₦airaland Forum

ddippset:
don't mind the rif raf.

sonnie10:
l hope somebody has informed him that Mandela is dead and apartheid over before he goes on a long rant demanding the relase of mandela and the end of the apartheid regime

Quote : Ezenwwnna of Nairaland

Sirniyeh:
Your Mouth too much, igberaga

Ezenwammadu:
Never punish the child for the sins of the father.The child did not chose the way he was concieved

Bayelsa State leader of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, Mr. Godwin Sidi, has claimed that
the immediate past president, Dr Goodluck
Jonathan conceded defeat to President
Muhammadu Buhari to cover up the atrocities he
committed while in office.
Sidi, who acted as the Secretary of the
defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,
berated those commending
Jonathan for placing a telephone call on Buhari
while collation was ongoing, stressing that the
former President had no other choice but to do
so.
The former South-South Youth leader of the
PDP made this disclosure at a news conference
in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Friday,
where he called on the Federal Government
and the National Assembly to commence the
probe of Jonathan over the whereabouts of the
Chibok girls.
“Jonathan’s conceding defeat is a ploy to
cover up political atrocities he committed while
in office,” he said.
The APC chieftain went on to accuse Jonathan
of taking possession of
property seized from a former Governor of
Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieseigha
after the later was impeached in 2005 by the
state House of Assembly and convicted for
money laundering.
This, he said, paved the way for Jonathan to
become the governor of the state, afterwards
claiming Alamieseigha’s property, home and
abroad, earlier confiscated and returned to the
state by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
Sidi claimed that Jonathan took possession of
one of the seized buildings of Alamieseigha at
Maitama, Abuja,
and later handed it over to his political
associate and friend, who is a monarch in
Bayelsa.
He also accused Jonathan of confiscating a 5-
series bulletproof BMW car bought as a
birthday gift for Alamieseigha by a friend.
The APC leader went on to hand a 72-hour
ultimatum to the former president for him to
return his predecessor’s property in his
possession or face a lawsuit.
He further asked the National Assembly to
compel Jonathan to give account of the
whereabouts of the Chibok
girls since he was the Chief Security Officer of
the country when they were taken away by
terrorists.
He said his group had concluded plans to drag
the ex-President to the International Court of
Justice over the Chibok girls.
While calling on the Code of Conduct Bureau to
make Jonathan’s assets declaration public, he
insisted that the
former President glorified corruption and
allowed graft to cripple the country.
According to Sidi, “Jonathan was
instrumental to the removal of Alamieseigha
and prior to his
removal, I remembered vividly that a friend of
Alamieseigha bought
him 5-series BMW car salon. Jonathan took that
vehicle to Aso
Rock.
“The vehicle is still in his possession. I
want him to return that vehicle. Property, the
one l know for now,
there are other ones l am trying to investigate,
of DSP in Maitama
was given to Jonathan’s associate.
“I am giving them 72 hours to return the
house to DSP as we prepare our papers to
approach the court. The National Assembly
should invite the President to give account of
the Chibok girls because he was the Chief
Security Officer at the
time the girls were kidnapped.
“We are going to file our case at the ICJ
over the Chibok girls. I am calling on the Code
of Conduct Bureau to make Jonathan’s asset
declaration public,” he declared

