Senators-elect from the country’s southern regions are working together to guarantee that a Senator-elect from the South is elected Senate President ahead of the commencement of the 10th National Assembly in June.
They have advised their fellow citizens from the country’s south and north, as well as Muslims, not to run for Senate President.
This was the attitude of the Southern Senators’ Forum (SSF), as described by the group’s secretary, Matthew Urhoghide.
In an interview with the Saturday Sun, Urhoghide claimed it is disrespectful for persons from the South West, North East, and Islam to consider competing for Senate President.
Urhoghide, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, stated that the current political situation in the nation is too delicate for people to disregard some regions of the country.
The Edo politician, speaking on behalf of Southern senators, stated that because the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his deputy, Kashim Shettima, are both Muslims, Christians should be considered for other posts.
“I think certain politicians running for Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other posts in the 10th National Assembly are taking the rest of us for a ride,” Urhoghide remarked. How can someone from the South West, where the President-elect is from, consider running for any seat in the National Assembly?
“I’m not sure why they’re doing it. The same is true for folks from the North East. The vice president-elect is from there. What happens to the other four geopolitical zones if they contest? Shouldn’t we think about them?
“Nigeria is more divided now than ever before.” Religion and ethnicity must be considered. These problems cannot be ignored. We already have a Muslim president-elect and vice president-elect. We cannot have another Muslim running for Senate President. That is both callous and unjust.
“Then first-timers should not be talking about competing for any positions.” There are norms and principles in parliaments across the world that only ranking members should compete. They’re simply walking around talking about running. It should not happen.
“Before producing anything, we should look at the four geopolitical zones and guarantee that religion and ethnicity are taken into account.” We must not disregard expertise. Whoever comes from the four geopolitical zones to fill these posts must be qualified.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we cannot take people for granted.” Nobody is more Nigerian than the other. We must respect the sensitivity of different ethnic groups and religions.”
Furthermore, significant signs have surfaced that certain senators-elect from the North vying to succeed Dr Ahmad Lawan as President of the Senate have shown a willingness to surrender their goals in return for lucrative committee seats and principal offices.
According to a politician, a serving senator from the North West who is trying to succeed Lawan has agreed to stand aside on the condition that he keep his existing post as chairman of a key committee in the upper parliamentary house.
According to the source, the politician who presently chairs an important Senate committee had already visited with numerous senators-elect, with some suggesting financial inducements were offered to the incoming lawmakers.
Another prospective legislator from the North East has allegedly promised his colleagues that if he is confident of being chosen Leader of the 10th Senate, he will abandon his Senate president candidacy.
“The North West legislator has no chance.” He’s aware. He’s bargaining and pleading to keep his current job as chairman of a good committee. He wants to go.
“He’s a Muslim, and he’s been advised to stop his campaign.” He has suspended it and is currently negotiating for that role. I doubt he’ll be kept. The role of committee chairman may be transferred to South West.
“The other North East member aspires to be Senate Leader.” He comes from the same geopolitical zone as the Vice President-elect, and he can’t understand it. “At best, he’ll get a good committee as chairman,” he predicted.
