepared to support the programmes, policies and projects of President Buhari with enabling laws, motions and moral force necessary for their accomplishment. The President had spoken about addressing the issues of security, unemployment, corruption, development of agriculture and mining as ways to diversify the economy, improving on power and fuel supply, among others.

The Senate President therefore believe there is need for the federal legislature to develop a legislative agenda which will complement the identified direction of the Presidency. There are two indicators that can give anybody the direction that Saraki is already nudging the Senate. One is the various groups that the Senate President has hosted so far. Another one is the committees that he has set up and the address to the visitors and the committee members.

The Senate President had deliberately opened his office doors to visitors who can be of help to the realisation of his plans. First to visit was the civil society. They visited Senator Saraki exactly a week after his election as Senate President. Their visit was to open discussion with the Senate President on how to create an open, transparent and just process in the affairs of the federal legislature.

In his address to the group under the aegis of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Saraki said the 8th Senate has an agenda to bring the lawmaking process through broader participation. “ We are determined to have a more focused legislative session that will prioritise on bills that will help us deal with revenue leakages, inculcate accountability, reduce impunity and ensure prudence in our public governance through a concerted oversight function”.

He enjoined the civil society to help “galvanize civil support and provide field feedback that will enrich the deliberation and implementation of these agenda”. “We believe that this will further enrich our democratic process, guarantee public buy-in and ultimately empower our people”. The ultimate aim of engaging with the civil society is “to help the government of the day to actualise its policy agenda of reducing unemployment, infrastructure renewal, improvement of the business environment, power generation, justice delivery and agriculture”.

By June 24, the next critical group of visitors were the National Executive Council members of the Nigeria Bar Association led by Mr. Augustine Aleghe (SAN). The Senate President believe there is need for partnership between the bar and the law making institution so that the instrumentality of the law can be used to effect the positive change that APC promised Nigerians in the last general elections. He told the senior lawyers that “ the NBA has been at the forefront of advocating and advancing legal and political reforms in Nigeria (and) the change that our people voted for is in line with the ideals the NBA has consistently advocated over the years : better justice system, accountability, improved business environment , reform of the criminal justice system and the advancement of our people’s rights and opportunities”.

He said the federal legislature under his leadership aim to help the executive plug the loopholes in the revenue mobilization and management systems which have made accountability of public funds very weak, leading to brazen corruption and mismanagement in the system.

From now on, he said the Senate will improve on the budgeting process to make it easier for scrutiny, interrogation and accountability.

Saraki appealed to the NBA to help the Senate to achieve a reform of the justice system to improve justice delivery system, strengthen alternative dispute resolution systems, reduce delay in courts, improve our people’s confidence in its processes and incentive arbitration and remove regulatory bureaucratic bottleneck.

Then, the oil sector operators gathered under the umbrella of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce to discuss with the Senate President. The Senate President used the occasion to articulate the objective of the Eight Senate which included partnering with the government on how to deal with the common challenge of falling price of oil in the international market.

“We are desirous of having an oil industry comparable in structure, systems and output with international best practices…The oil and gas industry in Nigeria needs to evolve . We know the importance of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in making this happen”, the Senate President’s speech directly posed a challenge to the team led by Mrs Elisabeth Proust, the Managing Director of Total Oil.

As he told the OPTS, the Senate President in an earlier speech while receiving the delegation from Shell Production and Development Company led by the MD, Mr. Osagie Okunbor stated that the falling oil price presented a golden opportunity for the oil companies to retool and become much more efficient and proactive.

“It is high time we eliminated gas flaring in the country, deal with oil spills and third party related spills in a manner that is responsible and just to those affected”, he said. He expressed the willingness of the Senate to work with operators in the oil industry to ensure that the PIB is passed into law to stimulate investment in the industry.

“We are open to your suggestions and opinion on how we can move the industry forward so that investment decisions are not tied down. We are determined to ensure that our partnerships endures and we can do our best to promote the growth of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria so that it becomes an index for measuring international best practices, competition, transparency and environmental friendliness”, he said.

In the last three weeks too, Saraki played host to envoys from United States, Britain, China and France, all of whom came to assess the man and listen to his agenda, particularly to judge whether he shares the same goals and objectives with the new President of Nigeria. However, all the envoys had left fully satisfied that a competent, mature, exposed and intelligent man is heading the new Senate and that there is no cause for alarm in the synergy that will exist between the two critical arms of government in Nigeria that is destined to change for the better.

