Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa has revealed that his wife used her office as president of the Appeal Court to favour his colleagues in the Senate.

The clerk of the National Assembly has declared Senator Godswill Akpabio the Senate President for the 10th National Assembly (NASS) on Tuesday morning after voting concluded at the Red Chamber in Abuja, Nigeria.

Voting begun at exactly 08:45am on a state by state basis, alphabetically.

Nominations were received for Senator Abdul’aziz Yari and Senator Godswill Akpabio after which the Clerk of the Senate declared nominations closed in absence of further nominations.

The contest was strictly between Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State and Akpabio, a the immediate-past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and a former governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Both contestants are chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Zamfara governor had before now protested the endorsement of the the former minister by the party and asked that the endorsement be reviewed but the APC did not shift ground.

Some APC members had entreated Yari to drop his ambition to make it a smooth sail for Akpabio but the former governor vowed to fight to the finish.

The Presidency on Sunday explained its decision to back a Christian as a Senate President.

It explained that Nigeria could not afford to have a Muslim as a Senate President at this time having produced Muslims as President and the Vice-President.

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who said these at  a dinner with lawmakers across party lines in Abuja on Saturday night, noted that the party came up with the consensus ticket of Senator GodsWill Akpabio as Senate President and Jibrin Barau as Deputy in the interest of the stability of the country.

Shettima said this as  two aspirants for the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives,  Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi, were reported to have stepped down.

Explaining the position of President Bola Tinubu, the Vice-President  said Nigeria could not afford to have a Muslim as a Senate President since both the President and VP are Muslims, stressing that the President of the Senate should be a Christian.

The PUNCH had reported the uproar over the same faith presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress which featured Tinubu and Shettima in the run-up to the February 25 presidential poll.

Having won the election, parliamentarians and other stakeholders had been clamouring for the balance of power and inclusivity, insisting that a Christian must be included in the nation’s top power hierarchy.

In response to this, the APC’s National Working Committee zoned the Senate President to the South-South and nominated Akpabio, a Christian, as the preferred candidate and Senator Jibrin Barau from North-West for Deputy Senate President.

Similarly, the party nominated Tajudeen Abbas (Kaduna/North-West) for Speaker; and Benjamin Kalu (Abia/South-East) for Deputy Speaker.

However, some aspirants for the Senate Presidency and the Speaker have continued to insist on contesting for the positions in open defiance of the zoning arrangement announced by the ruling party in early May.

The recalcitrant contestants including Senators Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West), Orji Kalu ( Abia North) and Osita Izunaso ( Imo West), and Sani Musa from Niger State, said they would not step down for the party’s consensus aspirants for the two senate leadership positions.

But validating the zoning arrangement at the dinner, the Vice President attributed the APC’s decision to President Tinubu’s administration’s desire to foster inclusivity in the interest of the nation.

Senator Shettima said, “Here we are with a Muslim president and a Muslim vice president in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious polity like ours. I was a child of circumstance.

“Equity, justice, and fairness demand that the number three citizen of this country should be of the Christian faith. What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. But most importantly, we should make deliberate efforts to take inclusivity in governance.”

Shettima further appealed to the lawmakers to consider the interest of the country above that of their pockets.

He said, “This is a young nation where every community will like to have fair representation on the dinner table of their kinsmen.

“Politics is about perception, politics is about optics. I want to appeal to you, I want to appeal to your conscience. There is stability and inclusivity and togetherness in this nation that supersedes the depth of our pockets, stability of our pockets.

“Under the current dispensation, the worst, the most incompetent southern Christian is better than the most puritanical northern Muslim for the presidency of the Senate. We are talking about the sustainability of the nation; the nation is at a crossroads.”

The Vice President submitted that some parts of the country felt excluded from the previous administration as the president, senate president, speaker and others were of the Muslim faith, adding it would be wrong to have a repeat of such a situation in the current government.

He said, “Number one, two, three, four, and five all from the same faith for God’s sake, we can’t do that. I am ready to kneel and beg my colleagues in the Senate for the sake of the nation. This is for the survival of this nation. I am even going to talk to a senator tonight just for the sake of this nation.”

The consensus candidate of the party, Senator Akpabio noted that the lawmakers were willing to work for the stability of the country.

Akpabio said, “Vice President, sir, we have committed ourselves to your administration alongside President Bola Tinubu to ensure the stability of Nigeria.”

In his comment, Senator Barau reiterated the president’s commitment to the progress, unity, and stability of the country.

He assured that the 10th Assembly would commit itself to the values of unity and peaceful co-existence of the nation.

The Director-General of the Stability group, Senator Ali Ndume, noted that the group was assured of votes from 80 lawmakers but currently has assurance from 73 senators.

