Singapore News Channel, Singapore News Network

Delays that usually characterised presentation, consideration and passage of appropriation bills on yearly basis, will be a thing of the past in the 9th National Assembly under my leadership said the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan ( APC Yobe North).

Senator Lawan who stated this Wednesday at the Head office of Blueprint Newspapers in Abuja along with 18 other serving senators as part of his campaign for the Presidency of the 9th Senate, said almost all the former governors elected for the 9th Senate are backing his aspiration.

This is as he insisted that in line with parliamentary practices globally, open and transparent model of election must be used for election of presiding officers of the 9th National Assembly in June this year.

Responding to question on way out of delays, yearly budgetary proposals used to encounter before passage, Lawan said required time frame for the entire process of budget presentation by the executive, consideration and passage by the legislature, would be worked out in solving the yearly problem.

He said: “It is rather sad that the budget process has not produced the kind of time outcome in this country. Let me remind you that our economy is largely dependent on public expenditure, and if the budget is not passed, Nigerians will complain of budget delay everywhere you go.

“That means the budget touches every life in this country. We have had discussions amongst ourselves in this group, and most of the Senators we have met on how to solve this problem of this budget process so that we can produce a budget document at the required time frame, and our conclusion are that we need to have a proper and timely engagement and consultations with the executive arm of government, so that we are able to have the budget proposal presented by Mr President in September or October of a year.

“We believe we should have maximum of three months to pass the budget and wait for Mr president to assent to it. I believe that we should tell ourselves the truth in the National Assembly that the budget is the most essential legislation, and the single most important document that we can produce, and make life better for Nigerians. So, why can’t we for example find a time frame, and say this time is only for processing the budget.

“For instance, if the budget is presented in September, why can’t we take the next four weeks from the day it was presented to do budget defence, no plenary until we are able to present something critical that requires our attention or intervention.

“No Senator or member of House of Representatives should travel out of the country without defending the budget. And we engage the presidency on the same thing, that no minister must travel outside the country without defending his or her budget.

“After that one month window is concluded, anyone who does not defend his budget should forget it. The National Assembly should be able to just work on what it thinks is right on the budget.

“I believe with this approach that will be worked out with the executive , the problem of yearly budget delays will be a thing of the past in the 9th National Assembly in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

On his aspiration, he stated that though, he was yet to meet Senators Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje but virtually all the remaining Senators -elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) and most of their counterparts from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been contacted and keyed into his leadership project.

The support base of his aspiration across the two party lines according to him, are most  of the16 former governors backing it as senators – elect.

“I am still working the process of meeting with my brothers, Senators Nduma and Goje, but it is a work in progress.

“I can tell you, almost all the former governors elected as Senators for the 9th Senate, are in this project.

“They are the movers and shakers of this project. They work tirelessly, because they believe we can achieve the desired development- driven synergy between the legislature and the executive.

“We must achieve unity, they hold sway in their states, and they know how important it is to have a legislature, working in collaboration, in tandem with unity and cooperation with the executive arm of government, so almost all of them are on this project”, he said.

According to him, open ballot system being used globally for elections in the parliament is what majority of the federal lawmakers- elect are canvassing for and should be adopted .

“In 2007 and 2011 at the inauguration of the 6th and 7th Senate, that was the mode of election adopted where all elected Senators , answered their fathers’name and that is what is expected to be adopted “, he said.

Reechoing what Senator Lawan said on open balloting after the courtesy visit, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi ( APC Niger North) , said: “What majority of us are saying is that on that day, we want voting to be open, no secret balloting. It is as simple and plain as that, because every Assembly that comes  dies at the end of its tenure, and when a new one comes in, the Assembly has a new life and right to adopt what it wants to do. Those of us coming on board the 9th senate want open voting.”

Other Senators in the entourage of Senator Lawan , were Ovie  Omo- Agege ( Delta Central), Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (Lagos West), Jibrin Barau (Kano North), Ahmed Baba Kaita ( Katsina North) and Sani Musa (Niger East), Isa  Jibrin (Kogi East), Abdullahi Gumel (Jigawa North West) etc.

In his remarks, the Publisher of Blueprint Newspapers, Alhaji Mohammed Idris cautioned the aspiring Senate President not to take Nigeria for granted if elected.

“The Blueprint as a media outfit will support your leadership if elected but  also hold you accountable as it has been doing to all public office holders since 2011 when it came into existence”, he said .