•Obasanjo, Danjuma, Tinubu, Atiku, Saraki
nominate candidates •President may submit
list to NASS next week Immediate past governors of Lagos and Rivers
states, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Mr. Rotimi
Amaechi respectively; a former governor of
Ekiti State, Engineer Segun Oni and Education
minister in the Obasanjo government, Dr. Oby
Ezekwesili, may be among the ministerial
nominees being considered by President
Muhammadu Buhari, The Nation has gathered.
Also believed to be on the list expected to be
forwarded to the Senate next week are a
former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen.
Abdurahman Danbazzau; Prof. Pat Utomi of the
Pan Africa University, Lagos and Chief Economic
Adviser to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua,
Dr.Tanimu Yakubu Kirfi.
One of ex-Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi and
ex-Osun Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola may
also be picked.
Presidency sources said last night that while
Buhari is keen on having a lean cabinet, the
1999 Constitution is an impediment as it
stipulates that every state of the federation
must be represented in the Federal Executive
Council.
Buhari and his think-tank are said to have
realised that the size of the incoming cabinet
cannot be less than 36.
Although the President is keeping the list to his
chest, it was learnt that he is disposed to
accepting nomination of capable,tested and
what one source called “ethical” candidates
from ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Chief
of Army Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, APC national
leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, ex-Vice President
Atiku Abubakar, and the newly-elected Senate
President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
Ex-Minister Bolaji Abdullahi and former
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje are likely to
slug it out for the Kwara State slot.
Buhari is also said to favour consulting Tinubu
on some slots, regardless of pressure from
some elements in the Presidency.
A source said: “The President has been
consulting widely on the list of his ministers.
All things being equal, some candidates from
ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Chief of
Army Staff, Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu, ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and
the newly-elected Senate President, Dr. Bukola
Saraki may make the list.
“Some of these heavyweights have submitted
advisory names but it is left for the President
to reject or accept them.
“Governors will have less input into the
cabinet. The President is actually fine-tuning
the list of ministers which he will soon send to
the National Assembly. We are hopeful that in
the next one week or two, the legislature may
get the list.
“As I am talking to you, the President is
keeping the list to his chest. I am aware that
some ex-governors may make the team on
merit.”
On the provisions of Section 147(1-3),one
source said: “It is difficult for the President to
manage a cabinet that is less than 36 because
of the constitutional provision.
“The President may however reduce the perks
of office of Ministers and make the posts less
lucrative except for genuine ones who want to
serve the nation. So in the light of 147(1-3), the
President is handicapped and he has to run the
government with at least 36 ministers unless
the constitution is amended.”
The section reads: “There shall be such offices
of Ministers of the Government of the
Federation as may be established by the
President.
“Any appointment to the office of Minister of
the Government of the Federation shall, if the
nomination of any person to such office is
confirmed by the Senate, be made by the
President.
“Any appointment under subsection (2) of this
section by the President shall be in conformity
with the provisions of section 14(3) of this
Constitution:
“Provided that in giving effect to the Provisions
aforesaid the President shall appoint at least
one Minister from each state, who shall be an
indigene of such state.”
When contacted, one of the strategists of the
new administration said: “The President is still
keeping the list of ministers to his chest; he has
not disclosed any list.”

There are strong indications that two power blocs within the All Progressives Congress are now engaged in a fierce battle for the soul of the party.

Saturday PUNCH’s investigations on Friday revealed that the battle between the two power blocs to control the party: one led by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu and the other led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, played out during Tuesday’s National Assembly leadership elections.

The ruling party’s preferred candidates in both the Senate and the House of Representatives were defeated by party members who contested the elections against the wishes of the party.

The battle for supremacy between the two power blocs led to the emergence of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Ike Ekweremadu, as the Deputy Senate President.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that both Atiku and Tinubu were desperate to have maximum control over the party structure so that party decisions could favour them at all times.

It was learnt that the two blocs wanted their candidates to emerge principal officers of the National Assembly since that would automatically qualify their candidates to become members of the party’s National Executive Committee, which is the highest decision arm of the party.

Senator Bukola Saraki emerged the President of the Senate at a time when leading figures of the party including Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and APC Senators as well as members of the House of Representatives were waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre for a crucial meeting.

The party’s NWC earlier held a shadow election in which Senators Ahmad Lawan and George Akume emerged as the party’s candidates for Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.

But, Atiku, Saturday PUNCH learnt that Atiku was never in support of the mock election believed to be spearheaded by the APC national leader as the former Vice President was bent on breaking Tinubu’s influence on the party’s NWC.

As things stand, most of the current members of the APC’s National Working Committee are Tinubu’s loyalists.