Incidentally, the Senate President had used all the occasions to also tell his guests about the two committees he inaugurated on June 25 with the aim of markedly defining the road map for the Senate. The Committee on Finance of the Senate is billed to submit its report this week. The report is aimed at opening up the financial process in the Senate for public scrutiny so that members of the public can easily access the facts and figures on the finances of the institution. The plan is to eliminate rumour and exaggeration concerning the budget and funding of the senate. This will encourage accountability, transparency and financial discipline in the Senate.

As for the committee on Legislative Agenda, their duty is to develop a plan of action for the Senate. The primary aim of the plan is to improve on service delivery to the people.. This plan of action becomes the barometer and standard with which members of the public can measure the success or otherwise of the Eight Senate. Thus, the Senate is putting itself up for public scrutiny, judgement and periodic assessment.

Accompanying the Senate President to these sessions were Senators from the two parties who also use the occasion to familiarise themselves with the goals and objectives of the new Senate leadership. One would think that debating some of these plans, goals and objectives emanating form these sessions with degrees will help the legislative institution to grow and serve the purpose for which the members are elected, rather than focusing on the issue of what complexion the leadership has and which camp they belong to or who is sporting their candidacy.

•Olaniyonu is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President.

July 5, 2015
Senate crisis: Oyegun’s fate shaky as APC caucus meets

Akande laments effect of disagreement on party’s unity

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s political future is hanging in the balance.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman should step down, some forces within the party are pushing, ahead of tomorrow’s meeting of the National Caucus Committee.

Odigie-Oyegun’s offence, sources said at the weekend, is his perceived failure to nip in the bud the National Assembly crisis that has shaken the party so much.

Most of the APC governors, some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and party elders are unhappy that Odigie-Oyegun allowed the “crisis to fester”.

They alleged that his “slow pace” attitude emboldened Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara to “negotiate” with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members.

The delay in sending the list of APC nominees for principal offices in the Senate and the House of Representatives has fuelled the anger against Odigie-Oyegun.

Party leaders are divided on whether to retain Odigie-Oyegun or dump him.

A source, who briefed some reporters in Abuja on the situation in the party and the backlash of the crisis in the National Assembly, said there was apprehension in APC that if the chairman remained in office, it might collapse.

The source cited two instances where Odigie-Oyegun failed to be “decisive” on the choice of principal officers in the National Assembly.

The source alleged that the chairman was virtually forced to hold the mock elections that elected Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as the party’s choices for Senate President and House Speaker.

It also took the intervention of the APC governors before he could send the list of party nominees for some principal posts to Saraki and Dogara.

The source added: “There is much anger in the party against Oyegun. Many leaders have accused him of being indecisive or afraid to take the right decision.

“It is as if the man has no backbone or self-respect. When he should move, he sits down. When he should talk, he is mute. When he should make a decision, he sleeps and after finally making a decision, he takes days to implement something that could be done in minutes.

“After Saraki and Dogara rebelled by aligning with PDP National Assembly members, Oyegun remained strangely mum and unmoved to the harm being done to his and the party’s authority. ‘He took the rebuff too lightly and quickly as if he almost welcomed it.’

“It was only after APC governors intervened and applied heavy pressure that he wrote a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker naming the party’s choices for majority leader and the other posts.

“Even then, the letter was half-hearted, oddly brief and strangely passive in tone. It was as if he wrote it under compulsion because he had been boxed into a corner by the governors and not by conviction. Once again, Saraki and Dogara rebuffed him and once again Oyegun took the insult as if he asked for it.”

Also, a member of NEC said: “What happened in the National Assembly was a pure case of failure of leadership by the National Chairman.

“Certainly, his lapse is one of the major issues we will discuss at the National Caucus meeting in Abuja and later at our NEC session.

“We are all disappointed and feel betrayed by Oyegun because he refused to take action at the right time even when President Muhammadu Buhari said he would leave the party to resolve the logjam in the National Assembly.”

Analysing the APC and the National Assembly crisis in an article published on page 3 of this newspaper, former Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, warned of the danger ahead for the party if nothing urgent is done to remedy the crisis arising from the election of Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

He said: “Now that the whole conspiracy has blown open, it is doubtful if the present institutions of party leadership can muster the required capacity to arrest the drift.

“It is my opinion that President Buhari, and the APC governors should now see APC as a recking platform that may not be strong enough again to carry them to political victory in 2019 and they should quickly begin a joint damage control effort to reconstruct the party in its claim to bring about the promised change before the party’s shortcomings begin to aggravate the challenges of governance in their hands.”