Blueprint.

With less than forty days to the inauguration of the 9th Senate and the coming on board of new presiding officers, Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has said that the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan is not a stooge who enjoys the backing of majority of the senators-elect.

Speaking on Friday during a political program in Abuja, Senator Abdullahi who is the spokesman of the Ahmad Lawan for Senate President, said his colleagues believe in him that is why he’s getting the cooperation.

“Every single Senator is important on who becomes the Senate President and for us in Ahmed Lawan camp we are visiting, we are engaging because we want to build a consensus around how the 9th Senate should be different, especially from the lesson we have learnt from the 7th and 8th Senate respectively.”

Reacting to the insinuations that Senator Lawan was being backed by Bola Tinubu the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) because of the latter’s 2023 presidential election Abdullahi said, “As far as I’m concerned as the spokesman, I think I’m clearly in the happenings of the 8th senate, I know who is who so Ahmed Lawan is not a stooge; his movement was started by his colleagues before it received the blessing of the party leadership ”

On the issue of insecurity, Abdullahi stated that state police will not solve the problem of banditry but rather worsen the situation. He, therefore, canvassed for community policing which he said will go along way in curbing kidnapping and banditry.

Nigerian lawmaker Senator Ahmed Lawan has said his ambition to be Senate president in the 9th National Assembly is with the intent of making a difference in the legislative arm of government for the citizens.

“I want to go there to make a difference,” Lawan said in an interview published in Daily Trust newspaper.

“We want to make the lives of Nigerians better. We want to ensure that all those programmes this administration is talking about will give the required support.”

Lawan, a Senator representing Yobe North appears to be the anointed candidate of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the seat of Senate president amidst growing interest from other lawmakers in the party.

Another Senator of the APC, Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South senatorial district is also contesting for the seat of the Senate president. He has been at loggerheads with Lawan over the leadership of the 9th National Assembly

Ndume’s bid for the seat of Senate president has been criticised as going against the party’s wish by some of its members.

Kashim Shettima, who is governor of Borno State where Ndume hails from is also not in support of his “kinsman” emerging Nigeria’s Senate president.

The governor argued that Ndume is not a match for Lawan in terms of experience in legislative duties.

But Lawan believes his acclaimed support from the leadership of the party and other senators was not by chance but by his experience and know-how of the legislative arm of Nigerian government.

“For me, the experience you garner when stay in the legislature is the most priceless factor you have when it comes to what you do as a leader in the National Assembly.”

“I’ve watched very closely how everything has been done over the years. I will be the longest serving member of the National Assembly in the 9th Senate having been in the National Assembly for 20 years.”

Lawan, however, said he is not bothered about other senators from the APC contesting for the seat of the Senate president. He said such should be encouraged in democracy.

“This is democracy. Whoever feels he has something to offer and runs, I think the environment is democratic where people can run. I’m not a stranger to contests,” Lawan said.

Lawan said he anticipates cooperation of other lawmakers of the country to lead the National Assembly in the interest of Nigeria if he becomes Senate president.

“You don’t hit the gavel when it’s clear that the majority is against something and you’ll say the majority won’t have it.”

“When we differ as leaders, we should have a mechanism through which we should be able to come to an understanding and agreement on the basis of what the national interest is,” Lawan said.

Guardian

Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan, a major contender for the office of Senate President in the incoming 9th Senate in this interview bares his mind on the contest, what he has to offer, and other issues. Excerpts:

Daily Trust: How does it feel, coming from a tough general election, to face another tough battle for Senate president?

 Senator Ahmad Lawan: Let me start by thanking God that my colleagues have provided the platform. When we returned from the general elections, some of our colleagues met and decided that we should run. They initiated everything; mine is to follow the advice. I’m lucky to have my colleagues’ endorsement and get fresh advice. Sometimes I even ask ‘what should I say?’ That is to say that I only aggregate the views of my colleagues on what we should do as senators, and if I’m to be elected as Senate President, how we should go about it. What we’ll start now, we’ll have to sustain it for four years if we make it by the grace of God. We need to have sustained engagements both within and among ourselves. My colleagues have done well, giving me the support. Therefore, I don’t feel any heavy burden on me, because this is something that’s done collectively.

DT: How do you carry the campaign out, considering that some of those in the contest are members of your party?

