The principal officers of the National Assembly were picked, following consultations with “critical stakeholders” and “elected representatives” from the ruling and opposition parties, Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said yesterday.
He said that the principal officers were chosen in a transparent and democratic process, that was devoid of rancour.
However, the announcement of the principal officers at plenary on Monday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio generated ripples.
Yesterday, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Abdullahi Adamu dissociated himself from the choice of Senator Bamidele as Majority Leader.
But, Niger State Governor Umar Bago disagreed with Adamu, saying that their selection, which was based on zoning, followed wide consultations in the ruling party.
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership rejected the process that threw up Senators Simon Mwadkwon as Senate Minority Leader and Oyewunmi Olalere as Deputy Minority Leader.
Apart from Bamidele, Mwadkwon and Olalere, Akapabio named a former governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, as deputy Senate leader; Ali Ndume (APC – Borno South) as chief whip; Lola Ashiru (APC – Kwara South), deputy chief whip and Olarere – (PDP- Osun West), deputy minority leader.
Other minority principal officers announced are Darlington Nwokeocha (LP – Abia Central) as (minority whip) and Rufai Hanga (NNPP – Kano Central) , deputy minority whip.
House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas aso named Prof. Julius Ihonvbare (APC, Edo) as the majority leader of the House; Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), minority leaders and Usman Kumo (APC-Gombe), chief whip.
Other principal officers named by the Speaker are Abdullahi Halims (Kogi- APC), deputy majority leader; Adewumi Onanuga (Ogun, APC), deputy majority whip; Ali Isa (Gombe- PDP), minority whip; Ali Madaki (Kano-NNPP), deputy minority leader and George Ozodinobi (Anambra- LP), deputy minority whip.
Bamidele said their selection was the decision of “critical stakeholders” and other elected representatives from the parties.
Bamidele said: “All I can assure you on behalf of my humble self and my colleagues is that we see it as an assignment.
“I know that by the grace of God, we will be able to make a difference that will be positive. The presiding officers emerged without rancour in a manner that was transparent and democratic.
“The emergence of the remaining principal officers was not an issue to be decided by members. Rather it was an issue that needed to be decided among the critical stakeholders of the party, which include members of the National Working Committee (NWC) as well as those already elected into office in the two arms of government and they were able to arrive at the decisions and that was what led to our emergence this(Tuesday) morning.
“On the other hand, with regards to the minority leadership, again, it was not entirely a party affair, because it wasn’t a typical situation where you have one opposition party.
“Rather, six opposition political parties were involved and 50 of our colleagues were also involved.
“So, rather than it being a decision to be taken by political parties, it was more of a decision taken by members who were elected on the platform of the six minority parties and 38 of them, by virtue of their clear signatures, took a decision as to who their leaders will be.
“Of course, this was also communicated to their respective political parties and as democrats, all the presiding officers could do was to follow suit because more than a simple majority, an overwhelming majority, had decided.
“With 38 signatures, we have a simple majority out of 50 senators elected on the platform of the opposition political parties.
“Clearly, 38 of them signed and again it was a very clear-cut situation and we thank both ways it was devoid of ran out.
“We had a plenary session because some of the members of the minority parties felt that it was important to have an executive session before an announcement would be made regarding the minority leaders and the Presiding Officer obliged them and again it was a very mature discussion.
“It was a discussion that centred around the need for all stakeholders to work together. So no victor, no vanquished. At least, we are happy that eventually, the leadership has emerged for the 10th Senate.”
On the rejection of the announcement by the APC chairman, Bamidele said the party boss was well informed.
His words: “With respect to APC, let me put it this way. Everything is in order and let me assure you again that what was read today is a consensus list.
“Please, look through even media reports again and see the names of people who were in Keffi on Sunday to finalise discussions and to report or present themselves to the National Chairman of the party.
“You will see that it was exactly the names of people who were announced today. Check also further reports to see names and pictures of those who also reported themselves in Lagos to Mr President during the Sallah homage.
“You will see that it is the leadership of the Senate just as espoused today. All stakeholders are on the same page on this and events in the next few hours or days can only go to confirm this.
“Virtually all relevant stakeholders are in a meeting as we speak and the leadership of the National Assembly will also be joining them at the meeting.
“So, there is really no real controversy in this regard. Let me assure you of that..”
Bamidele explained that Senate did not wait for letters from minority parties because it would have brought controversy.
He said: “With respect to minority parties, again, let me emphasise, it is an unusual situation and it shows again the growth of our democracy and the dynamics of our polity.
“Votes of Nigerians are beginning to count more than ever before and we are beginning to see a situation where no political party again can say or boast that “even if we bring a goat, the goat will win” as we used to hear in the past.
“Today, we have a situation where seven political parties are the vehicles through which people came to the Senate.
“Of course, once you step into the Red Chamber, you are a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It will not matter which party brought you.”
“But for the purpose of constituting the Senate leadership, our rules still recognize the fact that our political parties will have a role to play.
“So, if you have six minority parties, acting as vehicles that brought people to the Senate, and you are now looking for a letter, which of the parties will now write a letter? It doesn’t matter how many people are in the PDP. it remains a minority party just like YPP or APGA with only one senator who came in on that platform.
“What was most important and what was more democratic was for all 50 of them to meet as minorities and take their decisions.
“They held some meetings that were deadlocked and it was not for us to look into what they were doing. We had enough to be concerned about as a majority party. It was their own decision and they took their decision. As I said, 38 people signed, their full names, signatures, constituencies that they represent, put them there.
“That carries more weight. If PDP had written, Labour Party would have dissociated itself from it. If Labour Party had written, NNPP would have dissociated itself from it.
“If NNPP had written, APGA might have dissociated itself from it. Look at the leadership that they produced. The minority leader is from PDP which has the majority, which is 36 members.
“Then, of course, the Deputy Minority Leader is PDP. PDP has two. Minority Whip is of Labour Party and Deputy Minority Whip is of NNPP.
“So, as far as we are concerned, it is representative enough and democratic but the news for us is that 38 of them took that decision.
“Minority will always have their say but the majority will have their way. The minority had their say to the extent that the Senate even had to be stood down for an executive session for them to have all their say, and when the Senate reconvened in plenary session, the majority had their way and those names were announced. So we are on course.” (Nation)
