Senate presidency: PANDEF, coalition restate arguments for South-South

• Lawan may seek re-election as group backs Akpabio
• Northern youths task APC on South East pick

Niger Delta leaders, under the auspices of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), have maintained that the South-South region deserves the Senate presidency as manoeuvrings intensify over leadership of the 10th National Assembly.

PANDEF urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has a majority of senators-elect, and the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, to zone the position to the region in the interest of equity and fairness.

A statement by PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, yesterday, stressed that the last time someone from the current South-South states occupied the office of Senate President was during the Second Republic (1979/1983), when the late Joseph Wayas, from Cross River State, was elected, first in October 1979, and, again, in October 1983, before the Republic was truncated on December 31, 1983.

Robinson recalled that the late Chief Dennis Chukwudebe Osadebay, from Asaba, Delta State, held the position in 1960. He later became the pioneer Premier of the former Mid-Western Region, upon its creation in 1963. He pointed out that in the current dispensation, since 1999, the South-South zone has not had a turn in the Senate presidency.

PANDEF said: “This is, unarguably, the fair and proper thing to do, at this time of our country’s political progression.

“While agreeing, in part, with the positions postulated by the Progressive Governors’ Forum and sundry individuals on the subject, PANDEF is disturbed by some of the names reported in the media to have indicated interest in the Senate presidency, in particular.

“The APC, having upheld the principle of rotation of key political offices between the North and the South, in respect of the Presidency of the federation, is expected to maintain the same modus for the other major elective political offices viz: the Senate presidency, Speakership of the House of Representatives, and their deputies.

“Surely, the leadership of the APC cannot be entirely unmindful of the fact that a Muslim Senate presidency would bring further imperilment to national order, affecting the sorely desired overall stability. A wrong move on this score can only represent a step too far.”

“PANDEF, as a body of patriots and proven committed stakeholders in the Nigerian Project is compelled to issue this timely advice in the national interest.”

INDICATIONS emerged, yesterday, that Senate President Ahmad Lawan might seek the support of his colleagues to retain his office in the 10th Assembly.

This came as a socio-political organisation, the Coalition of South-South Community for United Nigeria, Justice and Equity, appealed to the APC, Tinubu, and senators-elect to zone the Senate presidency to the South-South for the sake of equity, justice and fairness.

The group further insisted that the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, is highly qualified to be the Senate President of the 10th Assembly.

Lawan, representing Yobe North Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is said to be putting finishing touches towards setting up his campaign office at Transcorp Hotel in Abuja.

In apparent bid to shore up his re-election moves, the National Political Movement of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth has concluded arrangement to honour him in recognition of his efforts in sustaining democracy.

Expected at the event are: Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State; his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello; and the Senator representing Adamawa North, Elisha Abbo, among other senators-elect.

Onwe Christian Goodluck, who chairs the group, spoke to reporters in Abuja, where he hinted that other youth groups drawn from the 36 states of the federation would be in attendance.

Justifying the ceremony, Goodluck said: “We are motivated to choose Senator Lawan for the prestigious award because of his track records at the Senate during his first term as President, coupled with the number of infrastructural projects, bills and motions he facilitated and initiated for his constituency.

“The 9th Assembly under Lawan witnessed rancour free sessions, peaceful co-existence, unity and development that has benefited Nigerians. This, no doubt, remains one of the biggest achievements of the 9th Senate and the entire National Assembly in 2019.”

BUT Chairman of the Coalition of South-South Community for United Nigeria, Justice and Equity, Mr. Eseme Eyiboh, while speaking in Uyo, said Akpabio has the pedigree to occupy the office of Senate President.

Eyiboh said: “Since 1999, we have had a model, that where the President goes is where the Senate President and Speaker go. The South-South that produces oil has not been part of the priority list of the government.

“We are united in this demand and appeal to the APC, president-elect, the vice president-elect and senators-elect that the position of Senate President should be zoned to the South-South.

“The reasons are very clear, since 1999, the position of Senate President has always been occupied by one region. If we follow the model of what has been going on in this country each time the Senate presidency comes to Southern Nigeria, it is usually micro-zoned to the South East.”

IN a related development, a Northern group, Arewa Youths for the Sustenance of Democracy and Good Governance (AYSDGG), urged APC and Tinubu to zone the Senate presidency to the South East region and consider the candidacy of Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso.

National President of the group, Alhaji Salihu Magaji, in a statement, solicited the support of Tinubu, vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima, and other stakeholders to zone the seat to the South East “for fairness and justice, and to give a sense of belonging to every part of the country.”

He argued that the president-elect and vice president-elect are from the South West and North East, respectively. Magaji said Izunaso is from the South East and has all it takes to become the Number Three citizen who could salvage the fortunes of the Senate.