Politics

Senators tackle Akpabio over choice of Senate minority leaders

There was an uproar in the Senate on Tuesday following the announcement of two minority leaders by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The seats of the Senate Minority Leader and Minority Whip became vacant after the Court of Appeal sacked the former occupants, Senator Simon Davou Mwadkwon (PDP, Plateau North) and Darlington Nwokocha (LP, Abia Central) respectively.

The courts nullified the election of Mwadkwon and ordered a rerun while Nwokocha was removed as Augustine Akobundu of the PDP was declared as the authentic winner of the 25 February election in the senatorial district.

The PDP senators had, last week, held an emergency crucial meeting on the replacement for the principal positions of Senate Minority Leader and Minority Whip. Senator Garba Maidoki (PDP, Bauchi), who briefed journalists after the closed-door meeting, had said the opposition lawmakers settled for the North Central geo-political zone to produce the Minority Leader.

During Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio announced the duo of Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) as minority leader and Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) as minority whip.

The Senate President said the new minority leaders had the majority support of their colleagues in the opposition.

He said 41 minority senators signed the document endorsing Moro as minority leader while 30 backed Ngwu for the minority whip seat. The announcement did not sit well with other parties in the minority caucus, especially the Labour Party.

Raising a point of order, Senator Okechukwu Ezea (LP, Enugu North), protested the absence of his party in the minority leadership, describing the arrangement as an injustice against other minority parties.

“How can the PDP take three minority leadership seats? This is unfair, unjust, and unacceptable,” he said.

The Senate after that degenerated into a rowdy session with LP lawmakers rejecting their party’s exclusion in the minority leadership.

Amid the uproar, Senator Tony Nwoyi (LP, Anambra North) “How can you be choosing minority leaders for us? Are we your slaves?” Nwoyi tackled the Senate President. Lawmakers from the ruling party made frantic efforts to pacify their colleagues from LP, some of whom approached Akpabio for consultation.

After about 15 minutes of rowdy session, the Senate President addressed the opposition lawmakers and dismissed the claim of his interfering in the affairs of the opposition.

Akpabio said he only announced the names forwarded to him by the opposition caucus and that it would be unfair not to respect the voice of the majority.

accused Akpabio of picking minority leaders for the opposition parties.

He, therefore, urged the opposition caucus to always put their house in order before forwarding any name to him.

He said, “All we need to produce a leader is a simple majority. What’s the reason for not agreeing with the position of the majority?

“41 minority senators signed for Abah Moro and 30 signed for Osita Ngwu. They have the majority. It will be unfair for me not to announce them after getting a majority of support. My job is not to work with individual opinion but with the majority of positions.

“Efforts by Senator Adamu Aliero (PDP, Kebbi) to convince Akpabio to stay action on the seat of the minority whip failed as the Senate President ruled him out of order.

Aliero explained that the opposition caucus resolved that Abba Moro should be the minority leader but was yet to decide on the position of the minority whip.

But Akpabio referred him to Senate Standing Rule 52(6), which says it shall be out of order for any senator to speak on any issue that has already been decided.

Akpabio, therefore, ruled Aliero out of order.

Politics

SDP Distances Itself From Protest At Lokoja INEC Office Accuses APC

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has distanced itself from a purported protest that took place at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Lokoja, Kogi State.

Director General, New Media
MuriSam Campaign Council/SDP Isaiah Davies Ijele in a statement on Thursday noted that those causing trouble are not supporters of SDP but loyalists of the ruling party in Kogi State.

Ijele stated that SDP is a peaceful political party whose ideology revolves around peace and seeking justice through all known democratic channels.

“This is why the SDP is seeking redress through the court. So far, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been cooperative except the delay caused by one Mrs. Faith Kotso; the Commission’s legal head in lokoja.

” She deliberately delayed our forensic experts in lokoja from accessing and conducting the physical examination of the electoral materials, frustrated all our initial efforts and the process was opened and hijacked by hoodlums loyal to outgoing the present administration.