Lawan: This is democracy. Whoever feels he has something to offer and runs, I think the environment is democratic where people can run. I’m not a stranger to contests. This will be my sixth tenure in the National Assembly from 1999. But even before then, I contested under the UNPC. Therefore, I’m used to contests. I think I’m enjoying it because my colleagues are there for me. We share common beliefs and we know that we have something to offer in terms of governance. We remain committed to those ideals of progressive politics, that Nigeria should move from where it has been right from 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in. I believe that in the fullness of time, a decision will be taken in the chamber when the senators elect the presiding officers. I pray that at the end of the day, we’ll win and go along with all our colleagues regardless of whether they contested or not.

DT: Would you say that your political philosophy has changed over the years from the beginning, to where you are right now?

Lawan: I started in 1998 as the pioneer vice chairman of All Peoples Party (APP) in Yobe State. I ran for my federal constituency, Bade/Jakusko, in 1999 and won. I won again in 2003 under the same political party, but APP in 1998 and ANPP in 2003. I remained in ANPP until 2014 when we joined the coalition to form the APC. So, it has been consistency all the way. I believe in progressive politics. I believe that ordinary people must be at the centre of all our decisions, but that’s not to neglect the business people who also need to be encouraged to create employment opportunities. But I believe that the ordinary man must be at the centre of this, because today some of the insecurity all over the country is because we did not in the past, do much to create employment opportunities for our people, especially the youth. I have no reason to change. In fact, going on a personal note, in 2010, there was an effort to get to another political platform because my political mentor then moved to another platform. But I thought that would not be possible because I didn’t believe in that political platform, even though it was in government for years, and maybe I would be safer and benefit more individually. But I felt I believed in something and I must continue to believe in that thing, because that’s the right thing to do.

DT: You’ve been ‘anointed’ by your party for the position, but we have two other APC senators, Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje, gunning for the seat. Have you engaged them in dialogue?

Lawan: The leadership, elders and stakeholders of our party across the country, including our governors, recommended me. The word ‘recommended’ was used, to run for the office of Senate President. You could have read a lot of endorsements coming from geopolitical zones saying the leaders have endorsed us. That’s a plus, and a head start. But it doesn’t, in my opinion, preclude anybody from running. The party has a preference, and that’s normal. It’s a global practice that the party will say this is where it wants to go. If someone feels otherwise, the party cannot easily say you’re shut out. Maybe if there’s anything the party needs to do it is to talk to such a person to say ‘this is our reason, and please let’s work as a single unit.’ My brothers who are running are taking the liberty of democracy. For me, I believe everything has its own time. You have to look and read the most opportune moment to talk and engage. I believe that we’ll do that in due course.

DT: What unique thing do you have to offer, and how will you avoid being a ‘rubber stamp senate president?

