…Akpabio debunks dumping 10th Senate Presidency bid for ministerial appointment

…Arguments, lobbying, zoning considerations cloud contest for 10th Senate Presidency, brew controversies

By Moses Adeniyi

The Nigeria’s political space has further been polarised as the race for the 10th Senate President has left political blocs more divided as divergent interests put tough considerations before key decision makers.

Beyond the row over zoning principles, issues of interest have posed difficult sides along party lines, particularly before the decision making organs of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The subject, Nigerian NewsDirect gathered, has further been clouded with lobbying and considerations over appointments into the cabinet of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to form the coming government.

On Monday, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Akwa Ibom North-West Senator-Elect, Senator Godswill Akpabio,  dismissed as ‘false,’ reports purporting that he had jettisoned the race for the Senate Presidency in the forthcoming 10th Senate, over intending appointment into Tinubu’s cabinet.

Against reports which speculated that he might set aside his Senate Presidency ambition for a ministerial appointment by Tinubu, Akpabio who resigned from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari as immediate past minister of Niger Delta Affairs in line with the provision of section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act of 2022 to contest the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he is still in keen contest for the race of the 10th Senate President.

Recall Akpabio was one of the seven presidential aspirants who stepped down for Tinubu at the APC presidential primaries, a decision speculated would be paid back to him in kind with an appointment.

The former Akwa Ibom State two-term governor and former minority leader of the Senate who debunked the report that he was to withdraw from the race for the Seat of the Senate President, described such reports as the handiwork of blackmailers.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Jackson Udom, the Senator-elect said, “Please, tell them that the story is complete falsehood and blackmail cooked and served from the pit of hell. These tissues of lies lack substance and only exist in the minds of its purveyors and backers.”

Meanwhile, the purported appointment from Tinubu who will be sworn in as president on May 29, 2023, and mandated by a new law signed by President Buhari in the constitutional alterations to form his cabinet within 60 days of assumption of office, has posed more dicey outcomes to the considerations as the election for the 10th National Assembly (NASS) leadership composition is slated for June less than 60 days to the ultimatum for the appointments to form the new government’s executive cabinet.

Zoning considerations tear political blocs apart

Although there has not been any official communication by the ruling APC on the zoning of the leadership Seats of the National Assembly (NASS), reports have said the party is considering zoning the Senate President seat to the South-East and North West for the Speakership of the House of Representatives.

However, more returning lawmakers under the platform of the party have begun to nurse their ambition regardless of what  the Party may come up with as its preferred zoning choice, a development that has begun to reflect on the composition of lobbying blocs sprouting from different interest and political calculations.  Some of the contenders for the Senate Presidency seat include former governor of Abia State and current Chief Whip, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu; Senators Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano North); Sani Musa (APC, Niger East); and Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South).

Some others speculated to be eyeing the position against the ranking standing rule are the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari (APC, Zamfara West); the outgoing governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi (APC, Ebonyi South), and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North).

Arguments, lobbying cloud Senate Presidency race  

Meanwhile, arguments and lobbying for candidates of choice for the Senate Presidency seat have continued to generate contending interests amongst political blocs.

In this vein, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adamu Garba, has called on the leadership of the Senate to consider Senator Barau Jibrin from the North West region of the Country as the President of the Senate in the 10th NASS.

Garba stated this following the declaration of intention by Jibrin representing Kano North senatorial district, for the seat of the Senate President.

Garba argued that Jibrin should be elected as the Senate President for the 10th NASS on the ground of his competence and role in Tinubu’s victory during the Presidential election.

“So that is why personally, I believe that most of the aspirants of the Senate Presidency know that there’s no person that’s as qualified as Sen. Barau Jibrin. Why did I say so? This man started his political career in the National Assembly in 1999.

“The Red Chamber has been more organised than it has ever been since 1999, because there has been proper structure of working relationships with the executive. And if we have this mature leadership that drives this success, why can’t we allow Sen. Barau Jibrin to be able to drive the Office of the Senate President, so that we can have a coordinated and better organised and responsible government that meets the needs and yearnings of Nigerians.