With the outcome of the National Assembly leadership elections, there are strong indications that the Tinubu camp, which many agree, boasts of the likes of Lawan and Akume are not prepared to let the matter rest.

Sources said the Tinubu camp, though still jolted by its initial ‘defeat’ would likely spring a surprise in the days ahead.

It was gathered that members of the Senators Unity Forum, who supported the party’s candidates are queuing behind Tinubu and are likely to continue to do so in the days to come.

It was learnt that in supporting the aspirations of Saraki and Dogara, Atiku had argued that democracy could better be served when the principle of internal democracy is respected.

It was further learnt that Saraki’s publicised visit to Atiku’s residence a few hours after his emergence, was part of the power play.

By virtue of their new positions as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Saraki and Dogara, have become automatic members of the National Executive Committee, the highest decision making body of the party.

Their positions also confer on them automatic membership of the party’s Board of Trustees and National Executive Committee.

A leading member of the party’s NWC, who confided in Saturday PUNCH, explained that the unfolding scenario is likely to open up new frontiers in the power struggle within the party.

According to him, decisions at NEC from now on will be keenly contested by the two power blocs.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the outcome of the National Assembly elections would likely affect decisions to be taken on ministerial nominees as some of the candidates in Tinubu’s camp may be rejected during screening by the Saraki/Atiku group.

He said, “It is obvious that with what happened on Tuesday at the National Assembly, two (dominant) power blocks have emerged in the party.



“We hope to heal the wounds created by the contests, but there is mutual suspicion between the two groups.”

When contacted, the Director-General of the Atiku Media Office, Mazi Paul Ibe, said, “Atiku did not orchestrate the emergence of the new leadership in the National Assembly and insinuating that amounts to nothing but political mischief, as he had refused to leave the party or work for the PDP even when the then President Jonathan was desperate for Atiku’s support.

“The visits of politicians and APC leaders including that of the Senate President are common political rituals in Atiku’s Asokoro residence. For the purposes of emphasis, the President has confidence in him and that explains why he had drafted him as an envoy of sorts in the race leading up to the emergence of a Nigerian President of African Development Bank.

“It is baseless and unfounded to suggest that Atiku conspired with the PDP or Saraki to ‘sabotage’ the APC. He would have congratulated Senator Ahmed Lawan (or any other leader) if he had won. It is simplistic to attribute conspiratorial agenda to an innocuous congratulatory visit.

“Atiku’s loyalty to his party is indisputable. He remains a loyal party member. He, in fact, threw his political assets behind the Buhari presidential campaign. Any suggestion that he conspired with Saraki or anybody is the figment of someone’s imagination.”

Attempts to get a reaction from Tinubu’s Spokesperson, Mr. Sunday Dare, were unsuccessful.

Calls to his mobile phone at 5:21pm and at 7:14pm were neither picked nor returned. A response to a text message was still being awaited as of the time of filing this report at 7:24pm.

But, a member of Saraki’s Like Minds group of Senators, Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), said Saraki’s emergence, has no negative implication for party cohesion.

He said, “We are already reaching out to everyone. At the leadership level, we are reaching out to individuals.

“The Senate President is a very generous Nigerian with a very large heart. He has already extended his hands of fellowship to every senator and he has assured us all that he would carry everybody along. It is not going to be a case of winner-takes-all.”

Also, a member of the Senate Unity Forum, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), said the party leadership is currently working tirelessly to ensure that the party remains a formidable and united entity.

The South East Zonal Spokesperson for the APC, Osita Okechukwu, said the party was seeking ways of moving forward.

According to him, it will be futile to begin to apportion blame and look for scapegoats because doing so will provide an avenue for those who do not wish the APC well to cash in.

He said party leaders deserve the respect of all party members, adding that if the wise counsel of President Muhammadu Buhari for non-interference in National Assembly issues was adhered to, the party would not have found itself in this situation. He, however, said it was time to move on.

Okechukwu said, “It is the desire of our opponents for there to be a rift but there is no rift. As a party, the only thing we need now, more than ever before, is unity.