The former Osun State Governor added: “Before the party knew it, the process had been hijacked by polluted interests who saw the inordinate contests as a loop-hole for stifling APC governments’ efforts in its desire to fight corruption.

“Most Northern elites, the Nigerian oil subsidy barons and other business cartels who never liked Buhari’s anti-corruption political stance are quickly backing-up the rebellion against APC with strong support.

“While other position seekers are waiting in the wings until Buhari’s ministers are announced, a large section of the South-West see the rebellion as a conspiracy of the North against the Yoruba.”

Odigie-Oyegun himself has said that he cannot be stampeded out of office, saying efforts will be made to resolve all issues.

The party’s state chairmen also last week after a meeting in Abuja, expressed support for the party chairman.

In a communique signed by Chairman of the Kano chapter Alhaji Umar Haruna Mohammed, the party chiefs expressed concern over the crises rocking the party over the emergence of the leadership of the National Assembly.

“As state party chairmen and direct grassroots leaders, we are all concerned about the development and therefore re-affirm our belief and loyalty to our party, the APC, its supremacy as contained in the party’s constitution and the decision of its leadership.

“We are also not happy with recent development in the National Assembly, especially the lower chamber, and call on the party leadership to put in place proper machineries to checkmate further occurrences.

“We also call on the party leaders to use the long break with the view of resolving the matter so that the much needed change will be seen and enjoyed by everybody.”

June 29, 2015
Buhari: Ekweremadu as Saraki’s deputy unacceptable

•APC governors, state chairmen want Saraki, Dogara to accept party’s list on principal officers
•Ogbeh may head disciplinary committee

For President Muhammadu Buhari, the emergence of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member as deputy Senate President in the current dispensation is nothing short of a setback for his administration.

He is irked that some members of his own party, All Progressives Congress (APC), conceded the position to Ike Ekweremadu when the PDP never gave that much all through its 16 years in power between 1999 and last May.

But he is optimistic that the APC will overcome the setback.

President Buhari made his feelings known at a meeting with a delegation of the Unity Forum at the Aso Rock Villa on Friday night.

The forum is the group of senators backing Dr. Ahmed Lawan, the APC anointed candidate for the Senate Presidency.

Buhari, at the meeting, reportedly pleaded for the understanding of APC Senators as the party explores reconciliation options.

However, the majority of the APC governors and state chairmen of the party are insisting that Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara comply with the party’s directive on the choice of principal officers of the National Assembly.

The APC governors and state chairmen are encouraging the leadership of the party to enforce discipline to prevent it from collapsing.

Some party leaders, it was gathered, have proposed a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh, as chairman of the APC Disciplinary Committee to look into allegations of anti-party activities against some members.

President Buhari at the Friday meeting was said to have said there was no reason for the party to be divided over who heads the National Assembly.

“The President gave us audience and admitted that the development in the Senate was a setback but he expressed confidence that APC will overcome it,” a source at the meeting said.

“He said there was no basis for the split among APC Senators which led to the concession of the Office of Deputy President of the Senate to the PDP. He said PDP did not give the opposition such an opportunity in its 16 years in power.

“Buhari told Lawan and others not to take the law into their hands as the leaders of the party explore reconciliation options. He said peace and the survival of the nation’s democracy should be paramount more than any other thing.”

Asked to assess the President’s mood at the session, the source added: “He was not happy about the development in the Senate but he was hopeful that the situation is redeemable if some leaders can sacrifice their ambitions for the survival of APC and his administration.”

Another source said: “The session was cordial and reassuring. The President interacted with us individually and even had time to crack jokes with us before we receded into the business of the day.

“As for the Lawan group, it was Senator Barnabas Gemade who spoke on behalf of the 51 aggrieved Senators.

“Gemade said the Unity Forum is after justice since its members have demonstrated their faith in APC leadership and having been loyal to the party to a fault.

“Gemade restated the six demands of the group and the need to prevail on Saraki and Dogara to abide by the directive of the party on the nominees for principal offices in the Senate and House of Representatives.”

The source quoted Gemade as saying: “When the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo called a meeting to address the looming challenge, it was only our group that responded; we were the only group which participated in the party’s straw poll and even on June 9, we deferred to the party’s invitation to a meeting at the International Conference Centre.

“Before anybody knew it, the Like Minds went for the inauguration of the Senate and elected Saraki.

“We have proved our unflinching loyalty to the party. This is the time for the party to assert itself and enforce discipline or else members will continue to take the leadership of the party for granted.”

