10th N’Assembly: Shettima Urges Senators-elect to Shun Vote Buying

*PDP warns against intimidation of lawmakers

Chuks Okocha and Sunday Aborisade in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday advised incoming members of the 10th Senate to shun vote buying in the election of presiding officers slated for Tuesday in the interest of the country.
He spoke at the valedictory session organised for all lawmakers who were elected into the ninth Senate.
The inauguration of the 10th National Assembly has been slated for Tuesday, June 13.
Shettima and other members of the ninth Senate were invited to take part in the session.
The vice president urged his colleagues, who would take part in the voting next Tuesday, in the election of presiding officers, to carry out their civic responsibility, according to their conscience.

He said: “To my incoming colleagues, I will leave you with a paradox. The stability of this nation is superior to the stability of our pockets. On Tuesday, let us vote wisely. Let us vote for the Nigerian nation.”
“To my colleagues, who will depart from this chamber, I address you not as colleagues left behind, but as experienced lawmakers who have become an integral part of my history.

“We have shared many things in common and stand shoulder to shoulder in times of adversity. We have fought relentlessly for the betterment of our dear country.”
Also speaking, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, commended her husband, President Bola Tinubu, for supporting her throughout the three occasions she was in the red chamber in the 7th Senate, 8th Senate and the 9th Senate.
She also commended the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, and other members of the 9th Senate for the love and assistance that helped to make her legislative career a success.

She declared with excitement that she carried out all her legislative businesses successfully and made positive impacts in the lives of many Nigerians, especially women, youths and children.
Other senators, who spoke on the occasion praised God for sparing their lives as some of their colleagues, who started the journey with them could not, unfortunately, make it to the end.
They regretted the Rubber Stamp tag on the ninth Assembly and urged Nigerians to consider the positive impacts the legislation and motions passed based on their cooperation, had on the country.

Specifically, Senator Uba Sani, who is now the Governor of Kaduna State said, “People were wrong in tagging us Rubber Stamp National Assembly because we cooperated with President Muhammadu to succeed.”
Senator Akon Eyakenyi, who has now been sworn in as the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom State said the ninth Senate had been dynamic and patriotic in handling issues despite the members’ differences.
She said: “Issues were handled in a non-partisan manner and the ninth Senate is knowledge-based.”
All the senators in attendance received their certificates of service from the senate president on the occasion.

PDP Warns against Intimidation of Lawmakers

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday in Abuja cautioned against any form of intimidation as the 10th National Assembly elects its principal officers on June 13.
PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, told journalists that members of the National Assembly should be allowed to elect their leaders freely.
He said information at the disposal of the PDP indicated that there had been attempts to harass and threaten lawmakers-elect as to their choices of leaders of the National Assembly.

“Reports in the public space indicate plots to arrest individuals, who are considered to be strong proponents of the independence of the legislature.
“The PDP notes that the independence of the legislature is a prerequisite for a virile democracy and therefore insists that members-elect in both chambers must be allowed to elect their leadership.
“The National Assembly is the symbol of sovereignty of the people in a democracy. The people exercise such sovereignty through choices made by their representatives on the floor of the National Assembly.

“Fundamental to this sovereignty is the choice of presiding officers, which must not be appropriated by any group or individuals.
“Such will amount to a dethronement of the sovereignty of the people,’’ Ologunagba said.
He advised lawmakers-elect to assert their independence in the election of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Plot Thickens against Yari’s Emergence as Senate President

Meanwhile, fresh indications yesterday emerged that the supporters of Senator Godswill Akpabio were allegedly plotting to stop former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Yari, from contesting for the office of the President of the Senate.
Credible sources alleged that the Akpabio group had been cajoling, intimidating and blackmailing the former governor of Zamfara State to withdraw from the senate Presidency race.

One of the sources stated that at least 65 senators-elect “are currently backing the Senate Presidency bid of Sen. Abdulaziz Yari,” a reason that compelled the Akpabio group to intensify its plot against Yari.
According to the source, the new upswing in the rank of senators backing Yari is causing a lot of panic and tension in the presidency and Akpabio’s camp.
Another source acknowledged Yari’s rising acceptability among senators-elect.

He said: “They do not want Yari to be a candidate for Senate President on the floor of the senate on Tuesday. Presently, they are trying extremely hard to cajole, intimidate and blackmail Yari to withdraw from the senate Presidency race.”
According to the source, Yari has a court order preventing his invitation or detention until after the election of principal officers of the senate. They intend to use the institution of the presidency to carry out the plot.