“We need to unite especially in the National Assembly to be able to deliver on our promises to the Nigerian people. I dare say, we also need bi-partisan support if we are to get things done because we need each other.”

There are indications that President
Muhammadu Buhari may carry out a major
shake-up in the top echelons of the military.
It was learnt that service chiefs and other
senior officers across the various arms of the
military might be relieved of their posts to
pave way for new hands.
Findings showed that Buhari would replace the
service chiefs with equally experienced
officers.
It was gathered that all but one of the military
chiefs would be disengaged by the President,
while appointing new officers who would be
expected to implement the new phase of the
war against the Boko Haram sect in the North-
East.
Sources said that there was anxiety in the
military over the looming change of guard
which is expected to affect all the services,
including the Army, Navy, and the Air Force.
It was gathered that the military chiefs were
acutely aware of the fate that might befall
them, having reached the pinnacle of their
career.
A source said that the President may be
considering one of the service chiefs to ensure
smooth transition between the present military
chiefs and their successors.
But another source said this was not likely,
noting that the only service chief that might be
retained is the Inspector-General of Police, Mr.
Solomon Arase, who was appointed a few
months ago by the administration of former
President Goodluck Jonathan.
One of our correspondents gathered that
Buhari would likely appoint his “loyalists” and
those he had worked with into top positions.
It was also gathered that Buhari might have
made up his mind to use policemen and
soldiers as presidential security, while whittling
down the influence and presence of the
Department of State Services at the
Presidential Villa.
It was also learnt that Buhari indicated his
preference for policemen and soldiers trained
in body guard protection instead of the usual
teams of DSS personnel used by his
predecessor.
A source said that the President is unhappy
with the agency over the “various negative
security reports it wrote against him during his
struggle to become the President, including the
report on the recent certificate saga.”
Security sources said the rejection of 253 DSS
operatives by Villa authorities last week was
informed by the President’s directive that he
did not want the agency’s personnel around
him.
One of the sources said, “The President has yet
to forgive the DSS for what he sees as its
antagonism against him before the last general
elections. So, the President has decided to
keep the agency at arm’s length and for his
security, he will be using policemen and
soldiers.”
The source added that though a DSS operative
would still occupy the post of the Chief Security
Officer of the villa, “the CSO will be a mere
figure-head because he would have no control
over the security at the villa.”
Further findings showed that since Buhari was
sworn in, information about his itinerary and
schedules were no longer passed to the DSS as
is the tradition under the former President.
Our correspondents learnt that under the last
administration, the CSO would always be
informed about the President’s movement and
daily itinerary, but this was said to have
changed since Buhari assumed office.
Presently, it was gathered, it is only the
President’s Aide-de-Camp that knows Buhari’s
daily schedule and the CSO had to rely on his
contacts within the villa to know the President’s
movement.
When contacted, the DSS Deputy Director,
Public Relations, Marilyn Ogar, had told one of
our correspondents earlier in the week that
she could not comment on the issue of posting
of the service officers at the villa.
“I don’t have such information and I cannot
comment on it,” she said.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity, Mallam
Garba Sheu, declined to comment on the issues
of appointment.
He said Buhari could not make any
pronouncement on appointments or any other
issue until he received the report of his
transition committee.
Shehu recalled that Jonathan submitted its
handover note to Buhari on the eve of his
(Jonathan) exit from office.
He said the President thereafter handed over
the note to a committee led by Ahmed Joda to
study and make recommendations.
He added, “The Joda committee was given two
weeks to study Jonathan’s handover note and
make recommendations.
“This committee just finished its assignment on
Wednesday evening and may present its
recommendations to the President on Friday.”

