Babzrockman:
There are strong indications that the All Progressives Congress is insisting on the removal of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

Sunday PUNCH reliably gathered on Saturday that although the APC was happy with the appointments, which the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made in the committees of the upper chamber on Thursday, the party believed that for the peace process to complete, Ekweremadu must resign or be removed.

Saraki became the senate president in June last year against the wish of the APC, which supported the emergence of Senator Ahmed Lawan.

The former Kwara State governor emerged as the senate president with the support of the his loyalists under the aegis of Like-Mind Senators comprising members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the upper chamber and most of their colleagues in the APC.

It was reported last year that one of the conditions that the PDP gave to Saraki was to concede the deputy senate president seat to one of its members.

The senate president defied the APC when he ensured that his loyalists, except Senator Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip) became the principal officers.

But on Thursday, Saraki began a peace move when he reshuffled senate panels and appointed his critics in the Senate Unity Forum as heads of “juicy committees.”

For example, the spokesman of the SUF, Senator Kabiru Marafa, became the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), while Senator Oluremi Tinubu was appointed the Chairperson of the Committee on the Environment.

A chief of the APC, who pleaded anonymity, confided in Sunday PUNCH on Saturday, that although Saraki’s action was a right step in the right direction, he should do more.

He said the APC was not comfortable with Ekweremadu as the deputy senate president and Saraki should look for a way of “getting him out.”

He said that besides being a PDP member, the deputy senate president had not hidden his disdain for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The party chieftain stated, “We are happy with what he (Saraki) did with the committees, but Ekweremadu cannot remain as the deputy senate president. When the PDP was in power, opposition parties did not produce the deputy senate president.”

Another APC leader who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “What Saraki has done is not enough. Ekweremadu must leave that position.”

When contacted to comment on the claim that the APC was insisting on Ekweremadu’s removal, the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said, “No comment.”

Repeated calls to the mobile telephone number of the party’s National Secretary, Mai Bala Buni, were neither picked nor returned, a response to a text message sent to him was being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

Our position has not changed —SUF member

But a member of the SUF, Senator Adesoji Akanbi, (Oyo South), told SUNDAY PUNCH that the aggrieved lawmakers would not back down on their agitation for the Senate leadership.

The senator explained that he, and other members of the SUF, despite being offered positions in the Senate, would continue to support the directive of the APC.

He added that he was sure members of the forum, who were recently offered positions, would not turn against the party.

Akanbi said, “We all know what the party wanted from day one. Initially, when the leadership of the Senate was to be formed, we all know where the party stood. Up till now, the party has not changed its position and will not.

“Those who have been offered positions have the choice to accept or not to accept. I am sure that it will not affect their loyalty to their party. The Kabir Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi that I know, are loyal to the party, just like any other members of the SUF which I belong.”

He said that the forum was formed by senators who believe in the APC and the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akanbi said, “We from the South-West also believe in the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. If that (loyalty to the three) is a sin, we are prepared to commit it. If it is a sin to stand by those three – APC, Buhari and Tinubu – we will continue to be sinners.”

The senator also noted that the recent reshuffle of committee chairmanship was not a new thing in the legislature, regardless of which sides of the divide lawmakers belonged.

He added that those who were giving and taking positions should do so as representatives of the party and not as independent individuals.

Efforts to get Marafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi, who are both members of the SUF and beneficiaries of the new appointments, were not successful on Saturday as their telephone lines indicated that they had been switched off.

Marafa had on Friday said that the reshuffling of the committees was an initiative of the party.

But a senior aide to Saraki, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity, said those who were still not satisfied with the leadership of the Senate among members of the SUF, were speaking for themselves.

The aide also said that the APC currently lacked the popularity to unseat Ekweremadu in the current scheme of things.

The source said, “How does the APC even want to remove Ekweremadu when it takes the simple majority to elect the Deputy Senate President but it takes two-thirds of the entire legislators to remove him.

“Do they have the two-thirds? They don’t have it. As of today, the PDP senators are more in the position to do that than the APC senators.”

Appointments, part of reconciliation — Saraki

The Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, who spoke to one of our correspondents on behalf of Saraki, confirmed that the new committee appointments were parts of the moves to bring senators closer together.

He said, “It cannot be the only thing. When you have 109 people representing large constituencies, continuously, you have to manage situations. It is like having 109 captains. Continuously, you have to discuss with and engage people; you have to make reconciliatory moves. That is what you have to do continuously if you want to get the job done.

“It (the appointment) is just one of the continuous moves that have to be made from time to time. Remember that Saraki met with (Sen. Oluremi) Tinubu for a long time; he also met with Dino (Melaye) over their issue. As the issues arise, you have to continue to engage them. It is a continuous effort.”

Meanwhile, senators of the Peoples Democratic Party have denied media reports that they were planning to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

In a a press statement at the weekend jointly signed by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, and Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Senator Biodun Olujimi, the PDP Senators described the said impeachment plot as “false, baseless and unfounded.”

They said, “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that the said impeachment plot is false, baseless and unfounded. The PDP Senate Caucus had neither discussed nor participated in any discussion or congregation on the issue of impeaching and/or serving notice of impeachment on President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. Hence, we advise Nigerians generally to be cautious in spinning and/or peddling rumours capable of heating up the polity.”

http://punchng.com/ekweremadu-must-go-apc-chiefs-insist/

It is obvious that the APC cannot remove Ekweremadu because they do not possess the numbers to do so. What you can't change you learn to leave with. Pdp could not remove Tambuwal even when it became obvious he had left them. All they did was to endure him until the end of his tenure. The question now is if PDP could tolerate Tambuwal & APC enjoyed his presence in their mist while it lasted, why is APC so angree about Ekweremadu? So wise up & move on.

