Opposition senators raise alarm over alleged plan to impose minority leader

Akinwande Soji-Ojo

Senators from the opposition parties have raised an alarm over alleged plan to impose a minority leader on the minority caucus of the 10th Senate.

In a statement jointly signed at the weekend, the senators said some persons within and outside the senate chamber are planning to cause a crisis among the minority parties in order to weaken their strength in the red chamber of the national assembly.

The senators that signed the statement are Mohammed Aliero (PDP, Kebbi Central); Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West); Aminu Tambuwal (PDP, Sokoto South) and Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central).

Others are Abba Moro (PDP, Benue North); Ezenwa Onyewuchi (PDP, Imo East); Sumaila Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) and Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South).

“It has come to the notice of the Minority Political Parties in the Senate of an attempt by forces inside and outside the Senate to divide the minority parties and foist a pliant and compromised leadership on them,” the statement read.

The senators cautioned against causing crisis within the minority caucus, stressing that they have all pledged to work and support the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio.

“We have pledged to work constructively with the new Senate leadership and the Executive branch to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people. We consequently hereby advise and caution that they should not aid any group inside or outside the Senate to divide and destabilise the minority parties and the Senate institution.

“Senators of the minority parties would meet when the Senate reconvenes and, in consultation with our respective political parties, would select its leaders without undue interference from anti-democratic forces within or outside the Senate,” the statement said.

The senators noted that the minority parties are yet to arrive at a consensus for the position of the minority leader.

“For the avoidance of doubt, no senator has yet been endorsed or selected for any minority position as this would await due process as agreed by all minority parties in their last meeting. Attempt to foist a one party dictatorship would be resisted and would fail.

“We call on all members of the minority political parties to work together in unity to defend the democratic institution of the Senate and Nigeria,” the lawmakers added.

There are six opposition parties with 50 seats in the 10th Senate. They are PDP, LP, SDP, NNPP, APGA and YPP. The ruling APC has 59 seats.