Ahead of the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC on Tuesday, there were indications last night that the governors elected on the platform of the party and state chairmen are pushing for Dr. Saraki and Hon. Dogara to comply with the party’s directive on the choice of principal officers of the National Assembly.

They said they will no longer tolerate the defiance of the party by the two leaders.

A member of the NWC said: “We are expecting a stormy session on Tuesday. Saraki and Dogara will have to choose between loyalty to the party or self-serving agenda.

“The only condition for moving forward is for these leaders to accept the list sent to them by the National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Those recommended by the APC for Senate positions are 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.

The party’s list for the 8th House of Representatives is as follows: Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila( House Leader)——South-West; Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa( Deputy House Leader)—North-West; Hon. M. T. Monguno( Chief Whip)—North-East; and Hon. Pally Iriase( Deputy Chief Whip)—South-South.

It was gathered that if Saraki and Dogara refused to respect the party’s list, APC may resort to sanctions.

It was learnt that some forces in the party are pushing for the appointment of a former National Chairman of PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh as the head of the party’s Disciplinary Committee.

A top member of the party said: “There is no doubt that Ogbeh is well grounded in party politics and he is a disciplinarian. We are thinking of him to assist in unraveling the anti-party activities in the Senate and the House.”

June 28, 2015
I had no deal with Ekweremadu, says Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has said he had nothing to do with the re-emergence of Chief Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President at the June 9 controversial election in the Senate.

Saraki whose choice as Senate President went against the wish of his party,All Progressives Congress (APC), on Saturday also denied receiving any message to attend a party meeting at the International Conference Center (ICC) on the day.
He spoke at his maiden press conference in Abuja as Senate President.
He said that contrary to the insinuation in many quarters ,he had no deal with Ekweremadu or the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Ekweremadu becoming deputy senate president.
All he did,according to him, was to reach out to all Senators to support his (Saraki’s) bid to head the Senate.

June 27, 2015
‘Why Senate adjourned for 27 days’

Senate President’s Office said yesterday that the adjournment of the Upper Chamber’s plenary to July 27, was meant to give the Senate Ad-Hoc Committees on Legislative Agenda and Review of the Senate’s Finances time to conclude their work and submit their reports.

A statement by the Media Office said the two committees were given one-week to submit their reports.

It added that the Senate would reconvene at any time before the adjourned date to consider any matter of urgent national importance or to attend to any national assignment requiring its attention.

June 26, 2015
Saraki/Ekweremadu: Senate and its bi-partisan leadership

The emergence of a bi-partisan leadership at the Senate, headed by Dr. Bukola Saraki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Ike Ekeremadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as his deputy, took many Nigerians by storm because it is unprecedented in the current political dispensation. Assistant Editor ONYEDI OJIABOR examines the development and its implications on the polity.

The emergence of Dr. Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Dr. Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy has continued to reverberate in the country. For the first time, the country woke up to the reality of a bi-partisan leadership in the Senate.

But, what is the implication of the emerging scenario in the Senate? Some believe that the marriage of convenience in the Senate may not last because it is built on a quicksand. The Eight Senate was inaugurated on June 9, 2015, under questionable circumstances. In the days to come, a bitter power struggle between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) might ensue on the floor of the Senate.

On the other hand, this might be in the overall interest of the nation, according to some analysts, because in the process lawmakers in the Red Chamber may resort to building a broad consensus in carrying out its principal functions. This development, in their view, would strengthen the Senate and make it more people-oriented.

No doubt, the debate for and against the bi-partisan leadership in the Senate will continue for quite a long time. The implications of the development, observers say, will soon unfold to make things clearer. A lot of things hitherto taken for granted and considered settled in the Senate may assume a different dimension.

For instance, in the past, it was common for Senators belonging to the majority party to gather somewhere in a closet to rehearse the steps that will be taken to arrive at decisions on the floor of the Senate. Thus, they merely come to the floor of the Red Chamber to act the script. The new arrangement in the upper chamber may have foreclosed such compromised decisions. The meaning is that it will be difficult to ignore the opposition in the Senate for whatever reason.

Again, in the past, whenever the ruling party is to hold its National Executive Council meeting, the Senate is usually held to ransom and forced to close. With the emergence of a Deputy President of the Senate from the opposition party, the Senate can decide to continue its sitting. Decisions taken at such sitting will be binding on the Senate if the issue of quorum was not raised.

