The eighth Senate will be inaugurated by June 4, 2015 and all eyes are already on the hallowed chamber regarding who will emerge the number one Senator in the country under the new dispensation. Right from 1999 when, against all odds the late Senator Evan Enwerem emerged the Senate president to other Senate presidents that emerged after him like late Senator Chuba Okadigbo (1999 -2000), Anyim Pius Anyim (2000-2003), Adolphus Wabara (2003-2005), Ken Nnamani (2005-2007), and current President, David Mark, the process leading to their emergence has always been that of suspense and surprise, filled with extensive political lobbying and intrigues.
Of all the Senate presidents that have emerged since 1999, only the incumbent Senator David Mark representing Benue South has been able to evade the popular ‘banana peel’ that successfully brought down about three Senate Presidents between 1999 and 2007. Since 2007 when Mark emerged, the banana peel seems to have been swept away and so far he remains the longest serving Senate president in the nation’s history.
However, the recent development in the political arena, especially the result of 2015 election in the country has changed the setting with All Progressive Congress winning 60 out of the 109 senatorial seats across the country, leaving People Democratic Party with 49.
Principal officer
The office of the Senate President and the principal officer will automatically move to APC except if the Enwerem’s political coup of 1999 or Tambuwal/ Ihedioha conspiracy of 2011 resurfaces which might see PDP forming alliance with11 APC Senators with one of them emerging as Deputy under a PDP Senate Presidency thus beating APC to it.
Presently, the All Progressives Congress has zoned the office of Senate president to the North Central, comprising Kwara, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Nassarawa and Plateau states and the two visible candidates for the position are the Senator representing Kwara Central and Chairman of Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, the Turaki of Ilorin, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and the Minority Leader of the Senate, representing Benue North West, Senator George Akume.
The fact that the two candidates are ex-Governors of their respective states points to a fierce battle ahead as each of them strives to woo their colleagues to vote for them when the senate sits on June 4. It must be noted that Benue State has had a fair share of Senate Presidents starting with Iyorchia Ayu (1992-93) Ameh Ebute (1993) and presently Senator David Mark who has been on the saddle for eight years running since 2007. It will, therefore, be fair to say that another state in the North Central should be given a chance thus allowing the position to go round in spirit of fairness and equity, thus ensuring that every sector is given the opportunity to participate in governance.
This will, not doubt, open the opportunity to other states in the zone especially now that a candidate from Kwara, a state that has not had the privilege of holding the position before, has signified his intention with the hope that other states in the zone, Kogi, Niger, Plateau and Nassarawa, will take their turn in the nearest future. In addition to this is the need for balance of power in the APC which should be carefully preserved if the party will like to avoid pit falls which PDP overlooked over the years and eventually consumed the party.
The PDP which was in power at the Federal level for 16 years overlooked the issue of fairness across the party which is very important in politics. This can be seen from the choice of candidates, preference for certain powers blocks over others and continuous dependence on advise and guide from a clique to the detriment of others.
Stabilising the new party
This worked against the party in many ways, especially the exit of New PDP along with five Governors from Sokoto, Rivers, Kwara, Kano and Adamawa which sufficiently strengthened the APC and stabilized the new party effectively.
In picking the new Senate President, The APC should learn to balance power effectively and this should be used from the onset as the party gradually consolidates it’s position at the federal level. It will be recalled that All Progressives Congress emerged last year after four power blocks came together and agreed to forge ahead politically. Thus the new party was midwived through these political combination and gradually forged its way ahead as a strong opposition party in the county confronting the ruling People Democratic Party in all spheres and campaigned for votes from Nigerians with its slogan “Change”.
The party eventually succeeded in winning the presidential election, the first victory by opposition against a siting government in Nigeria. The Presidential candidate of APC and now president-elect General Muhammdau Buhari had contested for presidency three times earlier, in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 which he won after working with the coalition comprising his CPC, the ANPP, ACN and the new PDP which pulled out of PDP after the party’s convention and decided to merge with opposition.
Presently CPC has produced the President from North West, ACN has produced the Vice president from South West while the third group ANPP produced the National Chairman from South-South leaving the fourth group, the New PDP which in the opinion of many political analysts should produce the Senate President. The position they believe, should go to Dr Bukola Saraki to balance political appointment salong the power blocks which have so far remained united and the unity should be protected to avoid cracks at this stage.
Apart from all this, Dr. Saraki has proven himself not only as a good Governor ruling Kwara State for eight years and revolutionizing Agriculture in the State, he also led the Governors Forum efficiently and effectively, elevating it to higher status in the country. He showed great character and maturity, moulding the forum together. That there were no divisions in the forum proved he was a great leader capable of building bridges across political divides. Such clout and charisma are essential qualities for a man who will lead the legislative arm of the government.
Also, It is on record that the doctrine of necessity which resolved the political logjam that came up during the sickness and eventual death of late President Yar’ Adua was muted by the Saraki – led Governor’s forum. He eventually led the governors to the Senate floor to ensure that the proposal saw the light of day and eventually Vice- President Goodluck Jonathan became Acting President and later President and Commander in Chief of the Nigerian Armed forces. Earlier he had served as special assistant on Budget to President Olusegun Obasanjo where he equally distinguished himself.
Speaking on this issue recently, a respected columnist and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Mr. Dele Momodu said, “Saraki appeals to a lot of younger folks because the next Senate President is going to have maybe about 20 or more senators as Governors, so we need a man who understands them very well, I remember when he was the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, he was able to hold the forum very well, he was able to carry his colleagues along in policies and in so many other ways.”
Adoption of right formula
He added, “He’s a man who has schooled at home and abroad and for me, we are going to need a lot of that at this time. Nigeria has gone through so much in the past, so we need men who can hit the ground running. Not just politicians but people with extensive global view and appeal and I think Saraki has all that”. A leading newspaper, Daily Independent on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 advised APC thus: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) may have emerged tops in the just concluded general elections, but it is certainly not yet uhuru for the party as it looks locked in the process of adopting the right formula for zoning key federal legislative and executive positions. With the May 29 handover still about five weeks shy, there are already indications that the party is having some difficulty deciding who gets what as far as the leadership of the National Assembly and executive positions are concerned…”
That sums it all up. The Senate must move forward always and like the famous quote said “ the answer will not help anyone who does not know the question” the eighth Nigerian Senate deserves first class leadership that will not only complement the in-coming GMB Government but will be ready with right answers to our legislative questions and challenges.
Vanguard.
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