Some former senators, who served between the Second and Fourth Republics, have endorsed the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabioand Jibrin Barau, as President and Vice President of the 10th Senate.
The former senators, under the aegis of Senators without service, said that their support for the two senators for the positions is to guarantee equity and justice in the distribution of political powers in all geopolitical areas of the country.
The former senators, who number around 72, made their position known at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
The endorsement came just before APC adopted the duo.
Mr. Akpabio is the Senator-elect for Akwa Ibom North-west. He was a member of the legislative upper house between 2015 and 2019 during which he was minority leader.
Mr. Jibrin currently represents Kano North and chairs the appropriation committee.
Support based on extensive consultations
BasheerLado, speaking to reporters on behalf of the former senators, said the decision to support Messrs. Akpabio and Barau for the charges was due to extensive consultation with the relevant authorities.
He said that Senate leadership requires the service of experienced legislators who have the ability to unite Senate members regardless of geopolitical zone and also ensure that good governance is delivered.
“We, in the spirit of fairness, justice, political expediency, and after extensive stakeholder consultation, hereby express our full support for the zoning of the office of President of the 10th Senate, to the South-South geopolitical zone. from Nigeria. .
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“We also affirm our unreserved support for the position of President of the Tenth Senate, who also serves as President of the National Assembly, to be awarded to His Excellency, the Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON. The position of President of the Senate represents the third position in the hierarchy of our current democratic dispensation.
“In this same spirit of equity, we also affirm our strong support for the position of Vice President of the Tenth Senate to be awarded to the Distinguished Senator Barau I. Jubrin, CON, representing the North Kano Senate Area, Kano State.
“We are convinced that a diverse and united legislative leadership is essential for good government. In a difficult period in our nation’s political history, the National Assembly requires experienced and no-nonsense leaders at the forefront of its affairs,” said Mr. Lado.
He called on other hopefuls running against Messrs. Akpabio and Jibrin to resign from the race, noting that their withdrawal will contribute to the smooth and peaceful functioning of the incoming administration.
“In light of the above, we would like to respectfully appeal to all other applicants for these key positions to kindly support our position by withdrawing their respective offers.
“We believe that his withdrawal and cooperation will reduce the acrimony that commonly characterizes the power struggle in the National Assembly between geopolitical zones. This will go a long way in ensuring a peaceful and smooth takeoff for the incoming administration,” Lado said.
In addition to Messrs. Akpabio and Barau, other candidates for the presidency of the Senate are Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North), Patrick Ndubueze (Imo North), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara) and Sani Musa (Niger). .
Serving senators and senators-elect from the southeast on Sunday rejected the zoning of the Senate presidency for the south-south, as well as Mr. Akpabio’s endorsement of the post.
They also accused the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, of trying to marginalize the population of the southeast.