It should not also be forgotten that with the new arrangement in the Senate, the executive arm of government can no longer easily have its way on issues in which it has special interest, especially with the minority party now being part of the presiding officers.

Besides, for the first time, the country is likely to witness robust, healthy and vigorous debates on the floor of the Senate. At the end of the day, issues are more likely to be decided on their merit. Decisions are likely to be enriched because the era of “carry go or bow and go” would be a thing of the past. This is likely to be the case, provided the opposition does not sell out.

Observers say the fact that the majority and the minority parties are fairly matched is a healthy development. The APC, which is the majority party, has 59 senators, while the PDP, the minority party, has 49 senators. The implication, according to such observers, is that the upper legislative chamber may be very slow in arriving at decisions, due to divergence of personal and party interests. “Unless it is well managed, the divergence of interests may breed friction because the opposition with its large number of members and a presiding officer on its side may decide to challenge issues it is strongly opposed to,” an observer who wants to remain anonymous said.

What is more, it is believed that the APC members in the chamber may remain largely divided because of the division created during the election of the key principal officers. The partnership between Saraki and PDP members within the chamber, observers say, is likely to prevail for a long time because the former Kwara State governor and his backers are likely to remain perpetually in fear of the APC majority who opposed his emergence. Saraki is also likely to be in perpetual fear of PDP senators though majority of the opposition lawmakers supported him to emerge. The APC, insiders say, may have sued for peace and are now willing to bury the hatchet.

But, the different caucuses within the ruling party will continue to habour mutual suspicion. It may prove difficult to manage and probably erase the suspicion. “Everything however depends on how Saraki will handle the explosive situation. If he is tactful, Saraki can ensure that the Senate behaves like a family where unnecessary partisanship on issues of national interest will largely be subdued. Former Senate President, David Mark, did it successfully where even APC Senators went to represent him at occasions,” the unnamed observer noted.

Other observers say Saraki would have to perfect the art of blending opinions, do more of introspection on issues, regardless of his interests. Such observers argue that extreme political intrigues and unabridged inflicting of his views on matters of national interest may turn out to be Saraki’s undoing.

Mark and Ekweremadu’s leadership of the Senate, although they belonged to the same party, brought stability to the upper chamber. Between 1999 and 2007, a period of eight years, the Senate had five different leaderships. But, between 2007 and 2015, another period of eight years, it had only one leadership with Senators Mark and Ekweremadu holding sway.

Prior to the inauguration of the National Assembly, when senators within the APC were divided over the election of its key principal officers, it is instructive that some senators even within the ruling party were rooting for Ekweremdu’s return as Deputy President of the Senate.

What was not clear then was whether he would agree to defect to the party to be able to clinch the position and whether the APC would accept to have a PDP man as Deputy Senate President, considering the fact that the opposition party has 49 seats in the chamber. The proponents of the above idea believe that Ekweremadu’s re-emergence will bring experience and stability in the handling of the affairs of the Senate and the country, irrespective of his political party.

Ekweremadu has always been rated among the majority of his colleagues and various zonal caucuses as highly detribalized, humble, intelligent, and a straightforward personality.

A public affairs analyst, Nicholas Ozor, who spoke about what the Saraki/Ekweremadu leadership portends for the Senate, insisted that the whole thing depends on the political and psychological temperament of Saraki and Ekweremadu and not necessarily about the party they belong to. Ozor said: “It will be foolhardy to believe that all APC senators would always support the proposals and bills brought by President Muhammadu Buhari to the floor of the Senate.

“Individual, regional, ethnic, political and even religious interest would always play up. It is how the individual lawmakers are able to manage these interests and subdue them to national interest that will make the difference. For instance, if some of his public comments are anything to go by, it is safe to say that Ekweremadu favours a responsible opposition. For his widely published address to his constituents after the presidential and National Assembly polls, as well as his recent address at the PDP National Assembly members retreat in Port Harcourt, leaves no one in doubt that he places national interest above party interest. I don’t see someone with Ekweremadu’s kind of mindset working at cross purposes with any policy that would move the nation forward.”

Ozor also cited the example of the PDP, which he described as both the ‘real’ opposition in parliament for the 16 years it held sway as majority in the National Assembly. He also explained how leadership of at least one chamber had always been at loggerheads with the executive arm for the 16 years even though they were of the same party.

In the Enugu address, Ekweremadu said: “It needs to be reiterated, however, that the Southeast PDP and indeed Ndigbo have nothing against President Mohammadu Buhari as a person or against his incoming administration. We will work hand-in-hand with him in line with our regional agenda and the overall development of Nigeria. We will give him all the support to succeed because he was elected as the President of Nigeria, not president of the APC or any section of the country in particular”.