Lawan: My selling point is consistency. We’re talking about the legislature, and I’ll be 20 years in the legislature by June by the grace of God. I was in the House of Reps for eight years, from 1999 to 2007, and then moved to the senate from 2007 to date. I have participated fully as a member of the House of Reps. I was chairman House Committee on Agriculture, chairman House Committee on Education, even as an opposition member of the House then. That tells you something, that I can work with parties other than mine. I don’t want to blow my trumpet so much, but I think we did well in agriculture and education. The evidence is there for everybody to see. I was made the Senate Leader after I chaired the Senate Committee on Defence during this 8th Assembly from 2015. As Senate Leader, I’m supposed to work with everybody, and that’s what I’ve been doing, engaging everybody. For me, the experience you garner when stay in the legislature is the most priceless factor you have when it comes to what you do as a leader in the National Assembly. I’ve watched very closely how everything has been done over the years. I will be the longest serving member of the National Assembly in the 9th Senate having been in the National Assembly for 20 years. Only two of us will be serving for that long. As an individual, before I came to the National Assembly, I was a lecturer/research fellow with the University of Maiduguri and Centre for Regional Studies. I was in charge of geographic information and remote sensing laboratory before I came to the National Assembly. I had my first degree at UniMaid and later ABU for my Land Surveying Postgraduate Programme, and my Masters and PhD in remote sensing and geographic information systems in Cranfield University in the UK, where I stayed for over five years to do my Masters and PhD. I believe I have the requisite experience to do the job. I believe I have the stability of mind and calmness, the attitude to work with others, both within my party and outside of it. Then when people talk about being a ‘rubber stamp’, I wonder whether the presiding officer is a headmaster. As a presiding officer, you’re only to aggregate and coordinate the views of your colleagues, and the majority will always have its way. You don’t hit the gavel when it’s clear that the majority is against something and you’ll say the majority won’t have it. Then you’ll not survive, because you’re sitting there by the grace of God and the endorsement of your colleagues. If you’re not going to be fair and equitable, definitely you won’t survive. I don’t want to go there just to make a name; I want to go there to make a difference. We want to make the lives of Nigerians better. We want to ensure that all those programmes this administration is talking about will give the required support. But where we have to disagree – and we will because our perspectives will differ – it’s not going to the proverbial market square to start throwing stones. When we differ as leaders, we should have a mechanism through which we should be able to come to an understanding and agreement on the basis of what the national interest is. I don’t have any problem with telling my leaders that this isn’t the right thing to do. So, no, we’re not going to be a ‘rubber stamp’. I believe there will never be a ‘rubber stamp’ presiding officer. In the legislature, unlike in the executive, you’re just first among equals. DT: How did you throw away your Engineering helmet for the politician’s cap? Lawan: I didn’t throw it away. But I never imagined I would be in politics, even though I was supporting the progressive parties. When I wasn’t partisan, I supported the Labour Party in the 1992 elections. I was a student in the UK, and as a student I had a vote. I was then the president of the Nigerian Students Association in Cranfield, so we supported and voted Labour Party because at that time, their policy on foreign students was better than the Conservatives. As a student in UniMaid, I supported the GNPP, not the NPN. I was briefly in the UNPC during the Abacha transition, then APP. In 1997, a year after I returned from the UK, the UNPC was formed and people came from home and said I should contest for my federal constituency. But I also like what I studied, and I had good engagements with the university. I wanted to practice what I learnt in the UK. I think the pressure became too much. I didn’t even know I would become a good politician, but I conceded. After Abacha died, I didn’t go back to work after I withdrew my services, and when the APP was formed, I joined it. When I came in 1999, the first four years were very difficult for me. My understanding of representation is to ensure that I protect my people from anything that will jeopardise their wellbeing and work hard to promote their interest to ensure they benefit from the system. Because of the crisis we had in 1999 and 2003, we had an executive that even felt we shouldn’t be there at that time, maybe the fight was too much, and I felt we were just wasting time. I didn’t throw in the towel just like that. I thought, like most politicians, after being engaged, I just said my people cannot be wrong. Thank God we’re still in politics, and we won’t relent in ensuring that we represent our constituents and we don’t disappoint Nigerians.

DT: Again, as the ‘anointed’ Senate President candidate, how are we going to break the logjam of the federal budget?

Lawan: We share that concern. In fact, we believe that’s one area we have to do something about as soon as we get there, by the grace of God. We believe that we have to talk amongst ourselves that we owe Nigerians that duty, because the economy of Nigeria is largely run by public expenditure. Unless the budget is passed and implemented, the economy continues to remain stagnant, or get worse. When we agree on what to do, then we’ll approach the executive arm. Those of us in the National Assembly should also ensure that nobody travels without having the budget defence of his or her committee completed, especially the chairman and vice chairman. Within one month, the budget defence should be over, whether someone has come to defend or not. In two months, let it be for us to process the budget. We should be able to pass the budget two months after passage. If the president is able to lay the budget say in the first week of September, I do not see any reason why we are not going to be able to pass it by the first or second week of December before we go on Christmas break. That is feasible.

DT: One issue that makes the National Assembly not look too good is that of constituency projects. What’s the future of constituency projects?