Tears flowed freely on Friday as President
Muhammadu Buhari; his wife, Aisha; and the
wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo,
met with two women whose daughters are
among the over 200 missing Chibok girls.
The emotional-laden encounter took place
inside the Defence House, Abuja, where Buhari
currently operates from.
Mrs. Osinbajo had earlier led the two women
to a meeting with Hajia Buhari.
The President’s wife later led them into
another round of meeting with Buhari.
By the time they emerged from the meeting
and posed for photographs, the two women
again broke down in tears while Mrs. Buhari
held them tightly.
Mrs. Osinbajo also joined in the weeping.
The Vice President’s wife, with misty eyes, later
told State House correspondents what
transpired during the two separate meetings.
She said, “Hajia Aisha Buhari had, for many
months, wanted to visit Chibok. She also
wanted to meet with the mothers.
“Today, we had an opportunity for them to
meet face-to-face. We had two of the mothers
who still have their daughters missing after a
year.
“Hajia, being a mother, met with them, held
them and they cried, everybody cried. What
only a mother will do is to say ‘wait, I want you
to see your father and see what your father will
do.’
“We were all extremely overwhelmed that at
this time when the President is so busy, he had
time to meet with the women from Chibok.
“He spoke to them in English and Hausa. He
explained to them how he keeps telling
everybody to put themselves in their place.
“So, today, we have had the opportunity for the
President and Hajia to show that they are our
father and mother, for that we are glad.”
Shortly after the photo session, security men
quickly whisked the weeping mothers away.
Over 200 schoolgirls were abducted in Chibok
last year.
All efforts to rescue them have yet to yield any
positive result.

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state has
dedicated his birthday celebration, billed for
June 14, to the fight against cancer.
Ambode, in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos,
signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib
Aruna, said congratulatory messages on his
birthday should be channelled towards the fight.
He called on his family members, friends,
political associates and well wishers wishing to
place congratulatory messages to do so.
The governor sought their understanding to
respect his wish to use the birthday as his
modest way of touching the distressed and
impacting on humanity.
“As a modest way of touching the distressed
and making impact on humanity, I have
decided to associate with ‘The Committee
Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-
Nigeria)’ in fighting the big war against cancer,”
he said.
He urged interested people to send such
donations to the First Bank Account of CECP-
Nigeria.
According to the governor, the project is being
anchored by Dr Christopher Kolade and Prof
Pat Utomi. (NAN)

DETAILS emerged on Wednesday as to the forces at play, leading to the emergence of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu as his deputy, on Tuesday.
The duo had emerged presiding officers of the Senate, contrary to the dictates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a development that had led to a face-off between the APC and the Senate.
Sources, however, said a number of forces were at play, both within the Presidency and the APC, to give Saraki the leeway.
It also emerged that the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as deputy Senate president was a quick move by the PDP, which capitalised on the absence of some APC senators on the floor that day.
It was gathered that some top APC members close to President Muhammadu Buhari had met him around 3.00 a.m. on Tuesday, to discourage him from going to the meeting scheduled for the International Conference Centre (ICC), after a delegation of party leaders had convinced him on the need to attend the meeting and help salvage the image of the party.
Before President Buhari returned to Abuja, some of the APC leaders were said to have been consistently calling him to save the party from imminent collapse, as a result of the refusal of some members to disobey its preferences on the National Assembly positions.
Upon Buhari’s return, some party leaders were said to have visited him and opened up on why he should stop a plot by the PDP to hijack the Assembly.
But after agreeing to come and address the ICC meeting, another set of leaders of the party, led by a North West governor, was said to have told Buhari to stick to his promise not to interfere in the choice of leaders of the legislature.
It also emerged that the PDP, at its meeting late Monday night, arrived at the choice of Saraki, after a meeting at the residence of Senator David Mark.
Majority of PDP senators at the meeting chose to back Saraki, after Mark had rejected the idea by the senators to re-present him for election as Senate president.
It was gathered that the senators did not really have a deal with the PDP, but they chose to support Saraki, after plea to Mark to contest the seat had failed.
“At the meeting of the PDP senators meant to finalise the issue of Senate president, what happened was that some senators-elect came up with the idea that with the division in APC, the PDP can catch on that to produce the Senate President of the eighth Assembly.
“This led this to a long argument, but Senator Mark explained that it was not possible and that the position of Senate President should be for the majority party unless the PDP wanted to set the country on fire.
“At the end, they all agreed not to present any candidate for the position. One of the senators then asked who the PDP should support between Saraki and Lawan.
“While some senators mentioned Lawan, others said Saraki. It was Senator Andy Uba who insisted on Saraki and the senators agreed to put it to vote and Saraki won.
“The PDP national publicity secretary, Olisa Metuh, immediately issued a press statement late that night to declare that the party was going to support Saraki for Senate president.
“When the Saraki camp heard of the development, they quickly ran to Mark’s residence to thank him. That was around 2.00 a.m. No deal was actually reached on the Deputy Senate President issue.
“The Like Mind senators returned to their hotel and, after long deliberations, they agreed on the choice of Ali Ndume at around 5.00 a.m.
“On the floor, during the inauguration, the PDP senators quickly got words round and decided to nominate Ekweremadu. They insisted they can win the slot, in view of the number on the floor. They actually won.
“I am sure Saraki was shocked at the development when they nominated Ekweremadu. The PDP actually discovered that most of the APC senators were absent during the election and they capitalised on this when it was time to nominate the deputy Senate president. With the PDP being in the majority at the time of the election, Ekweremadu won. There was no way Senator Saraki could have helped Ndume and the PDP clinched the position.
“I can confirm to you that it was the president that called the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to dispatch the police at the entrance of the National Assembly to allow the senators and journalists, as well as the workers, into the premises for inauguration,” a source in the know said

