Senate leadership: 40 APC senators-elect, others endorse Lawan
(Nigeria) Senate Unity Forum, the group supporting Ahmed Lawan for Senate
President and George Akume as deputy, said it had the support of 40
senators-elect of All Progressives Congress, APC.
Leader of the group, Sen. Barnabas Gemade (APC Benue
North-East), stated this during an interaction with journalists attached to the
National Assembly on Wednesday in Abuja.
Gemade also claimed that the group had the support of the
majority of the 49 senators of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
He said that the group had found Lawan and Akume most
qualified for the jobs which was why the senators decided to support them.
Gemade said that their candidacy would ensure stability and
improvement which had been enshrined in the conduct of activities at the Senate
in the last eight years.
``We are happy to unveil to you that this is the plan that
the Unity Forum and the 8th Senate have, and by the Grace of God, we will
actualise the plan. We have 40 APC senators-elect that have keyed into this
project. Other PDP senators-elect have also keyed in to this project.
``We are not publishing the list of all the senators because
we know that a lot is being done; a lot of claims are being made, so it is not
proper to join anyone in making any claims. The day we will give you the list,
all those concerned will be present and you will match the list with the faces
that will be present,” he said.
Gemade acknowledged that there were a lot of issues to be
tackled in the 8th assembly and stressed that that was why the leadership of
the National Assembly must lead by example.
Reacting to a list presented by another contender for the
position, he said that a list with signature does not proof anything.
He explained that the people whose names were on the list
should have been there to answer for themselves.
He said that when the group would bring out its list, it
would not just flash it to the journalists but would give copies to them.
In his remark, Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North) assured
that the 8th Senate under his leadership would ensure independence of the
legislature.
``We have had eight years of stability and I will like to
build on that. There is need for consensus in the 8th Senate which is unique in
the history of Nigeria with 59 APC senators and 49 PDP senators. The gap is
narrow hence the need for consensus between the two sides. The National
Assembly must never be a rubber stamp to the executive,” he said.
Lawan also said that he would work to cut down on the cost
of governance, fight corruption and partner with other arms of government as
well as the legislature in the states.
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