Lawan: On constituency projects, it was a running battle between the executive and legislature between 1999 and 2007. During the first tenure, the president didn’t even think the legislature was a necessary arm of government. It was a fight between the two arms. The second tenure of the then president improved a bit in terms of relationship between the executive and the legislature. But still, there was no structure of how members of the National Assembly could reflect projects for their constituents. Members would just indicate ‘let me have a borehole in a village, a primary school in a town, etc’ and it would be included. In 2007, when late Yar’Adua became president, there was an effort between the legislature and executive to have a better-structured way of funding and a certain amount was decided by both sides to be allocated for constituency projects. That’s the practice till today. Those projects would be worth a certain value for a senator and a member of the House. I know it’s about N550m or N600m for a senatorial district, and this is shared between the members of the House from the senatorial district and the senator. That puts some states into disadvantage, like Kano where they have 24 members of the House. Where you have a senatorial district with seven or eight members, they will get less compared to where you have two or three members of the House. Let me put it right on record here, no member of the National Assembly is given the money for constituency projects. You only nominate the projects. The Executive arm through the MDAs will award the contracts. There’s due process. So, we don’t get involved. But you know in politics, some information could be just tossed out there for some reasons. I have not seen any member of the National Assembly awarding contracts for his constituency projects. All you try to do is to ensure that the projects are implemented. You follow it up, if a contractor is given the contract, you ensure that that contractor doesn’t short-change you in terms of the quality of work and the performance of the contract. For me, it’s something that needs to be sustained. I think we should continue with it, though maybe we need to fine-tune it to make it better implemented. On oversight, it’s a constitutional responsibility of the legislature everywhere in the world. We’re supposed to have oversight. I think we can do it in a better way, with a structured way of doing it. The question is the bad reputation it has acquired over the years. I find that very interesting, because if a CEO is requested by a member of the National Assembly to go and bring money, is he under any obligation to do that? No. Why can’t he report it to the appropriate quarters? He should report, that a member has requested for money. Most of what people put out there is not true. When we had to fight with the executive arm of government in 1999, we were even called ‘legislooters’ and things like that. As a senator, I have only five aides. It’s a struggle to make them function. Go to the US and see the number of aides a senator has. I’m not talking about money here. When you do oversight, you’re supposed to do it with so much information, advice and consultancy. I believe that we’re doing well. If there’s anybody who goes out of his way to ask for money, that person should be reported to the appropriate quarters, not to call all members of the National Assembly thieves.

DT: What about the issue of collusion between the legislators and officials in the executive in terms of projects not well-executed?

Lawan: That project belongs to someone. Even if it doesn’t belong to an individual member of the National Assembly, it belongs to a community. The contractor is the one that’s supposed to face the music, because he has signed to implement that project, and he has been paid some money. So, if he fails to execute it properly, he will be held responsible. I know we have been given bad names as members of the National Assembly, and it’s not fair. DT: What about the remuneration? Do you think the salaries and allowances of the lawmakers are justifiable? Lawan: If I tell you what my salary is, I hope you’ll agree with me. My salary is less than one million naira.

DT: How about the quarterly allowances?

Lawan: There’s nothing like quarterly allowance. I believe that we’re supposed to function, and if we have to function as parliamentarians, we have to have an enabling environment. We have to have the resources for us to travel, if we have to perform oversight, we have to have the resources to consult when we have to, because if you don’t, you’re not likely to be efficient and effective in your oversight. I believe that what should bother us today should be the performance of the legislators. What we’re paid as salaries – I think mine is N750,000 because out of N1m, they take about N250,000 as tax. So, I end up with less than N800,000 per month. Am I supposed to work without being funded? Who in the executive arm of government performs without overhead?

DT: Will you have the courage to put a break to your colleagues for transparency, for instance to say that unless somebody travels, he won’t be paid money for that?

Lawan: I think we have an accounting procedure, mechanism and process. It’s not for the presiding officer to say that nobody should be given money. Once someone is going to perform his legislative responsibility, he has to be paid. How else can he perform if he’s not paid? What we need to do is to ensure that the performance of legislators is enhanced. There’s transparency. The way we do our things is open to the public. I believe there’s room for improvement in the area of oversight. I believe that we need to be more transparent in the way our funds are utilised, but I believe that the funds going to the National Assembly are not ‘jumbo’, because they’re not personal funds. They are for members of the National Assembly to perform their roles. In that respect, every arm of government has that kind of money. I’m not in the attitude of this kind of debate, but I always believe that members of the National Assembly should be enable

The people of Bade emirate in Yobe, on Saturday appealed to Senators Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje, to step down and support the endorsement of Senator Ahmad Lawan for the President of the ninth senate.

Alhaji Mamman Suleiman and Alhaji Mohammed Gagiyo, prominent title holders who spoke on behalf of the emirate, said the endorsement of Senator Lawan was in the interest of the North-east and Nigeria.

Suleiman said: “as fellow compatriots of the region, we expect the two senators to support the senate leader following his endorsement by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“Nigeria in the last four years had suffered from unnecessary political conflicts between the executive and National Assembly which
must not be repeated.”

The Emirate urged all APC senators to remain united in the interest of the party and the country.

