Tinubu Wields Big Stick, says Party Discipline Sacrosanct in 9th National Assembly
….As Abaribe, Ordia Berate Move to Impose a Stooge as Senate President In a manner almost akin to wielding a big stick, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Mr Ahmed Bola...
….As Abaribe, Ordia Berate Move to Impose a Stooge as Senate President
In a manner almost akin to wielding a big stick, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Mr Ahmed Bola Tinubu has said that party discipline would be upheld in addressing the leadership tussle of the 9th National Assembly.
Tinubu, also a former senator, said this while speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Friday after a prayer programme organised by Islamic and Christian clerics to mark his 67th birthday.
Alluding to the circumstances that produced Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekeremadu, he said, “Party discipline is key, there must be discipline in the party. We were a little careless in 2015. We created the opportunity for serpent to get into our party and that did not allow Nigeria to make the desired progress.”
“You have seen the result of it and we are not going to allow that to happen again. We are going to respect our party and we are going to apply the whip.”
“It is either you stay with us, follow us or you leave. You have the freedom to choose but the freedom does not give you as a minority to go and collaborate and protrude our mandate given to you to another party who was our opposition and who is still our opposition” Tinubu said, sending warning shot to APC members who may be plotting deals with the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
“We would not take that this time, no matter who you think you are. That is how it is built. Why do you want to deviate from what has been structured?”
“We look at our reward system equally, zone by zone,” he said.
Tinubu said that his life as a politician at 67 had been a fulfilling journey.
“When I joined politics, there were a lot of uncertainties because it was during the military regime. There were lots of struggles but my concern is about people and the future of my country.”
“My mother stood by me when I told her then that I was joining politics. She told me to be ready to take all sorts of insults whenever they cross my way. May her soul rest in peace.”
“The struggle was tough. It created a justice on June 12 election of MKO and some people deserted the camp, the struggle, the spirit. We have stayed with this struggle. We know democracy is not easy but it is the only system of government that we chose. Ever since, it has been a very fulfilling journey. There is always the twist and turns in politics.”
“Today, we endure, we persevere, we think, adjust, collaborate, merged and became single party just like yesterday,” he said.
Tinubu said that the APC party was in government for the common man.
“You will think that APC had been on for twenty years but it is not up to six years. We went through compromises because we know that if we form a good alliance of progressive thinkers and believers in the ideology of common man, we will be able to serve the people.”
“It is not by criticism alone. You have to have the opportunity to even change the life of the people and quality of their standard of living. So, we stood by it, we persevered persistently, uttered our voice, offered our recommendations, and then we are here. And today I am extremely happy that we are in government for the common man.”
“The only way to change Nigeria from penury is to fashion out our own organic economic strategy and plan that will continue to cater for all,” he said.
The battle to succeed Mr Bukola Saraki as President of the Senate has gained momentum. The three top contenders are the current Senate Leader, Mr Ahmad Lawan, former Senate Leader, Mr Mohammed Ali Ndume and chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Mr Danjuma Goje. Former Governor of Abia State and senator-elect, Mr Orji Uzor Kalu who until recently was among the top candidates for the job, has now settled for the position of the Deputy President of the Senate.
Though the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has endorsed the candidacy of Lawan, Ndume, who was sacked in 2017 as Leader of the Senate, has however vowed not to throw in the towel. He said the open endorsement of Lawan by the National Chairman of APC, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, was unconstitutional and an affront on the parliament, which he said must be independent.
According to a Saturday Sun report, there is a gang up against the candidacy of Lawan. It was gathered that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators-elect, are plotting to scuttle Lawan’s emergence. The PDP, which currently has 43 senators-elect, wants a repeat of 2015, when it pitched its tent with Saraki to emerge as Senate President.
A ranking PDP senator who spoke to Saturday Sun in confidence, said opposition lawmakers will resist any plans by the ruling APC to foist its stooge on the parliament. He insisted that only a candidate ready to protect the independence of the Senate will get their votes.
He said: “I am a senator and I don’t need the permission of a party chairman who has no respect for a parliament to determine who should lead us. If the APC thinks it can decide for us, let them wait and see what we are planning. As they are meeting and strategising, we are also doing it.”
“We have the number and there are APC senators who are not comfortable with the hard stance of APC. The election will be by secret ballot and no one will know who each senator will vote for. The outcome of that day will shock many people. We will have a vibrant Senate and those thinking that they can control us will be disappointed.”
Giving credence to the claim, chairman of South East Caucus in the Senate, Mr Enyinnaya Abaribe, told Saturday Sun that APC will not be allowed to impose a stooge on the 9th Senate. He berated Oshiomhole and accused him of misleading the public.
Abaribe said Oshiomhole’s utterances are demarketing Lawan. He said no Senate President will possess any absolute powers to behave like a sole administrator. He said PDP senators were meeting and may likely come up with a candidate to challenge the APC. He insisted that the Standing Rules of the Senate and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria make it clear on how presiding officers of the Senate will emerge.
“Oshiomhole is ignorant. When we are going to vote on that day, Oshiomhole or APC leaders will not be on the floor. Only senators will vote. I also pity Lawan. I think Oshiomhole is demarketing Lawan. His statement that only APC senators will be appointed chairmen of committees is foolish. Not even the Senate President can unilaterally pick committee chairmen. There is a selection committee that handles that.”
Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works and a member the PDP who recently won re-election, Mr Clifford Ordia, who represents Edo Central Constituency, told Saturday Sun that some leaders who should understand the workings of the various institutions of government, ignorantly peddle half-truths. Ordia, apparently referring to Oshiomhole, said the Senate is a sacred institution strangers have no business with.
He said: “I have been following developments and I feel sad when people express their ignorance publicly. Those plotting to install a stooge they can manipulate, have left out the PDP. They think they can just do what they like and everybody will stop talking. That will not happen.”
“Unfortunately, only senators can vote on that day. We will see how they will force us to do what they want. Senators were elected by their various constituents. We were not sent to Abuja to take instructions from someone who doesn’t know how we got here in the first place. The PDP in the Senate will wait and see.”
Senator Chukwuka Utazi, who heads the committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, said he will not indulge people who have no business with parliamentary understanding. He told Saturday Sun that on the day presiding officers of the Senate will be elected; those issuing threats will not be on ground to vote.
“I don’t want to join issues with anybody. How can I join issues with people who can only talk, but can’t vote? On the day of election, visitors will stay in their place and we will vote in those that we want. They will not have a say. If that is the case, why should we join issues with them?
“Those who are contesting are talking to us. We know ourselves and we know those who are competent. On that day, we will vote for a competent President of the Senate. We shall see on that day who will have the final say. Those expressing their ignorance should wait until we elect those we want,” he said.
Although Goje is yet to officially join the race, it was gathered that he may get the support of former governors. When the 9th Senate is inaugurated, it will have over 30 former governors and deputies. As a former governor, minister and a PDP member, Goje may get the blessing of his former colleagues. The PDP may also throw its weight behind him if he eventually joins the race in the coming days.
