• Yari goes spiritual, tasks politicians on God’s will

Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused those opposed to zoning of the Senate presidency to the South-South region of deliberately laying a stumbling block for President Bola Tinubu in the National Assembly.

He submitted that anybody who loves, believes in the unity of the country and wants Tinubu to succeed, wound not hesitate to ensure that the next Senate President comes from the oil-rich region, as already determined by the President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership.

Wike, during a media chat yesterday in Port Harcourt, stated: “There is something going (on) in the country now about the Senate presidency and the House leadership, and everybody knows my position. My position is that the (Senate) presidency should come to the South-South.  We are not talking about the presidency of the country now, we are done with that.

“If you agree that (Senate) presidency should go to the south, tell me the truth, where should it go? It can’t be in the South-West. It can’t be in the South-East. South-South has only produced one Senate President, Joseph Wayas, far back in 1979. South-East has produced over seven.”

He stressed that those who were averse to Tinubu’s presidential ambition are still hell-bent on laying stumbling block for him at the National Assembly through their opposition to his preferred choice of former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President.

The ex-governor maintained that if there were no cordial relationship between leadership of the National Assembly and the Presidency, the country would be distracted by unnecessary power conflict.

Meanwhile, erstwhile governor of Zamfara State and aspirant for the Senate presidency, Abdulaziz Yari, has declared that political power is given by God, warning people against contesting the will of God on the issue.

Speaking yesterday when the South-South Community in Abuja paid him a courtesy visit, he insisted that in this contest, “only the will of God will prevail.”

His words: “People should not contest with God. Only God, Allah, that we worship that instals a king, no other person.”

“It is only God, who enthrones or makes a king. This is to call the attention of anyone, who thinks that he enthrones and dethrones. Those that are on the throne should remember that they were given the throne by God, and that God never shifts from where he is. This is a clarion call to everyone. It is only God’s decision that will prevail.”

The Senator-elect for Zamfara West charged political stakeholders on rule of law.

He urged Nigerian leaders to collectively address the South-South conundrum.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the community, Mike Okiro, told Yari that they were in support of his ambition, adding: “We are here to tell you that we are with you, we support you. We are  with you in prayers.

“We are going to spread the news of our visit. We hope that God will hear our prayers and bless your ambition.”

The coordinator, Premier Bello, noted that over the years, the South-South has always been in partnership with the North, explaining that the understanding has been mutually beneficial.