NASS Crisis: Ekweremadu Told Buhari To Face Governance

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Wednesday, July 1st, 2015

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja – The Deputy President of Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has asked President Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), to face delivery of good governance to Nigerians, rather than allowing its representatives in government to continue bickering over sharing of positions , particularly in the National Assembly.

This is just as Coalition of Civil Society Organizations described calls for Ekweremadu’s resignation as Deputy President of the Senate as misplaced and mischievous.

Speaking yesterday in Abuja when the Coalition of Election Observers, paid him a courtesy call in his office, Ekweremadu urged APC to form policies and programmes that would benefit majority of Nigerian irrespective of political affiliation.

According to Ekweremadu, this is very necessary at this time, since after campaigns and elections , come governance.

The Deputy President of Senate who was apparently responding to the statement credited to President Mohammadu Buhari, where he was quoted to have said that the election of Ekweremadu as the Deputy Senate President was unacceptable, he said the sanctity of ballot box must be respected, citing the case of President Goodluck Jonathan, who conceded defeat in the 2015 general election to the opposition party.

He further advised the political leaders across the African continent to borrow a leaf from former President Jonathan, pointing out that he has saved Nigeria from crisis by refusing to be pressured towards challenging the sanctity of the ballot box.

Ekweremadu disclosed that the 8th National Assembly will further amend the Electoral Act to make the 2019 elections more credible and acceptable than that of 2015, adding that the alterations made on the 2010 Act has yielded important results.

“We are about to form legislative agenda for the 8th Senate. This will include electoral reforms”, he said, observing that African continent is proud of Nigeria because of the reforms in the government, in areas of education, health and corruption.

Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Nwambu Gabriel, said the emergence of Ekweremadu as the Deputy President of the Senate was the best thing to have happened to Nigeria’s democracy, adding that this is in recognition of his contributions to the advancement of democracy in Nigeria.

This, he said was in line with the global best practices and in compliance with the constitution of Nigeria, as contained in section 52(1), even as he dismissed the calls by some aggrieved persons that he should resign his position as the Deputy Senate President. Nwambu also urged the Senate to make laws that will encourage the diversification of the resources accruing to the country, even as he lamented the harsh economic conditions in the country resulting from the refusal of the governors to pay workers salaries.

His words: “we note the uproar that has attended the election of principal officers of the senate, particularly the call for your resignation. We aver that such uproar and calls are not only misplaced but are patently mischievous.

“We, in the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations/Nigerian Election Observers , wish to state emphatically that your election contrary to the position of those opposed to it, is not only in the true traditions of the senate but is equally in line with the provisions of our constitution , particularly section 52(1).

“We urge you to ignore such calls, which in the main spring from malice and mischief and focus on the task of legislating on behalf of Nigerian people particularly your constituents who earnestly expect that your stay in the senate, will translate to an improvement in their living conditions. We solidly stand by you.”