Even though the Senate is regarded as the saucer that cools the tea, the campaign that led to the emergence of the presiding officers of the 10th Assembly was so hot that it almost burnt the hand holding the saucer.
Heavy political juggernauts – Ali Ndume, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abdulazeez Yari, Sani Musa, Jibrin Barau, Osita Izunaso and Godswill Akpabio were all in the race for the office of the third citizen who will also be the chairman of the National Assembly, the legislative arm of government.
There were alignments and realignments after the All Progressives Congress (APC) presented its preferred candidates for the office of the senate president and the deputy senate president.
Godswill Akpabio was anointed to be the senate president while Barau Jibrin was also announced for the office of the deputy senate president.
Pundits have noted that it was a balanced ticket between the North and the South, having also the coverage of diversity in the faith they profess.
One of the longest serving lawmakers in Nigeria, Ali Ndume quickly accepted the arrangements by his party and emerged as the director general of the Akpabio/Barau campaign.
Sani Musa on the other hand, accepted the zoning arrangements but because of the yearnings of the people of his region (North Central), he insisted on getting the office of the deputy senate president.
Yari, coming from the North West where the office of the speaker was already zoned to, aligned with Orji Uzor Kalu and Osita Izunaso.
At last, Yari settled for Kalu as deputy and Izunaso withdrew from the race at the last hour.
Senator Godswill Akpabio emerged as the senate president of the 10th Senate following voting by lawmakers.
The clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal announced that Akpabio scored 63 votes to defeat his opponent, Sen Abdulazeez Yari who polled 46.
All the senators from the states voted in an alphabetical order and after the counting, Akpabio was announced as the winner in a voting that was a secret ballot.
Hence, Akpabio is now the senate president and the chairman of the National Assembly after a total of 109 senators voted with Akpabio polling 63 while Yari got 46 votes, making Akpabio to defeat him with 17 votes. He has become the 15th senate president of Nigeria.
State governors including Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), former governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje were all at the red chamber to celebrate with Akpabio.
Earlier, the voting for the office of the senate president and the chairman of the National Assembly commenced with Sen Godswill Akpabio and former Governor of Zamfara State Abdulazeez Yari being the only two in the race for the office of the senate president.
There was disagreement over the nomination of Abdulazeez Yari with an argument that he is not a returning senator but it was overruled on the ground that he is a former member of the House of Representatives and that the Senate rule allows that.
Ali Ndume had nominated Senator Godswill Akpabio and the nomination was seconded by Sen Solomon Adeola.
Also, Ishaku Abbo (Adamawa North) nominated Abdulazeez Yari and the nomination was seconded with Abdulazeez Yari accepting the nomination.
Meanwhile, Tahir Monguno had raised a point of order 3 sub rule 1 of the Senate arguing that one who is not a former senator cannot be nominated for the office of the senate president.
Monguno, who came from the House of Representatives, said the rules specify who should be senate president.
But the clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal overruled Monguno stating that the rule says that a former member of the House of Representatives can aspire to be senate president. Thereafter, he declared the nominations closed.
Also, Sen Barau Jibrin (Kano North) emerged as the deputy senate president unopposed. All those who were aspiring to be deputy senate president jettisoned their ambitions when their camps lost out.
Jibrin Barau was nominated by Sen Dave Umahi (Ebonyi South) and was seconded by Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central).
Senators spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday on what Nigerians should expect:
Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central)
The senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi has declared that despite losing out in the contest for senate president, the Senate will be one and will remain one and work for the interest of Nigerians.
Speaking shortly after their inauguration, Ningi who supported Abdulazeez Yari for the office of the senate president said: “We thank God for helping us to be inaugurated. We wanted Abdul Abdulazeez Yari. We believed Abdul Abdulazeez Yari would listen to us.
“But we have accepted defeat. I am here for the fifth time because Nigerians thought we could help them. But we don’t want the Senate to be divided.
“17 people decided the election. We will ensure that the Nigerian people get the dividend of democracy. We will ensure that Nigerians are not cheated.
“I am in the PDP. I am not in APC. But the Government of APC should ensure that all Nigerians are carried along.
“Every time the president sends a memo, the lawmakers must investigate it very well and ensure that we are not a rubber stamp. Yari has congratulated Akpabio. Both Barau and Akpabio are originally members of the PDP. From here, we will groom PDP to ensure that we win future elections.”