Preaching constructive opposition in Port Harcourt, Ekweremdu had stated: “Let me quickly add that ours should not be an opposition that sees nothing good in any government action or policy. We should not engage in market square propaganda and destructive criticism that turn truth upside-down or tends to incite the citizenry against the government in power…. So, we must oppose responsibly and with patriotism. We must play by the rules and stick to verifiable facts. The PDP lawmakers in the 8th National Assembly should hold the ruling APC accountable on each of its campaign promises…. We should also provide policy alternatives, dissect every executive bills on its merit, and provide informed and energetic oversight of the executive to ensure that Nigerians are not cheated at any point in time. We should ensure that successive national budgets address national needs and that they do so equitably. We should only support the confirmation of appointments that meet competency test and comply with the principles of federal character and equal opportunity”.

Ozor argued that what Senator Ekweremadu listed were what should ordinarily constitute the role of a legislator in a democracy, irrespective of whether he is in the opposition or majority party.

In the same vein, an Ibadan-based political analyst, Zachaeus Adebayo, also insist that if the Benue and Plateau Houses of Assembly could work with the APC lawmakers as Speakers. Even though the PDP are in the majority in both houses, he saw no reason why the situation in the Senate should be different. His words: “The APC’s Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange was elected Speaker of a house where the PDP is in majority, while the PDP made do with only the Deputy Speakership position. Hon. James Okefe Ejembi. Ikyange beat PDP’s Hon Ucha to the Speakership position. In Plateau State, Hon. Peter Azi of the APC was also elected Speaker of the 24-member House of Assembly, whereas the PDP is in the majority with 13 seats. So, it is all about democracy in action. Much more depends on the readiness of the individuals in question to work.

Some observers however contend that for Ekweremadu to continue to enjoy the support of a greater majority of the Senators, he should always be Deputy Senate President whenever he presides. He must not try to outshine Saraki at any point in time. By that, analysts say, the fear that PDP Senators may hijack the Senate will greatly be reduced.

It is also the thinking in some political settings that Saraki, as unpredictable as he may be, needs to combine some level of political maturity and native intelligence to weather the storm stoked by the novelty of a bi-partisan leadership of the Senate.

To most watchers, the political chessboard in the Eight Senate will not only be interesting, but will also remain unpredictable. A lot, they say, will depend on Saraki and Ekweremadu’s political sagacity. With some nibbling from within and outside the country’s political circles, Nigerians are likely to gain more from the Eight Senate.

June 26, 2015
We stand on our list of principal officers – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned what transpired at both chambers of the National Assembly on Thursday.
In a statement issued by its National Secretary, Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, the party stand by the list sent by the party to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Buni said the National Caucus, BOT and NEC of the party will meet within the next few days to discuss the evolving developments in the National Assembly.

June 25, 2015
Senate: Ndume, others named principal officers

Three Senators Thursday assumed office as principal officers of the red chamber.

They are; Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, Borno, North East who assumed the position of Senate Majority leader.

Also, Senator Bala Ibn Na’allah representing Kebbi South Senatorial district assumed the office of the deputy senate leader, while Senator Francis Alimikhena, representing the Edo North Senatorial district took the seat of Senate Deputy Chief Whip.

The office of the Chief Whip is yet to be filled.

The principal officers were said to have assumed office when the senate president Bukola Saraki, read their nomination letters from their respective zonal caucuses.

June 25, 2015
Fireworks in Senate over positions

The intrigue and scheming over positions in the Senate continued unabated Wednesday.

Motions and counter motions became the order of the day as Senators attempted to win over their colleagues to their sides.

Alleged smuggling into the Senate chamber unauthorized Senate Standing Order 2015 also came up for discussion.

The letter by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun to the Senate president, Bukola Saraki which stated the party’s position on principal officers of the Eight Senate was also brought to the Senate chamber by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East.)

Ashafa specifically wanted Saraki to read the letter on the floor to guide the upper chamber on how to go about selecting its principal officers.

Ashafa who came under Senate Standing Orders 15, 28(1), 29(1), 30, 31(1) said he felt that his privilege as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria had been breached by the refusal of the Senate President to read a letter sent to him by the National Chairman of the APC, Chief Odigie-Oyegun about nomination of candidates to fill posts due to the majority party in the Senate.

