Taiwo Amodu, Abuja
Ahead of the June inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, a group within the All Progressives Congress, APC Integrity Group, has urged one of the contenders for the exalted seat of Senate President, Senator Sani Musa, to shelve his ambition and consider running for the position of Deputy Senate President.
The Senator representing Niger East is incidentally from the North Central geo-political zone.
The APC national secretariat is yet to formally release its zoning arrangement for the positions of the presiding officers of both chambers of National Assembly.
Recall that Senator Musa while speaking with journalists on Tuesday at the National Assembly complex, dropped the hint that he would vie for the office of Deputy Senate President if the party zoning formula yet to be unveiled did not favour his North Central zone.
But in a press statement signed by
Malam Dawu Mohammed and Chisom Nwakanma, National Coordinator and
Secretary, respectively of the Congress, APC Integrity Group called on the party to look in the direction of North Central for the position of Deputy Senate President.
The APC integrity group noted that to consolidate the gains of warm relationship between the Executive and Legislature, only lawmakers who have shown strong commitment to the progress and development of the party must be given the opportunity to pilot the affairs of the Nigerian Senate.
The statement reads in part: “We are also convinced that only a leader who understands the vision of the APC can point others to such direction. And this is who Senator Mohammed Sani Musa epitomizes considering the numerous assignments he has undertaken for the party, including funding party activities and other logistical supports at the local, state and national levels.
“As a committed APC group which has severally defended the party at our various endeavours, we have studied the political calculations and strongly support the reports of our party zoning the senate principal of offices.
“We therefore urge our great party to consider retaining its leadership voice at the Senate. And as such, take into mind, the services and efforts made by some great party leaders and stakeholders, especially in the North Central Zone.
“We ask the esteemed APC National Chairman, Distinguished Senator Abdullahi Adamu, and the Board of Trustee (BOT) of our great party, alongside the National Working Committee (NWC) to consider loyalty to the party, legislative ingenuity, astute leadership qualities, and a person who is able to work with the Senate President (SP), as a Deputy Senate President (DSP), to carry all 109 Senators along for a peaceful, effective and efficient legislative service delivery for the country.
“To this end, we stress that no other person best fits this description than Senator Musa who has sponsored a total of 26 Bills, of the 21 percent total legislations sponsored by North Central Senators in the Ninth Assembly.
“We have followed the antecedents of Senator Musa and have come to the conclusion that with current trend, calibre of new, young and outspoken politicians who are coming on board from the opposition parties, especially the PDP and LP, a Senator Musa as DSP would be of immense benefit to our party at the National Assembly level.
“It is also on record that Senator Musa who has remained a solid rock for our great party in Niger state, contributed immensely to our resounding victory in the state, as he hosted several campaigns rallies for our candidates in not only in his senatorial district, but the state in general.
The APC Integrity Group is made of members of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), Action Congress (AC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which came together to form the APC in February 2013.