According to Ningi, the election was free and fair because the animosity and the anxiety days before the inauguration of the 10th Senate have been put to rest.
“We have refused to be intimidated. We know that we are in the minority. It was the position of the minority caucus that we should support Yari but many of our members also voted for Akpabio. That is the beauty of the National Assembly.
“In the next six months, we are going to put the nation first; not region and not religion. We are not bothered about what happened today,” Ningi said.
Sunday Katung (Kaduna South)
The senator representing Kaduna South in the National Assembly, Sunday Marshall Katung has assured Nigerians that the 10th Senate would meet their expectations.
Katung, a former member of the House of Representatives, said they will support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that Nigerians get dividends of democracy.
Katung who thanked God and the people of Kaduna South for voting him as senator, assured that he will not disappoint them.
“Well, it’s an exciting day. We look forward to working with our colleagues and the president to ensure that the dividend of democracy reaches the common man.
“We first went through primaries and the general elections and today, we have been inaugurated as senators. We are going to work with the president to ensure that the yearnings of the people are met.
“The people of Southern Kaduna should expect that we do that which is going to make them happy and they will not be disappointed,” Katung added.
Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West)
The senator representing Nasarawa West, Aliyu Wadada said that even though it was a challenging day, it was also a fulfilling day.
Wadada who was part of the campaigners for Akpabio added that Nigeria has advanced in democracy and freedom of choices.
“It was a challenging day but we overcame it. Democracy in Nigeria has improved and freedom of choice has also been seen in display.
“So, the key players like us must ensure that we put our heads together and move the nation forward. The 10th Senate will have a good relationship and we will all play by the rules of the game.
“We are only going for what will be for the development of the people. We will not accept what is going to be detrimental to the people,” Wadada said.
Osita Ozinaso (Imo West)
One of the aspirants for the office of the senate president of the 10th Senate, Sen Osita Ozunaso, said what happened on the floor of the Senate was democracy in action adding that the Senate is one.
According to Izunaso, the choice has been made and they will continue to offer their support to the present administration for a better country.
“I feel good; I feel great. What happened on the floor of the house today is democracy in action and democracy has deepened. The choice has been made. Once you are here, you are for all. The 10th Senate will be for the people,” Izunaso said.
Muntari Mohammed Dan-Dutse (Katsina South)
The senator representing Katsina South, Muntari Mohammed Dan-Dutse said that the lawmakers will collaborate with the executive but will not compromise their independence.
According to Muntari, the Senate is one and they will work for the interest of Nigerians.
“If the lawmakers did not cooperate with the executive, there would be a problem,” he said.
Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North)
The senator representing Borno North at the National Assembly, Mohammed Tahir Monguno has said that the new senate president was voted irrespective of political party adding that it is what the Senate is made up of.
According to him, the 10th Senate will work for the people.
“Our senate president was voted-in regardless of political party. We are now a single entity and we will work for the people and ensure that Nigeria’s funds work for the people.
“Nigerians should expect a Senate that is robust and vibrant and blocks all the loopholes and leakages,” Monguno said.
Victor Umeh (Anambra Central)
The senator representing Anambra Central has said that the Senate will work to ensure that the unity of Nigeria remains paramount.
According to Umeh, they will work with the president to ensure that agitations are addressed.
“If the government ignores the people, they will revolt. I am happy the president promised dialogue to resolve some of the issues in Nigeria.
“He promised restructuring. We at the National Assembly have to give him the support as lawmakers to do that. We must ensure that things that did not work before now work,” Umeh added.
I’ll be fair to all, Akpabio says
The senate president, Godswill Akpabio has declared that he will be fair to all the members of the National Assembly and Nigerians.
In his acceptance speech, Akpabio said it was a historic moment in his life adding that he will discharge the responsibilities of the office with utmost dedication, integrity and fairness.
“Today marks a historic moment as we embark on a new chapter in the Senate. Distinguished senators, today, I stand before you humbled, honoured and filled with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and responsibility as I acknowledge and accept your call to serve as the president of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I assure you that I will discharge the responsibilities of this office with utmost dedication, integrity and fairness,” he said.
Nigerians are expecting a National Assembly that will be vibrant and help in making laws for good governance.