Ashafa said: “A letter written by the Chairman of our great party, the largest party in Africa, the APC, was sent here and by the special grace of God, we expected that that letter which has been received in your office, with due respect, would have been read in order for us to see the resolution of the party’s Senate leadership tussle.

“Let me go to Order 28 (1), Majority Leader of the Senate: There shall be Majority Leader of the Senate nominated by the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.

“Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate: There shall be a Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate. A Deputy Majority Leader shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.

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

“Again, 31(4): There shall be a Deputy Majority Whip of the Senate. He shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.

“Mr. President, by virtue of the privilege of being one of the Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and coming from our party, I believe that that letter should have been read to the hearing of all Senators here present. Perhaps that will be the solution to the leadership tussle in the Senate.”

Hardly had Ashafa sat down when Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) countered and offered what he called explanation.

He noted that the Point of Order raised by Ashafa cannot stand.

Na’Allah said, “I am proceeding on the same order 28 just to offer explanation. By the popular rules of interpretation of documents that has been agreed by parties, the ordinary letters and words used must be given their effective meaning.

“With your permission I am going to read sir: ‘There shall be a majority leader of the Senate.

“The Majority Leader shall be a Senator nominated from not by.’ What this seems to do is to debar the internally displaced (Peoples Democratic Party) side from nominating the majority leader and to confer it on the APC which incidentally happens to have the highest number in the 8th Senate.

“So with due respect, the point of order raised by my bosom friend and brother, Ashafa, even goes further to explain the raison d’être, as to why the President shall not proceed to read that letter allegedly sent to this chamber by the APC.

“Therefore, we should go ahead with the functions and exercise of this Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria based on what we have accepted as majority party, that change is the platform that we will ride to move this country forward. So, I urge that this matter cannot stand.”

Relying on what Na’Allah said, Saraki ruled Ashafa out of order.

Saraki said, “I have listened to Senator Gbenga Ashafa and Senator Na’Alla and going by our rules I would just note what Senator Ashafa has said. I think we will leave the matter. In that case, I will rule that point out of order.”

Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) who raised the issue of two conflicting Senate Standing Rules, 2011 and 2015, called for explanation.

Marafa said, “For this House to change any clause shall give notice of such amendment in writing to the President of the Senate, stating each of the proposed amendments.

“Two, the President of the Senate shall within seven months of the receipt of this, call for the amendment to be printed and circulated to members. Thereafter, it shall be printed in the Order Papers of the Senate.

“Three, the mover of such amendment shall be allowed to explain in details the proposed amendment. Thereafter, the Senate shall decide by simple majority vote whether such amendment should be considered or not.

“Four, if the decision is to consider the amendment, then another objection is to be set aside by the Rules and Business Committee of the Senate whereby opportunity will be given to senators to further propose amendment that must strictly be confined to the original requirement

“Five, two-thirds majority shall decide the amendment and such amendment shall also be part of the rules of the Senate.

“I am still referring to the events of the 9th of June, 2015, in this chamber. Like I said that day, I was an active member of the 7th Assembly like the Senate President (Saraki).

“I have two Order books here and I am confused and I think there is need for the Senate President to rule on which of the Order books we are going to use to coordinate the activities of this Senate.

“I have the Senate Standing Order 2011 (As amended), which I was given when I was sworn in as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 6th of June, 2011.

“When I was sworn in last two weeks, I was given another Senate Standing Order 2015 (As amended). I did say that day that I cannot recall and I used the opportunity provided by the two weeks break to go through it the books and I could not find anywhere these rules were amended.

“These books clearly spelt out how they can be amended and that is the Order I have just read.

“I am now reading the Senate Standing Order 2011 (As amended).

“Order 3 (1e) provides for all the elections and resolutions in this chamber, where there arise any division or any issue that will be decided by way of voting.

“In the Senate Standing Order 2011 (As amended), it provided for division, Order 3 (e) said: When only two senators-elect are nominated and seconded as the President of the Senate, the election should be conducted as follows: as we saw in the election of the Senate President and George Akume in 2011.

“Looking at the Senate Standing Order 2015 (As amended),Rule 3 states: “When two Senators-elect are nominated and seconded as President, the election shall be conducted as follows: One, by electronic voting, two, voting by secret ballot which shall be conducted by the clerk at the table, using the list of the senators-elect of the Senate, who shall each be given a ballot paper to cast his or her vote.

“Mr. President, there is a conflict in these two votes. Which one are we going to use? I think it is time to rule which of the books we are going to use to regulate the 8th Senate.”

