Akpabio floors Yari for Presidency of 10th Senate ….. as Barau emerges Deputy Senate President unopposed

By Admin

Akpabio’s emergence as President of the Senate with 63 votes against 46 scored by Senator Abdulaziz Yari , led to unopposed emergence of Senator Jibrin Barau ( APC Kano North) , as Deputy President of the State as those eying the position from Yari’s camp chickened out .

The Road to Akpabio ‘s victory started with his nomination for the position by Senator Ali Mohammed Ndume ( APC Borno South) after call made to that effect by the Clerk to the National Assembly ( CNA), Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal.

Akpabio’s nomination was seconded by Senator by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola ( APC Ogun West ) .

Drama however ensued when the CNA asked if there was any other nomination for the position which was responded to , by Senator Elisha Abbo ( APC Adamawa North) .

As Senator Abbo attempted to nominate Senator Abdulaziz Yari for the position, Senator Mohammed Tahir Mongono ( APC Borno North ) kicked against it by describing Yari as a non – ranking Senator .

Mongono in kicking against Yari’s nomination by Elisha Abbo , said it contravenes order 3 of the Senate Standing rules which was spontaneously rejected by Senators – elect in support of Yari with shouts of no ! , no ! .

But the CNA overruled Mongono by declaring that nomination of Yari was in order and not an infraction on any rules of the Senate or relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution .

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim ( APC Ondo South ) thereafter, seconded Yari’s nomination for the election from which he scored 46 votes as against 63 garnered by Godswill Akpabio totalling 109.

Immediately after election and declaration of result on the President of the 10th Senate , the CNA called for nomination for the position of Deputy President of the Senate with responses from Senators David Umahi ( APC Ebonyi South) and Saliu Mustapha ( APC Kwara Central ) as mover and seconder respectively .

Since further nominations for the position of Deputy President of the Senate was not responded to by any of the Senators – elect , the CNA declared Senator Barau as the new Deputy Senate President.

Akpabio in his inaugural speech extended hands of fellowship to all Senators of the 10th Senate , irrespective of political party membership , saying “having won elections and inaugurated, we should see ourselves as Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not that of political parties”.

He described the 10th Senate as an uncommon one that will collaborate with the executive arm of government in the area of improved revenue generation for the country .

“This Senate and by extension, the 10th National Assembly, needs to collaborate with President Bola Tinubu led executive arm of government on improved revenue generation .

“President Tinubu as Executive Governor of Lagos State from May 1999 to May 2007 , did it by raising the internally generated revenue ( IGR) of the State which was below N1billion then to between N50billion to N61billion every month now .

“We therefore need to come up with legislations on improved revenue generation by looking at new sources for that purpose “, he said .

He added that the 10th Senate should look in the direction of strenghtening the legislative space and at the same time , support good policies and programmes of the federal government like recent bold step taken on removal of fuel subsidy .

Akpabio after his speech , called on the Deputy President of the Senate , Jibrin Barau to move for adjournment to Wednesday , which he did and seconded by Senator Ali Ndume.