[quote author=CHIJIOKE1314 post=47831600]I wonder what the Afonjas are waiting for before they activate their political treachery on Ekweremadu...



Ode! Were the Afonjas ever on the same page with the flat heads? We know our friends and those who are not. Do you even know the meaning of treachery? Where there has never been trust u can't speak of treachery!

EastGold:
Are they still on this needless issue?


They should fight poverty and hunger that are killing Nigerians

The sole purpose of forming APC is for APC leaders to grab juicy political positions in Nigeria.

Buhari quickly grabbed petroleum minister job.
Tinubu quickly grabbed NIRS, the second money spinner department for Nigeria after Petroleum Ministry.

They are still sharing juicy positions.

APC was not formed for the advancement of the welfare of human beings in Nigeria.

Of course, the welfare of the average Nigerian has worsened since APC was formed.

CHIJIOKE1314:
I wonder what the Afonjas are waiting for before they activate their political treachery on Ekweremadu..

stop this silly attitude of yours

You think without the support of some of us yorubas, your people will still be relevant?


Believe it or not , left to only ibos Ekweremadu would've be long gone so give yourself some brain and know that we are all in this together!

Ekweremadu must Go to where exactly please? Instead of chasing poverty, unemployment and hardship away, they are wasting time on Ekweremadu. All these politicians are just collecting free money for doing nothing meaningful, absolutely nothing.

Bolustic:
Ekweremadu and PDP trying to reap from where they didn't sow.

To those calling for the heads of the APC leaders, can they mention at any time in the history of this 16 years democracy when PDP had allowed the opposition to occupy the position of a CHIEF WHIP in both chambers let alone Deputy Senate President?

So PDP now knows how it feels to be out of power completely.

Unfortunately, the Igbos don't even have anything meaningful to show for Ekweremadu's occupation of the DSP for the 9th year running, I thought as the head of the Constitutional ammendment committee, he could have pressured the Senate on the need for the 6th state in the SE bit no!!!

Keep on crying. You will cry till 2019 when PMB will be removed. Ekweremadu is going nowhere. You better get live.

mrkayusfit:
Am sure this animal is the sponsorer of the fake biafra agitations. May God punish him and Nnamdi kanu for those youths killed because of biafra that will never come

.. did nnamdi kanu sleep with your mother? or maybe be you woman left you for him.. ..no wonder you ve ti be shouting his name even where n when its not needed, ...Biafra is a cause that must come to past at de appointed time .

mrkayusfit:
Am sure this animal is the sponsorer of the fake biafra agitations. May God punish him and Nnamdi kanu for those youths killed because of biafra that will never come

Just as God is punishing you and your President for sponsoring Boko Haram.

Actually, retention of Ekweremadu as DSP in an APC-led government is an aberration. Saraki should find a way to ease him out. He has to think of his political future.

zicoraads:



No wonder people call you Zombie-in-Chief!

Mynd44, so far today, I've maintained a high level of decorum, taunting nobody and calling no one names regardless of all the insults and provocation.

If I start now you no go tey to ban me. Hope you are seeing this with all others I've reported??

Na my own dey always hot body pass oo...

All these stealing fathers and mothers, rather than disscuss wayout over the starvation in the land they are doing eye service . Ekweremadu, saraki is very desperate and can do anything to remain as senate president. With the reshufful he has won round one and round two is cooking in his brain. Saraki is not to be trusted.

mrkayusfit:
Am sure this animal is the sponsorer of the fake biafra agitations. May God punish him and Nnamdi kanu for those youths killed because of biafra that will never come

maythe devil visit you more than he did to Job!
Newtonian 3rd law of motion.

Bolustic:
Ekweremadu and PDP trying to reap from where they didn't sow.

To those calling for the heads of the APC leaders, can they mention at any time in the history of this 16 years democracy when PDP had allowed the opposition to occupy the position of a CHIEF WHIP in both chambers let alone Deputy Senate President?

So PDP now knows how it feels to be out of power completely.

Unfortunately, the Igbos don't even have anything meaningful to show for Ekweremadu's occupation of the DSP for the 9th year running, I thought as the head of the Constitutional ammendment committee, he could have pressured the Senate on the need for the 6th state in the SE bit no!!!

That's politics for you. That shows you the PDP are stars in the political game than the APC that's why they can easily & tactically fight their way into the APC government. E get anybody wey been hold APC make them no be DSP for last dispensation?

mrkayusfit:
Am sure this animal is the sponsorer of the fake biafra agitations. May God punish him and Nnamdi kanu for those youths killed because of biafra that will never come

Shey just like Buhari & sheriff sponsored Boko Haram who are still wasting innocent lives till today. God is watching us all, we'll soon see who he will punish

cktheluckyman:


Bros even if the entire APC members in the senate vote against Ekweremadu,they won't still have the nos to remove him.There is nothing like putting pressure on Saraki and Buhari as they both don't have the powers to sack the DSP

Seem you just comment without reading my comment, I mean the Court have the power to sack both of them and ban them from occupying any post for atleast 10yrs.