There was uproar from other senators on the floor with senator Marafa calling for protection from the Senate President.

Marafa continued: ‘I am raising these points of Order to address two or three things. Number one, we need to know which of these books is going to guide our proceedings. If we are going by the Senate Standing orders of 2011 (As amended) which is the genuine book.

There was disorderliness in the chamber, with Senator Marafa jokingly shouting, “would you shut up, Mr President, I need your protection.”

The Zamfara State born lawmaker was undeterred.

He added, “Like I said, the events as we witnessed on the 9th of June, 2011, especially as regards the election of the Deputy Senate President were null and void, because they were not in consonance with the provisions of the Standing Orders of this Senate.

“And if you say we are going to use the Senate Standing Orders of 2015, then we need explanation as to who and why we choose our Senate rules without recourse to Order 11 (2).”

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu took the floor.

Ekweremadu said, “I want to probably offer explanation to my friend Marafa.

“He is just four years old in this Senate and some of us have been here for 12 years.

“From 1999 to today, each Senate has come with its own rules.

“There were Senate rules of 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011 and now 2015.

“The reason is quite simple; if you go to Section 64 of the constitution, it says the Senate and the House of Representatives shall each time dissolve at the expiration of the period of four years, commencing from the day of the first sitting of the House.

So the rule he (Marafa) was referring to, ended with the Senate on the 6th day, of June.

“If he is seeking to amend the new Senate Rule, he can only amend the existing one which is the one for 2015.

“So, this particular Senate Rule 2015 covers us and can only be amended in the manner he had suggested after 2019.That has been the process and procedures since 1999.”

Saraki ruled that “Mafara raised a point of Order and I think there are two issues here in his point.

“One, he asked which of the rules do we use but there is only one rule before us-that is Senate Standing Order 2015 (As amended).

“The second issue you raised, which I think even in your own address, you mentioned 9th of June, where by virtue of our actions, I will refer you again to Section 53, sub-section 6, which says that it shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question of which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session and bringing that matter again, goes contrary to our rules 53 (6).

“So, I think on this note observed, I rule you out of order in that matter.”

June 24, 2015
Senate to review own budget, says Saraki

•Panel to fashion legislative agenda

The Senate will reappraise its budget in line with economic realities, Senate President Bukola Saraki said yesterday.

He said an ad-hoc committee would be set up to reappraise the structure of the National Assembly budget.

Saraki spoke yesterday in response to the criticism of the N120 billion 2015 budget of the Senate, which is considered too high at a time the economy is down.

Saraki, in his welcome address to senators, noted that the committee would also work to make the National Assembly budget more open.

He said there was no doubt that with the falling oil price in the international market and the attendant reduction in revenues, the fiscal stress was already beginning to affect the country’s economy, with some states becoming hard pressed to pay even salaries of worker.

Saraki also lamented that the implementation of capital projects under the budget had become very challenging

The Senate President referred to what he described as false and malicious report about jumbo wardrobe allowance and noted that as reckless as the report maybe, it emphasises the need for the National Assembly to run a more transparent system to avoid the attendant misinformation.

The Senate will constitute another 18-man ad-hoc committee to formulate a legislative agenda for the Eighth Senate.

The committee, which will be made up of three senators from each geopolitical zone, is expected to submit its report within a week.

He did not immediately name members of the committee.

Saraki said: “It is my hope that the recess afforded some of us time to rest from the dizzying activities of elections and inauguration such that we could feel the pulse of the nation again and be ready to get unto the business of making laws for the peace, order and good government of Nigeria.

“As I had noted in my inaugural address, the task before us is enormous, but very clear. Nigerians voted for change. They demand that we deliver to them tangible change

“They expect that we improve the quality of governance. Three issues agitate their mind today; the falling government revenues and the current fiscal crisis in many of our states, the unsustainable cost of governance in the country and the rising cost of doing business in Nigeria.

“These concerns have also agitated our minds individually and collectively and we must provide answers because it can no longer be business as usual.

“It is clear that it is at times like these that nations either buckle up, face the realities of their predicaments, and forge ahead to ensure a brighter future for the next generation, or turn a blind eye to the extravagant facts that are staring us in the face.

“As it stands, given the trust that Nigerians have placed on us, legislators of the eighth National Assembly, to leave a historic impact on the affairs of our nation, we must choose to show that we are made for this moment, to leave a historic impact.

“Without doing so, we will not have the moral authority to question Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that carry on with little regards for the public good.”

June 24, 2015