Meanwhile, Emeka Nwala, the Chief Press Secretary to Senator Kalu, noted that Yari and Kalu were still in the race and not backing down.

In the same vein, the media consultant to Senator Izunaso, Kehinde Olaosebikan, noted that his boss couldn’t back down in the last days, especially knowing that he is the best man for the job.

He said, “We have not stepped down and we are not stepping down. Sen Izunaso is the best among them, he will win. Nigeria deserves the best. It’s about service to Nigeria.

We are not talking about being a running mate to someone. We are talking about him being the Senate President. I’m not aware if a decision has been made on a running mate with Yari.”

Speaking on the number of lawmakers on his side, he said they have several people on their side but reeling out figures wasn’t an assurance of getting people’s votes.

Efforts to get comments from Senator Yari’s camp proved abortive as phone calls made to the Assistant Director General of his campaign team, Senator Abdul Nengi failed.

In a new development, the Joint Task – 10th Assembly, a coalition of members-elect of the 10th House of Representatives across party lines, has said two leading contenders, Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gagdi, have stepped down for the APC consensus speakership candidate.

The Tajudeen Abbas/ Benjamin Kalu Joint Task Campaign Office made the claim in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

The development is coming ahead of plans by the G-7 to announce its final resolution on the speakership race on Monday (today).

The group includes the incumbent Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase; the Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi; Chairman, the House Committee on Appropriations, Aliyu Betara; Chairman, House Committee on Water Resources, Sada Soli; Chinedu Ogah, Miriam Onuoha, and Sani Jaji.
The Joint Task’s statement was titled ‘Disregard claims that Tinubu wasn’t aware of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas’ adoption by APC…Rt. Hon. Abbas expresses readiness to win on the floor on Tuesday…as Betara, Gagdi step down for Abbas.’

The group was refuting reports that Tinubu did not expressly direct the lawmakers to vote for Abbas and Kalu during his meeting with the members-elect last week.

It partly read, “It has come to the attention of the Joint Task – 10th Assembly that some aspirants for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives claimed that the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, never mentioned the name of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas was his preferred candidate for Speaker, but the President only said he aligned with the position of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee on the zoning arrangement.

“It is pertinent to mention that the so-called G-7 no longer exists as key members of the forum such as Rt. Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Rt. Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, Rt. Hon. Makki Yalleman and Rt. Hon. Raheem Tunji Olawuyi, among others, have since dropped their speakership ambitions and declared support for the Abbas/Kalu ticket.

“It is worthy to note that Betara and Gagdi announced that they stepped down for Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas today, Sunday June 11, 2023 after a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

“As of Sunday, June 11, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (Ph.D.) has secured the endorsement of the overwhelming majority of members-elect across the eight political parties in the six geopolitical zones, and he is ready to compete on the floor of the House and take the mantle of leadership of the 10th House come Tuesday, June 13, 2023.”

The campaign organisation stated that the APC NWC, on May 8 “consulted with the President before reaching that resolution.”

The Abbas/Kalu group added, “Therefore, it is preposterous to claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not aware of the adoption of Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as the Speaker. We urge the public, especially the media, to disregard such claims.”

Neither Betara nor Gagdi could be reached as of press time on Sunday night to confirm if they had stepped down from the speakership race, and for whom.

In the meantime, the Coalition of Northern Groups has raised concerns about plans to allegedly arrest and intimidate northern aspirants for the National Assembly principal offices.

In a statement on Sunday by CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the group said the elements who were hatching the evil plans were “bent on smearing the good relationship of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the North”.

Suleiman, in the statement, disclosed that the widely speculated plot involved the introduction of a suspicious voting system to track the NASS voting patterns as well as a plan to block members-elect opposed to the candidacy of Akpabio, from gaining access to the NASS complex on the day of the inauguration.

Meanwhile, Betara an Gagdi, on Sunday night withdrew their candidacy to support the zoning arrangement of the APC.

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed this at the end of closed-door negotiations between President Bola Tinubu and both lawmakers which held at Tinubu’s Asokoro residence on Sunday evening.

He told journalists that President Tinubu  was pleased with the gesture of Aliyu Betara and Yusuf Gadgi to place the interest of the party above their personal ambitions.

Flanked by the Betara and Gagdi, Shettima said “Rt. Hon Betara and Gadgi have graciously accepted to step down and endorse the candidature of Tajudeen Abbas for the speakership of the Federal House of Representatives.

“The President was quite touched by their gesture because what binds us together is superior to whatever that divides us.

We are one big APC family and together, we shall cross the Rubicon on Tuesday. We cannot thank them enough for their sacrifice and we want to commend the roles played by the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, His Excellency the Governor of Niger State, by the leadership of the party here represented by the Deputy National Chairman (North). I think our party members will breathe a sigh of relief.”