“That’s why I believe that Sen. Barau Jibrin is the most qualified, especially looking at his personal antecedents in public service, and his activities in the Senate as the highest-ranking member.

“Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu gave meagerly only 8000 votes, but had 40 something thousand votes to himself, in the same election, same people, the same procedure, the same INEC, the same BVAS, in an election held in the same day, within the same State. Now how do you draw such a comparison?

“If you go to Sen. Godswill Akpabio, from the South South, there are reports from several quarters that Senator Godswill Akpabio is nursing the intention of dropping his ambition for a ministerial position,” he argued.

Meanwhile, political groups have begun to throw their weight of support on interest grounds along zoning principles with preferred candidates.

A coalition of stakeholders in the ruling APC known as the ‘APC Integrity Caucus’ has sued for the Northwest zone for the Senate Presidency, arguing the zone gave the highest chunk of votes to the President-elect, Tinubu and therefore should be compensated.

It raised the alarm over what it called a desperate attempt by opposition parties to take over Kano and the entire North West Zone from the APC.

The caucus which has members drawn from the National Assembly and business community at a news conference on Monday in Abuja, noted what it said was the incessant calls by members of the opposition parties, especially the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), on the APC leadership not to zone the Senate Presidency to the North West.

The group’s Spokesperson, Hon. Musa Ahmed Jauro said the whole essence of “the opposition parties crying more than the bereaved on the zoning issue” is simply to mislead Tinubu and other leaders of the APC into overlooking the North West in the scheme of things.

“We have uncovered their grand plots to engage in massive propaganda to de-market the North West Zone from the Senate Presidency race because of their desperate and selfish interest in taking over the zone — in the absence of a strong political office holder in the mould of the Senate President — that is why we are exposing them so that our leaders like the President-Elect will not be carried away by their antics.

“The North West gave the highest votes to our party in the Presidential election and that justice and fairness demands that the zone be compensated for the feat. Instead, they are busy mischievously plotting against the APC in other to take over the zone in 2027. We must resist them, we must not allow them to succeed in their desperate plans. The North West must not be pushed aside in the race, rather the zone should be compensated for being the highest voting block.

“The Zone needs to be supported to have the Senate President’s slot so it can be put in the best position to do more for APC in 2027 God willing,” he said.

The group advised that since the South West has taken the Presidency and North East, the Vice-Presidency, it was only expedient to allow the North West take the Senate Presidency.

“The North West is the fulcrum of the Hausa/Fulani people of Nigeria. Whatever happens to the North West, has direct or indirect effect(s) on all the Hausa Fulani people of Nigeria. So, if the Senate Presidency is zoned to the North West, it can be said to have been zoned to the entirety of the Hausa Fulani people of Nigeria,” the group stated.

Consequently, the group re-stated its full support for the candidature of Senator Barau Jibrin for the Presidency of the 10th Senate, saying he has the requisite competence, cognate experience, capacity and above all, the highest-ranking senator among the senators in the zone.

Meanwhile, making a case for South East on zoning terms, Sen. Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo) has declared interest, saying he is most qualified for the Senate Presidency of the 10th NASS going by situations on ground.

Izunaso who made his intent known when he spoke in Abuja on Monday, said that the South-East should be allowed to produce the Senate President for the 10th Assembly for justice, fairness and equity.

He said he had the experience and capacity needed to ensure stability and a cordial working relationship between the Executive and Legislative haven been a lawmaker since 2003.

Izunaso, also a former APC National Organising Secretary, said he was the most qualified ranking Senator, adding that allowing the South-East to produce the Senate President of the 10th NASS would help calm nerves in the zone.

He argued he was the only ranking Senator in the country’s political history that had worked as a staff of the two chambers of the National Assembly and later served as elected representative of the people.

“In 1992, I worked as the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Agunwa Anakwe. I also served as the Chief Press Secretary to Senate President, Chief Evans Nwerem with the return of civilian administration in 1999.

“I had earlier served as Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Jim Nwobodo from 1995 to 1997 and retained same position with the Minister of Labour and Productivity from 1998 to 1999.

“Having been first elected into the House of Representatives in 2003 and later into the Senate in 2007, I am one of the most ranking Senators in the incoming 10th Assembly,” he said.

