Akume ‎In Strategic Campaign, As APC Builds Consensus‎For Senate Presidency

As the All Progressives Congress, APC, is working assiduously to ensure a smooth transfer of power from the outgoing Peoples’ Democratic Party(PDP) led administration, the party is equally putting measures in place to enthrone a legislature, which will robustly complement the executive.

The incoming APC government, according to the party’s stalwarts, intends to hit the ground running even as the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari(rtd) and his Deputy, Professor Yemi Osinbajo(SAN) will be sworn-in on May 29, while the Eighth Legislature will be inaugurated on Saturday, June 6. A new leadership is expected to be put in place soon after the inauguration of the National Assembly and the leadership of the APC is working assiduously, building consensus to ensure the process to ensure that the emergence of the new leadership is crisis free.

The first eight years of democratic governance, which started from 1999, was fraught with instability in both arms of the legislature. While the upper house produced five Presidents of the Senate within the period, the lower house performed marginally better, as it produced three Speakers.

A measure of stability was achieved in the post-2007 legislature, where the Senate had just one President in eight years in the person of Senator David Mark, the House of Representatives still maintained its average of three Speakers in eight years.

Against the backdrop of the unquantifiable benefits of a united and unified legislature to the realisation of the set goals of the government in waiting, efforts have been revved up towards the seamless emergence of a consensus leadership.

The influx of high profile political leaders, senators-elect, serving and former governors to the usually quiet Maitama home of former Benue State Governor and Senator representing Benue North Central, also known as Zone B in the state, George Akume, is not abating.

Akume along with some returning senators of the APC from the North Central zone, notably Bukola Saraki (Kwara),Barnabas Gemade (Benue) and Adamu Abdullahi (Nasarawa, have been mentioned as potential contenders for the position of Senate President. Akume, appears to be most favoured going by the recent galvanisation of support and solidarity around him.

The deluge of Very Important Personality (VIP) traffic at his home since early last week, heightened as the week proceeded. Notable callers at the weekend included former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Adamu Aliero and National Leader of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande.

Outgoing Governor of Kano State , was recently elected to represent Kano in the Eight Senate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, governor-elect of Adamawa State, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow and outgoing Deputy Governor of Akume’s home state, Benue, Chief Stephen Lawani, also came calling.

Presidential Liaison Officer to the National Assembly under the Obasanjo-Atiku administration, Alh Kashim Imam, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, former Military Administrator of Benue State, Col Aminu Isa Kontagora and Senator Anie Okonkwo also visited.

Former Governor of Plateau State and returning Senator, Joshua Dariye as well as his Kogi Central counterpart, Mohammed Salami Ohiare equally identified with the APC leadership’s vision by visiting Akume.