Therefore, the Vice President urged other contenders such as the current Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, Sada Soli and Aminu Jaji to emulate the gesture.

“We call on the other candidates such as Rt. Hon. Wase, Hon. Sada Soli and Rt. Hon. Aminu Jaji, to also see reasons to channel their candidacy to Abbas so that as a family, we can create a better future for our dear nation,” he said.

(Punch)

Fellow Nigerians,

2. It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the polls to exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative government of the people.

3. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that time, the fairest and freest election in the country’s political evolution, turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999.

4. In rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

5. Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian, Arnold Toynbee’s eternal postulation, that civilization and societies experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society, leading ultimately to the attainment of our ‘second independence’ as exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999.

6. Fellow compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nation’s history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a silver platter.

7. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself.

8. Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today.

9. The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it.

10. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value.

11. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.

12. That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.

13. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.

14. For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal.

15. It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.

16. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started.

17. The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.

18. It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.

19. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.

20. The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993.

21. On this year’s Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years. In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises.

22. On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people – the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

23. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people.

24. On this note, I wish us all a happy Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of liberty shall never be extinguished in our land.

25. Thank you all and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

My Distinguished Constituents,

Today is indeed a great day as the valedictory session of the Nigerian Senate took place at the hallowed chambers. I thank God for a successful 9th Senate and for his grace which saw me through the 2023 electioneering and also ensured that I was re-elected to consolidate your representation in the 10th Senate. Special thanks to you, ndị Anambra South for your love and supports. Despite the fact that I ran on the platform of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) which is still a young party in Nigerian political history, you consolidated your trust in me by voting massively for the party in the 2023 Anambra South Senatorial Election and consequently, retained me as your representative in the 10th Senate.

May I also thank my wife Mrs Uche Ubah and my family for their supports and for standing with me throughout my first missionary journey in the Red Chamber.

Since our inauguration in June 2019, I have strived hard to book my name for excellent legislation by sponsoring notable Motions and Bills such as the Motion that gave birth to the Bill that ushered in the Deep Offshore Act which brings to the federation, a whooping 2.5 billion naira (two billion, five hundred million naira) daily and by extension, over 800 (eight hundred) billion naira annually. This is a milestone that was never attained in the past twenty years and that made former President Muhammadu Buhari to give it presidential assent in London thereby making its Bill the first to be signed into law by a sitting President outside the shores of the country since independence. To God be the glory!

I will always remain grateful to the Nigerian Ninth Senate President Ahmed Lawan and the Chairman of Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) Senator Bassey Akpan who co-sponsored the notable Bill with me for their cooperation and supports. Let me also use this medium to reassure you my noble constituents that I will leave no stone unturned to ensure that all the Bills I sponsored especially the ones awaiting presidential assent like the Petroleum Safety Bill which will drastically reduce Petrol tanker accidents are signed into law.

As we get set to be ushered into the 10th Senate, may I plead with the executive arm to adhere strictly to the Federal Character principle while exercising its powers in order to promote equity, fairness, and justice.

Ndị be anyị, may I thank you again for defying the odds to consolidate your trust in me. Be rest assured that your sacrifices shall never be in vain and by the special grace of God, I will continue to make you proud. Thank you and may God continue to bless and protect Anambra South Senatorial District.

Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Ubah
Anambra South Senatorial District
June 10, 2023.

Contrary to speculations making the round that President Bola Tinubu has directed the suspension of Mallam Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, there is no such directive from the President.

Presidency sources confided in us on Saturday night that the President has not given such directive for the suspension of Kyari as NNPC Boss.

Social media platforms were abuzz on Saturday evening with several posts claiming the President had directed the immediate suspension of Kyari as NNPC GCEO.

The social media posts of the purported suspension of Kyari gained traction as it was coming barely 24 hours after the Presidency announced the suspension of Godwin Emefiele from office as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Multiple sources in the Presidency told our Reporters that there is no such plan to suspend Kyari as the GCEO of the NNPC.

One of the sources said, “We got to know about the purported suspension through social media posts. But I can confirm to you that there is no such directive coming from the President. Nigerians are known to play a lot with trends and someone may just have sat down somewhere to make such posts.

“There is no iota of truth in that post claiming that the President has suspended the NNPC GCEO. There is nothing to be worried about because the Petroleum Industry Act is clear on how the NNPC GCEO or any member of the NNPC Board could be removed.”

When contacted, an Aide to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation told our Reporter that they have not received any of such directive from the President.

“Please disregard those reports because they are fake news. We don’t have such directive from the President to suspend Kyari,” the Aide said.

The source said the Presidency will not dignify rumour mongers with an official response

Source:THE WHISTLER