He said he had also served as chairman of various committees, including: Rules and Business, Local and Foreign Debts, Housing, Gas, Foreign Affairs and Sports Development among others.

Izunaso added that he sponsored many bills and led debates during plenary sessions.

He  argued that with the election of Tinubu as President-elect and Vice President-elect Sen. Kashim Shettima, the two top-most political offices in Nigeria had been taken by the South-West and North-East.

“Political expediency, quest for national stability and cohesion dictate that the number three political position and the head of the Legislative arm of Government should go to the South-East.

“And I am the most qualified and ranking Senator to take up that position and I have been consulting and meeting with critical party stakeholders, including my state governor on this,” he said.

He said that the best way to douse ongoing tension, especially amongst those calling for secession was to have a man from the region in the top three political positions in the country.

“My emergence as the Senate President of the 10th assembly will not only help douse tension in the South-East zone, but will give its people a sense of belonging.

“Historically, the Nigerian federation has always rested on the tripod of three dominant ethnic groups of Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo.

“Under the current political dispensation, the Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani which now include Kanuri have produced the President and the Vice-President.

“Having not produced the president of the country since independence except for the six months stint of Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi as Military Head of State in 1966.

“The intense Igbo sentiment against political exclusion and marginalisation in Nigeria is justified,” he argued, adding that this could be addressed if the South-East was allowed to produce the Senate President.

He said the development would ensure inclusiveness and help arrest the agitation for Biafra in the South-East, especially among young people who had been misled by IPOB activities and other separatist movements.

However, making a case for zoning, a pro-democracy group under the aegis of The Quintessential Professionals in Politics, has called on aspirants eyeing the position of  Senate President from the Northern part of the Country should emulate the Chairman, Senate Services Committee, Senator Sani Musa, APC, Niger East in supporting the APC  zoning arrangements in the interest of peace, fairness and justice.

The group argued that the election of National Assembly Presiding Officers is basically based on ranking, competence, character and experience as well as the need to consider ethnic and religious sentiments in the whole process.

In a statement in Abuja by the  National Chairman of TQPIP, Dr Ibrahim Abubakar, the group said that there were reports that except there was an urgent intervention by the APC leadership, some desperate aspirants from the North might frustrate the ruling party’s zoning arrangements for the leadership positions in the National Assembly.

The  statement read: “Already, Senators Barau Jibrin (North West), Abdulaziz Yari (North West), Ali Ndume (North East) have categorically stated that ethnic or religious considerations do not matter when talking about the National Assembly leadership positions.

“Some of them had also threatened to go against the wish of the party by contesting the position whether the APC leadership zone the position or not.

“We consider the position of these aspirants as an aberration because of the need to ensure that all parts of the country are carried along in the current move by the incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to reconcile all the aggrieved people of the country after the just concluded Presidential Election.

“They should emulate Senator Sani Musa, who had already expressed his willingness to sacrifice his ambition in the interest of unity and peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.

“Musa had also said the only condition that could make him to  consider the position of the Deputy Senate President is if a competent Christian aspirant who is running for the office of Senate President convinced him to step down, with genuine reasons.

“The Senator sees Nigeria as a secular nation and had stressed the need to ensure a balance between the two main religions in the country.

“Musa had told the whole World that the tension that heralded the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate and his running mate, should be avoided in the race for the Senate Presidency.

“He had also said that for the exigencies of our time, looking at the volatile situation of what has generated the Muslim-Muslim ticket in this country, he was one person that believes in the secularity of one Nigeria.

“The Niger East Senator had said he believes that, for every reason, there should be given and take in this country.

“Musa had said that he was ready to step down for a qualified, competent personality like him in the Senate who has also presented himself for the office of the Senate President and asked him to drop his ambition for him.

“According to him, there is a position of Deputy Senate President, which also is a presiding officer in the National Assembly.

“He had said he would be willing to do it if it’s going to be in the best interest of Nigerians and if it’s going to be in the best interest of the zone he was going to represent as a presiding officer.

“He had also said that there was no commitment or sacrifice too much to make to keep the unity Nigeria deserved.”