“As it stands, Yahaya Bello is proving to be the biggest threat to our democracy. Kogi state under Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello is in a state of anarchy. Both the tribunal and the election materials are no longer safe in Lokoja. If not for the timely intervention of the Nigerian Army, the INEC facility would’ve been attacked and all evidence would’ve been destroyed,” he stated

Politics

Nigeria achieved in 24 years what took US 185 years – Akpabio

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio said Nigeria achieved in 24 years a feat that took the United States 185 years to achieve.
In his address during the 2024 budget presentation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the joint session of lawmakers at the National Assembly on Wednesday, Nov. 29, he said, ex-Senators occupy strategic positions in the executive which made the two arms to foster a healthier relationship.

Akpabio said with former lawmakers running the executive, a cordial relationship between the two arms would not only be a must, but they will continue to walk hand in hand and see eye to eye.

Akpabio said: “Mr President, the United States of America has started democracy for about 247 years. But it was only when it marked its 185th anniversary that it succeeded in producing two former senators John F Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson as president and vice president respectively.

“But within 24 years of our democracy, we have achieved what took the United States of America 185 years to achieve.

“Not only do we have two former Distinguished Senators serving as the President and Vice President of our dear country; we also have other alumni of this Assembly in positions of public trust: Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator George Akume; the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other Senators in the Cabinet.

“Mr. President, Distinguished and Honorable Members, maintaining a cordial relationship with the Executive Arm has always been a requirement of the law, but now, given that our Old Boys now run the Executive, a good relationship with the Executive is a must.

“Never have we had so many bridges and connection points between these two arms of Government.

“So we will continue to walk hand in hand and see eye to eye with the Executive Arm while ensuring that the principles of separation of powers, as well as checks and balances as enshrined in our Constitution are observed in the overriding public interest.”

Politics

Makinde Approves Appointment Of Special Advisers, Board Chairmen, Others

2023: Makinde, Oyo PDP leaders at loggerheads over support for Atiku

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has approved the appointments of Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants and Board Chairmen across various portfolios, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The appointments were announced in a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi, dated 29 November 2023.

This is just as the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, is to combine the role of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media with his current portfolio

The names and portfolios of the fresh appointments are as follows: Oloye Suraj Abiodun- Special Adviser (Education Intervention), Dr Nureni Aderemi Adeniran- Chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB)
Dr Gbola Adetunji- Chairman, Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), Alhaji Murtala Ahmad- Special Assistant (Community Relations) I, Arewa Community, Nwosu Innocent- Senior Special Assistant (Community Relations) 2, Igbo Community.

Saka Moshood Olawale- Senior Special Assistant (OYSIEC), Hon. Yemi Taiwo- Chairman, Oyo State Library Board
Hon. Rauf Adekunle- Chairman, Oyo State Pension Board, Hon. Dare Adeleke- Special Adviser (Federal Constituency Matter), Mr Rahman Abiodun Abdulrahim- Chairman, Education Trust Fund, Hon. Abiodun Awoleye Dada- Chairman, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, Rt. Hon. Atilola M.O.- Chairman, Oyo State Scholarship Board, Hon. Akinsete Olakunle- Special Adviser, Housing and Urban Development, Hon. Simeon Oyeleke- Special Adviser, Budget and Economic Planning.

Others are; Mrs Aderonke Adedayo- Special Adviser, General Intervention & Donor Agencies, Hon. Samuel Ademola Adejumobi- Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha- Special Adviser on Political Matters, Hon. Abideen Tokunbo Adeaga- Director General, Oyo State Signage and Advertisement Agency
Hon. Mufutau Ogunremi- Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals, Hon. Ramota Agberemi Dabo- Senior Special Assistant on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

Governor Makinde charged the new appointees to discharge their duties with dedication and loyalty to the state