Reference:
Not true. In Nigeria the little dividend the 'common man' cashes is paid when the executive and the legislature properly check themselves. Just look at States where the House is normally an extension of the Governors office, impunity reigns supreme and bad governance is the norm. I totally disagree with you. In this case the grand APC plan must have been a 'Tinubu man' - APCwest to check Buhari - APCnorth. In practice we may have gained an even better check in a recalcitrant Bukola Saraki whose ascention shows he clearly will be his own man, free of influence. If managed well this is a very good thing indeed.

brownlord1:
Misplaced priority, You left Buhari who was sworn in almost two weeks now and yet no official statement or press briefing from him to Nigerians and be tasking people who's role is only to make laws to effect change for you.

Maybe you don't know the chamber comprises of non APC who never join in your change mantra. He has directed the military command to relocate to Maiduguri (Something a certain GEJ couldn't do in 5 years). He has also met with service chiefs to reappraise progress in the war against terrorism. Have you forgotten he also went on a symbolic trip to Nigeria 's two major partner on the war against terrorism where strategies were discussed to deal with the menace? What about the visit to d summit of the world most industrialized nations where issues pertaining to Nigeria's development was discussed.All these in the space of two weeks and 8 working days. What more do you want? Make he come spoon feed u?

Please direct your protest to Buhari in ( Defense House/Private Residence as we presently do not know his whereabouts ) to stop photo shooting and get to work, the only thing we have so far is him touring the world and sending his attack dogs photo to show to Nigerians, with all bombings and killings over two weeks now, a president is suppose to come on air to address the nation and not issue statement through proxy.

With the election of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, all the nation’s six geo-political zones have benefitted from power sharing in the current dispensation.

The zones are North West, North East, North Central, South West, South East and South-South.
While Mr. Saraki hails from Kwara state in the the North Central zone, Mr. Dogara is from Bauchi State in the North East zone.

Both are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The newly-elected Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, is an indigene of Enugu State in the South East zone though he is a member of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Yusuf Lasun, is from Osun State in the South West.

The president, Mohammed Buhari is from Katsina State in the North West zone while his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo, hails from Ogun State in the South West zone.

The National Chairman of the APC, John Oyegun hails from Edo State in the South-South zone.

Of the lot, Mr. Ekweremadu appears to be the luckiest. He was not in contention for the position until the last minute when he was drafted into the race by his party to challenge Senator Ali Ndume who was expected to run with Mr. Saraki.