Alhaji Gagiyo, also said the experience of the senate leader in the National Assembly made him more prepared and qualified for the office of the senate president.

“As a region, we should exhibit the spirit of unity we are known for and support one of our own, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
“The people of Bade Emirate are solidly behind the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan for Senate President and, we call on our brothers, Ndume and Goje to step down for Lawan,” he said.

The National Chairman of the Presidential Advisory on the Elimination of Drug Abuse(PACEDA),  Brig.

Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd) and his entourage arrived Yola,  the capital city of Adamawa State.

The Committee is in Adamawa state as part of its nationwide consultation with crucial stakeholders on how to address the alarming rate of substance abuse in Nigeria.

• How President met with Lalong, Wase
• May meet Bago after London trip
• El-Rufai opens talks with Ndume
• Southeast APC demands review of zoning arrangements

President Muhammadu Buhari has personally taken charge of lobbying incoming members of the 9th National Assembly in the bid to install Dr. Ahmad Lawan as the next Senate President and Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The President, according to well placed sources, is taking nothing for granted this time around to avoid a repeat of the 2015 ‘coup’ when dissenting members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their allies in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hijacked the election process and picked candidates other than those preferred by the ruling party.

The Nation gathered that shortly before leaving for London on a private visit last week, Buhari took the driver’s seat at meetings with some of the aspirants for the two plum offices.

He was said to have met Senator Danjuma Goje who enjoys the backing of the opposition PDP, and a member of the House, Ahmed Idris Wase, rated as enjoying wider backing from Reps.

One source said the President has already sent an emissary to Senator Ali Ndume who has consistently said that the President is yet to discuss with him on his ambition.

The source said the President plans to meet soon with Umaru Mohammed Bago, who has vowed not to step down for Gbajabiamila.

A top source who is familiar with the situation said: “Following complaints of imposition, the President has decided to reach out to the main aspirants to explain to them that he is actually the one who is interested in working with Lawan and Gbajabiamila.

“His determination to leave sustainable legacies has made him to be involved in opening talks with some aspirants.

“The President is reaching out because there is a lot of disinformation as if he is not personally involved in the demand for Lawan and Gbajabiamila.

“He is also worried that the election of principal officers is being personalized beyond the actors in the National Assembly.

“He met with Goje and begged him to support his choice of Lawan. Actually, the meeting with Goje was facilitated by Governor Nasir el-Rufai after preparatory discussion with the former governor of Gombe State.

“Goje admitted that he had some difficulty and would need to consult more before giving the President any feedback. A second session between the President and Goje is expected any moment from now.”

Investigation also revealed that the President has indirectly opened talks with a former Senate Leader, Ali Ndume on why he should allow Lawan to be the next President of the Senate.

It was learnt that Governor el-Rufai has already held discussion with Ndume preparatory to the aspirant’s meeting with Buhari.

“Apart from the APC governors, the President will have a follow-up meeting with Ndume. But his emissary (el-Rufai) has done preliminary consultations,” a Presidency source said.

It was similarly gathered that Buhari has met with one of the aspirants for the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ahmed Idris Wase from Plateau State on the need for him to step down for Gbajabiamila.

Read also: Senate Presidency: Lawan’s kinsmen beg Ndume, Goje to step down
Buhari met with Wase in company of Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State. Wase is from the state.

A source privy to the session said: “The President persuaded Wase to concede the Speaker slot to Gbajabiamila in the light of his second term agenda.

“He told Wase that although as a ranking member, he is entitled to lead the chamber but he wants to work with Gbajabiamila while Wase can be part of the team of the new Speaker.

“It was a confidence building session facilitated by an APC governor. But Wase is yet to make any commitment.”

The nation

 .
 A major contender for Senate President in the incoming 9th Assembly, Ahmad Lawan, has said that he will bring a lot to the table and make a difference if elected in June. Lawan, the current Senate Leader, said as a lawmaker who would be marking his 20th year as a member of the National Assembly, he believes he has all the requisite experience and capacity to lead the Senate in a manner that Nigerians would “have a better deal.”

Speaking when his campaign team visited the Media Trust Limited headquarters in Abuja, yesterday, Lawan, who was accompanied by 11 other senators-elect, said he has everything working for him to emerge, including the massive support of his colleagues. Lawan’s team, received by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Editor-in-Chief of Media Trust, Malam Mannir Dan-Ali and other top editorial staff of the company, had the Deputy Chief Whip Francis Alimekhena (APC, Edo), a returning senator, in attendance.

