10th N’Assembly Leadership Should Identify with Poor Nigerians, Says Musa

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Foremost aspirant for the position of the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly, Senator Sani Musa, has said the incoming presiding officers should provide legislative support that would create comfort for poor Nigerians.

Musa made the statement on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the Senate wing of the National Assembly shortly before the day’s plenary.

He also pledged to ensure unity and identify with the feelings of poor Nigerians.

The Senator Ahmad Lawan’s 9th Senate Presidency is currently being addressed as a rubber stamp institution, which is always willing to approve any request from the presidency, notwithstanding the effects on the citizenry.

However, Musa said the 10th Senate should be the type that would unite the country and provide succour for the citizenry.

“The National Assembly should be an institution that will serve as an antidote to strong policies, that will unite this country for prosperity.

“The National Assembly needs presiding servants that will identify with the feelings of Nigerians from the streets,” he said.

Musa said his administration as Senate President, if elected, would strengthen the policies of the incoming administration in the country with people-friendly legislation.

He said: “There is a high rate of inflation with two digits. Unemployment, insecurity are there, the value of naira has gone so down. You can imagine what is happening with our naira.  

“It should not happen in a country like Nigeria.  We are supposed to be the most advanced economy in Africa.”

Musa, who is representing the Niger East geopolitical zone in the Senate, also said the national executive of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will address the issue of religion balancing in the zoning formula to be used for the election of presiding officers.

He said the Muslim – Muslim ticket used by the party to win the presidential election must be balanced at the configuration of leadership of the 10th National Assembly for unity of the country.

Musa pledged to declare his intention to contest for the position of the Senate President publicly whenever the APC leadership concludes the zoning arrangement.

He said: “There is no office deserves to be zoned to the North-central than the Office of the Senate President.

“However, as a party loyalist, and having an interaction with the party leadership before the governorship and House of Assembly elections at the Presidential Villa, the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, requested that we all keep our intentions until when the party decides to release the zoning formula.

“Be that as it may, and as we can all see that the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which I’m sure will be addressed, we will queue in and decide to make our declaration.

“I would not want to pre-empt the party, I will wait for the decision of the party.  Whatever is the interest of the North-central as one of the geopolitical zones that gave the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the highest votes. 

“If you look at the difference we gave to APC and the votes we gave to PDP, we have the largest.

“I do know there will be nothing less than the Deputy Senate President because that is what will be fair to us.”

He however said his ambition is to run for Senate Presidency and use the office to collaborate with the executive in turning things around for good in the country.

“Every human being has ambition. I  intend to come in order to save our constitution and democracy in this country. You are all witnesses to what is going on in this country. Imbalances in this country.

“Our forefathers since independence did it in such a way that the future generations will come together and live as one.  So there is no need for me not to vie for this position and when I come in I’m going to strengthen the administration. 

“But as earlier said, if for the sake of religious balancing and unity of the country, the Senate Presidency is not zoned to North-central, we should be given the Deputy President of the Senate” he added.