By Meletus EZE
Partners for Legislative Agenda for Nigeria (PLAN), a coalition of civil society has called on the 9th National Assembly to broaden the search for Senate president to include the Northeast region.
TBI Africa said that the Chairman of the group, Mr Charles Ibiang made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that after the recently concluded presidential and legislative elections, it became imperative to start a serious agenda setting for the 9thNational Assembly, starting from the leadership of the Senate.
“We are concerned about the need to avoid the unnecessary rancorous politicking that led to the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President and how it affected governance negatively.
“Our major intention is to ensure a harmonious working relationship between the executive and legislative that will help the government provide dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
“However, there is need to place the history of leadership of the National Assembly in its proper perspective to reduce tension in the leadership selection process in the 9th National Assembly.
“In 1999, when our democracy was birthed, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo from the Southwest became the President, while the Senate president went to the Southeast. This was for eight years.
“Similarly, in 2007, when the late Umar Musa Yar’adua from the Northwest became President, the Senate presidency moved to the North and this time, North Central in person of Senator David Mark was the president.
“Unfortunately, when Yar’adua died and his deputy, Dr Goodluck Jonathan became President, the Senate Presidency was retained in the North Central because it was understood that Jonathan was continuing with Yar’adua’s tenure.
“In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated as president and the ruling party, All Progressive Congress agreed that the Senate president should remain in the North.
“But contrary to ruling party’s decision, the incumbent Senate president, Saraki from the North central clichéd the position thus making the region to hold onto the exalted office for 12 straight years.’’
“If we must sustain this political consensus, which is historical and politically healthy, we should support the zoning of the Senate presidency to the Northeast.’’
According to him, PLAN therefore sincerely commends the APC for looking in the direction of the Northeast; it is the right thing to do.
The PLAN chairman said that it was imperative for a ruling political party to introduce a semblance of order and political stability in the leadership choice in the National Assembly.
He said that historical antecedent had shown that imposition led to instability and unhealthy rivalry between the executive and the legislature.
“Therefore, the 9th Senate should go ahead and elect for itself a Senate president that will work for it and Nigerians.
“However, PLAN shall be partnering with the media and other stakeholders in discussing issues that will deepen our democracy,” Ibiang said.