The South East zone where the deputy senate president comes from did not produce a single senator on the platform of the APC. All the 15 senate and almost all the 38 House of Representatives seats in the five states in the zone are of the PDP. This left the zone with no hope of producing a top political office holder in the APC administration.

Going by the zoning arrangement believed to have been agreed earlier by the party’s leadership, the South East ought to have produced one of the two presiding officers of the National Assembly. But that possibility had been ruled out when the party did not win any seat during the March 28 National Assembly election.

In a nation where ethnic consideration is given the prime place in political appointments, without doubt, Mr. Ekweremadu’s election for the third time for that position will particularly give a sense of belonging to the Igbo race known for its complaint of marginalisation.

The South West on its part produced the vice president and the deputy speaker.

In the last dispensation, the zone had no representative among the top six topmost political positions.

Although the speakership of the House was zoned to the zone with Mulikat Akande from Oyo State as the PDP’s preferred choice, Aminu Tambuwal from Sokoto State in the North West and Emeka Ihedioha from Imo State in the South East zone rebelled against the party’s zoning arrangement and present themselves as candidates for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker, respectively.

With the emergence of Mr. Tambuwal as Speaker, North West produced occupants of two of the offices, the other being the vice presidential slot held by Namadi Sambo from Kaduna State.

Apart from the zonal balancing, the election of the new presiding officers of the federal parliament also achieved religious equation.

While Messrs Buhari, Saraki and Lasun are Muslims, Messrs Osinbajo, Ekweremadu and Dogara are Christians just as Mr. Oyegun.

In the previous dispensation (2011-2015), of the four presiding officers of the National Assembly, only Mr. Tambuwal belonged to the Islamic faith.

The then Senate President, Messrs. David Mark, his deputy, Ekweremadu and Ihedioha are all Christians. The president at the time, Goodluck Jonathan, is a Christian while Mr. Sambo is a Muslim.

Had Messrs Lawan and Gbajabiamila emerged as Senate President and Speaker, the two chambers would have been headed by Muslims.

Details have emerged on how former Vice-
President Atiku Abubakar and the five
governors who in late 2013 defected to the All
Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) worked against the
emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan as Senate
President.
THISDAY gathered that Atiku and the five
governors were uncomfortable with the rising
touted political wizadry of APC national leader,
Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and decided to
“cut him to size.”
Two of the former governors - Rabi’u Musa
Kwakwanso and Aliyu Wammako (Kano and
Sokoto States) were recently elected into the
Senate. Kwara State Governor, Ahmed
Abdulfatah, is the political protégé of the new
Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
They reportedly used their influence to stop
Lawan believed to be Tinubu’s candidate.
THISDAY gathered that Wammako had also
used his successor, the new governor of Sokoto
State, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the immediate
past Speaker of the House of Representatives,
to reach out to returning House members to
support Hon. Yakubu Dogara in emerging the
House of Representatives Speaker.
Few hours after the APC national leadership
rejected the emergence of Saraki and Dogara
as Senate President and Speaker respectively,
Atiku issued a statement congratulating the
duo.
“Irrespective of the political mix through which
the presiding officers emerged,...the eighth
National Assembly should never lose focus of
its role as a partner in progress with the other
arms of government, especially the executive
arm,” the former vice-pesident, in apparent
reaction to the APC said threat to sanction the
two principal officers.

www.thisdaylive.com/articles/how-g-5-govs-atiku-stopped-lawan/211636/

DevilhimseIf:
Not until you finish forking your harlot mother to stupor

biafransoul:
APC indeed. I wonder why you guys like deceiving yourselves. The new senate president is from PDP and just played you guys. Also, checkout where Dogara is coming from. Mumu, your jagaban was roundly disgraced and I hope he survives the shame and doesn't drink poison like Awolowo. So funny that South westerners would never learn and are so naive when it comes to Nigerian politics. From Awolowo, MKO, Oladipo Diya, And now Tinubu.

DevilhimseIf:
but am better than a product of dog's sperm like you


Ikpu nne i ebea