Others in the team were Senators Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger), Jibrin Barau (APC, Kano), and senators-elect Dayo Adeyeye (APC, Ekiti), Tolu Odebiyi (APC, Ogun), Bello Mandiya (APC, Katsina), Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti), Jibrin Isah Echocho (APC, Kogi), Yakubu Oseni (APC, Kogi), Olubunmi Adetunbi (APC, Ekiti) and Degi Eremienyo Wagara (APC, Bayelsa).

Lawan (APC, Yobe North) who is  the adopted candidate of the ruling APC for the Senate president’s position, said as part of his door-to-door campaign for the position, he would meet the two other contenders for the seat, Sen. Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno) and Mohammed Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe) at the appropriate time to seek their understanding.

The Senate Leader said if elected, he would ensure that the oversight functions of the National Assembly were strengthened and revolutionised in such a way that government agencies would be more accountable and transparent in their dealings.

Lawan said he and members of his campaign team have adopted a door-to-door approach, where they met with all senators-elect on a one-on-one basis to canvass for their support. He re-echoed his stance that the Senate would not be a rubber stamp of the Executive under him, noting that the two arms of government would often disagree but that he would not allow that to go to the market square.

Daily Trust

The leading contestant and anointed candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the presidency of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, has said that he will not be a figure head of the Upper House and a puppet of the Executive arm of government.

Lawan, who is the Senate leader of the outgoing Red Chamber, declared yesterday that while he would not be confrontational with other tiers of government, he would at the same time not be a rubber stamp chairman of the National Assembly (NASS) if he carried the day.

He barred his mind on the contentious NASS leadership and other national issues when he visited the corporate office of LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group in Abuja with some serving and senators-elect.

The lawmaker, who has been in the National Assembly since 1999 when Nigeria returned to full-blown democracy, said that there are clear provisions in the constitution of Nigeria on the roles, functions and relationship between the executive legislative arms of government.

Lawan said that the thought of a rubberstamp Senate could not have emerged in the first place if people understood the functions and roles of both arms of government even with a robust opposition political party that controls some measure of influence in the National Assembly.

In a response to a question on fears that he is being seen as President Muhammadu Buhari’s “errand boy”, Lawan said: ‘‘People say I will be there to do whatever President Muhammadu wants. There is clear demarcation of roles. Let me say first that I am not going to be a rubberstamp. The explanation is that we have separation of powers. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very clear on what functions the legislature performs and what functions are cut out for the Executive arm of government.

‘‘The legislature has its own functions well spelt in the constitution and until the constitution is amended and those sections altered, those functions remain valid no matter who is the Senate president or the presiding officer of the Senate. Even if it is not stated clearly in the constitution, there is interdependency between the two arms of government. That is my understanding of separation of powers,” he said.

He added that ‘‘I believe that there is nothing like rubberstamp. The presiding officer in the first place is just first among equals. It is not possible for a presiding office to just say I damn the consequences, bang the gavel and say even if you are a majority and i declare you a minority. It doesn’t work that way.’’

While recounting the hostility in the 1st Assembly between the NASS and the executive that almost brought the then government to its kneels, Lawan declared that separation of powers does not necessarily mean provoking hostility between both arms of government. He said that the essence of governance should be prioritised on the best interests of Nigerians who entrusted them with their mandates.

According to Lawan, ‘‘If you are going to serve the same people under the same government, you are not supposed to be going towards different direction. It means you have to come together in such a manner that is characterised by mutual respect, partnership and cooperation.

‘‘I have been in the National Assembly for a very long time to see what the hostility and rancorous relationship can lead to and what good relationship could bring.

‘‘In 1999 when we were elected, we had rancorous relationship with the government and democracy suffered and at the end of the day, Nigerians lost out. I believe we can disagree but when we disagree, we should be able to talk. Both sides of government are supposed to work for Nigerians.

‘‘As you are aware the 9th National Assembly would be inaugurated on the second week of June and having been returned, some of my colleagues asked that I run for the office of the president of the Senate.

‘‘Certain people will assume that because we have to work together with the executive, we are going to be rubber stamped. We are going to perform our constitutional functions of oversight, representation and legislation,” he said.

Lawan said that they want to see a situation where budgets are passed for the best interest of the people and also be accounted for. He said that the Senate under him would work towards having a budget cycle and working towards its realization.

