From Fred Itua , Abuja

BARRING any last minute change of plan, a re-jig would soon be announced in the Senate and some principal officers, especially members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), would vacate their positions.

This, Daily Sun learnt, is part of the new agreement reached by the feuding lawmakers to douse the lingering crisis that has rocked the Senate since inception last year.

Part of the option on the table is the ceding of the position of the Senate Majority Leader to the Barnabas Gemade-led Unity Forum in line with the earlier position of the leadership of the APC.

In a June 25, letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, the APC National Chairman had detailed the names of party’s preferred candidates thus: Senate Majority Leader (North East – Ahmad Lawan); Deputy Majority Leader (North Central – George Akume); Senate Chief Whip (South West – Olusola Adeyeye) and Deputy Chief Whip (North West- Abu Ibrahim).

The Senate President, while refusing to implement the APC position, had explained that the party’s letter got to the Senate after the various caucuses had decided to nominate candidates for the vacant positions.

But under the imminent deal, Ahmad Lawan would replace Ali Ndume as Majority Leader.

A feeler to this effect emerged following last Wednesday’s closed-door meeting where the lawmakers were said to have resolved to shelve their differences and forge a common front.

Daily Sun gathered that the Senate leadership might also tinker with the current composition of the headships of the 64 standing committees to accommodate aggrieved members of the Unity Forum who are believed to have been shortchanged.

After a three-hour closed-door session, the lawmakers had released a list of resolutions reached by both members of the ruling APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Part of the resolutions, according to Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was the setting up of a 12-man committee, two from each of the six geopolitical zones with a mandated to explore every option available to ensure the contentious issues are resolved amicably.

A PDP Senator who spoke to Daily Sun in confidence, said lawmakers agreed during the closed-door session not to disclose details of the meeting to the public, until the committee submits its report.

But he stated briefly: “Senators are worried that our image has been severely damaged and we need to quickly do something about it. Everyday, I wonder if coming to the Senate at this time was not a mistake. We have been fighting ourselves and we think that enough is enough.

“That was why we had to enter that closed-door session and that is the longest we have had since we were inaugurated last June. If removing the Senate Leader or even the Senate President will bring this crisis to an end, I am for it. The Senate is bigger than any individual.”

Spokesman of the Unity Forum, Senator Kabir Marafa also stated that APC lawmakers were ready to support the reconstitution of the headships of the various standing committees as part of the peace deal.

“At the end of our meeting, we came up with a three point agenda. We talked about the issue of committees’ composition. We talked about APC members in the Unity Forum who were sidelined in the composition of the committees. We said if you want to come together, we need to review certain things. The third thing was the issue of leadership.

“We agreed on two out of the three items on the agenda. We are still on the third issue on how the Senate can comply with the position of the party, APC. We have agreed that it in the best interest of APC for us to work together,” he said.

Senate spokesman, Senator Abdullahi Sabi could not be reached to comment on when the committee will submit its report.

TANTUMERGO007:
Where is the change nigerians voted for?

Mynd44:
Even Senator Lawan can't save Senator Saraki…… the only way out is him discharged by the CCT. Then he has to take a trip to the EFCC

bettercreature:
The way things are going in the last 4 days Saraki might be impeached and EKWEREMADU might defect to APC.The man is doing everything to bring all the APC members together

Borno: Senator Ndume slaps Assembly member over APC Primaries


A member of the Borno State House of Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Jaha popularly called ‘Babawo’ received the beating of his life after failing to win the primary election for the APC’s House of Representatives for Gwoza, Chibok and Damboa Federal Constituency.

The member, a former errand boy to senator Ndume, won the state assembly election in 2011 following the support he enjoyed from his political godfather, but fell out with his boss when he declared to contest for the National Assembly seat in 2015.

According to sources close to the member, he made a mistake of attacking his political godfather, when he alleged that Ndume did not support him during the primaries of the APC but supported former Commissioner for Tourism, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir to win the APC ticket.

An eyewitness to the incident told DAILY POST that the lawmaker attacked Ndume at the Maiduguri Government House while they were preparing to travel for the APC presidential primaries in Lagos, a situation which angered the Senator to give him several slaps in the presence of top government and political office holders.

Babawo, who was left shattered after receiving the slaps said he would do everything to work against the party and the victory of his political godfather and Dr. Asabe Bashir.

From: http://dailypost.ng/2014/12/11/borno-senator-ndume-slaps-assembly-member-apc-primaries/

Nigeria senator Ali Ndume 'linked to Boko Haram'
22 November 2011

A Nigerian senator has been charged over his alleged links to the Boko Haram Islamist militants who have staged numerous deadly attacks in recent months.

Ali Ndume has been questioned by secret police since Monday night.

He denied charges of intimidation and breach of trust after an alleged Boko Haram spokesman said Mr Ndume had paid him to send threatening text messages.

More from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-15829203

bettercreature:
The way things are going in the last 4 days Saraki might be impeached and EKWEREMADU might defect to APC.The man is doing everything to bring all the APC members together

Mynd44:
Even Senator Lawan can't save Senator Saraki…… the only way out is him discharged by the CCT. Then he has to take a trip to the EFCC

Keneking:
Amazing movement by APC Leadership...great decision

"Senate Majority Leader (North East – Ahmad Lawan); Deputy Majority Leader (North Central – George Akume); Senate Chief Whip (South West – Olusola Adeyeye) and Deputy Chief Whip (North West- Abu Ibrahim)."

This positions Ahmed Lawan to emerge as "Senate President" in the fullness of time
Also George Akume as "Deputy Senate President" in the fullness of time
Then B. Saraki and I. Ekweremadu would be singing the "Lord is My Shepherd" somewhere in the fullness of time

Where is lalasticlala sef

Mynd44:
Even Senator Lawan can't save Senator Saraki…… the only way out is him discharged by the CCT. Then he has to take a trip to the EFCC

johnwizey:
I swear, i thought i was the only one that noticed it