The Senate leader further noted that if from time-to-time there are disagreements between the National Assembly and the executive, it should be for the overall interest of the electorate and after that, there must be ground for harmony, adding that his group had drawn out a plan for a National Assembly that will work for all.

‘‘We have a set target and our campaign slogan as a group is to have a Senate and a National Assembly that work for Nigerians.

 We want Nigerians to benefit from this democracy. And the best way to achieve that is for the government to deliver. This requires that we remain focused as legislators. It requires that we remain united across party lines,” he said.

Lawan, who further disclosed that he is already working closely with senators from the opposition political camp, promised that the 9th Senate under him, if elected, will be inclusive.

He said: “We believe that we need to work together regardless of our political platforms.

 The APC as we all know controls the majority in the current assembly and the 9th assembly as well. We believe that we have to work together with our colleagues in the PDP and the YPP. We have been consulting widely, visiting residents and offices of our colleagues to tell them what we stand for, what we want to achieve and how we should engage them and also listen to them on what their mission and vision are for their people.

‘‘Every senator-elect will eventually represent a senatorial district and therefore we want to see a situation where every senator performs optimally, an aggregation where we can perform optimally as a chamber.

‘‘So the Senate and the House of Representatives must work together and we also believe that the executive and the National Assembly must work together,” he said.

Leadership

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Maiduguri, Borno State, praised the efforts of outgoing administration of Governor Kashim Ibrahim Shettima in promoting education as counter strategy to Boko Haram ideology and insurgency.

President Buhari gave the commendation at a ceremony to commission six model schools, out of 40 world class facilities established to provide quality education to mostly children of the poor, and those turned orphans by the 10-year insurgency.

The President said expansion of educational facilities in the state was the best response to Boko Haram’s actions to stifle education, especially that of the girl child.

“This is a wise response to Boko Haram terrorism. Education plays a significant and remedial role in the efforts to provide equal opportunity and achieve a higher standard of living for citizens,” he said.

President Buhari assured Governor Shettima and Borno indigenes that his administration is still focused on recovering the abducted Chibok and Dapchi school girls.

 “We will not give up.  As a President, Nigerian and parent, I share in the agony of parents whose children have been abducted. We will do all that can be done to reunite them with their families,” he said.

The President said an end is already near for Boko Haram insurgency.

President Buhari commended the outgoing governor for achieving so much in provision of infrastructure, expansion of educational opportunities, especially for the girl-child, improving health facilities and stimulating the manufacturing sector in spite of distractions by Boko Haram.

In his remarks, Governor Shettima said the entire state remains eternally grateful to the President for the succour he brought by providing good and responsive leadership.

“We are grateful for the succour you have brought to our people. Nigeria has never had a leader with as much passion and love for Borno State,” he said.

The governor expressed optimism that the state’s massive investment in education will pay off in due course.

At the event, the Shehu of Borno, His Eminence Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai extoled President Buhari’s leadership qualities, and his passion for empowering ordinary Nigerians through youth programmes, investments in agriculture, provision of stable power and security.

While condoling with the Armed Forces on loss of officers and men, he promised a regular update by traditional rulers on all security threats.

President Buhari commissioned schools with boarding facilities for about 1,200 students, while 1,000 will be day students. The schools will provide free education, uniforms, sandals and two meals for students. And the non-boarding students will get bicycles.

Two of the schools he commissioned were named “Muhammadu Buhari Academy,” and “Yemi Osinbajo Primary School”.

Six of the schools were named after Amb. Babagana Kingibe, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Asheik Jarma, a former elected governor of the state; late Alhaji Mala Kachalla, another former civilian governor and a “mega primary school” was named after late  Ibrahim Damcida, a distinguished career civil servant.

One of the schools was branded “Aliko Dangote Academy”, in honour of Africa’s richest man for his “enormous contributions” in reconstructing the state after destructions by Boko Haram.

Significant projects commissioned by the President were Borno State industrial hub, incorporating 16 integrated manufacturing plants, which produces varied products like plastic mats, candies, sacks, PVCs, solar power panels, biscuits and cassava powder.

Other projects were a state of the art Radio Diagnostic Complex at the  State Specialist Hospital, a housing estate named “Zanna Umar Mustapha Gardens’’ which provides 246 3-bedroom houses and a newly completed “Baga road’’.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 25, 2019