Why APC should look to the North-East for Senate president

Aside being the most politically marginalized of all the geo-political zones in the country, the North-East needs no introduction as the most economically backward part of Nigeria. With the lowest per capita income, the zone is unarguably the poorest with high illiteracy level amid other negative indices of human development. The Boko Haram calamity has added in no small measure to the misery of people in the zone. Prior to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the North-East had witnessed colossal violence, economic downturn, dislocation of social life as well as a scandalous increase in poverty rate and despair.

It was therefore expected when voters in the zone thronged polling booths once again on February 23 to vote for the ‘Next Level’ sermon as preached by the Buhari team. For every voter in the North-East, the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represents a ticket to liberty from all the wrongs of the past. Over the years, especially between 2010 and 2015, thousands of innocent men, women and children were massacred by heartless men in the name of insurgency.

The only hope of the masses was that one day, it would all come to an end; that after the storm there would still be calm. And reprieve came in the mode of a Buhari presidency.

That hope was represented by the massive support the All Progressives Congress (APC) received at the polls. The people of the North-East embraced the message of ‘Next Level’. They now hope that the party will begin to actualize their huge expectation by treating the zone fairly in its zoning of key positions in both the Executive and Legislative arms of government. They trust that the reward for good shall be nothing but good and that as the zone that donated the second largest block votes to APC, it should receive a large piece of the pie.

Already, many interests within the incoming ruling party are strategizing, especially with regards to election of leadership of the two arms of the National Assembly. Since the emergence of the APC as majority in the next assembly, some lawmakers have publicly indicated interests in certain positions. Underground campaigns are already on for the positions of Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Several lawmakers have been mentioned, but their aspiration could only take firm direction after the official zoning arrangement by the party leadership. This is important to reduce rancour and ensure cohesion in the next assembly.

However, while considering the zoning arrangement, the APC should consider the need to sustain its strong support base in the North-East. It is expected that the zone is favoured to produce the next President of Senate. Since 1999, the zone has produced only a vice president. In comparison to other zones, this is the lowest democratic achievement. The North-West has its second President, the South-West has produced a president and now vice president, the North-Central had a Senate presidency for eight years, the South-East produced five Senate Presidents in eight years, while the South-South a president. Only former Vice President Atiku Abubakar can be mentioned as having occupied a top political position from the North-East.

In reaching its decision with regards to who emerges president of the Senate, the APC should note the need to respect existing Senate rules. The party leadership should be availed with requirements for election as presiding officers of the Senate. It is still part of the Senate rule that ranking, that is the number of terms a senator has served, shall be considered in election to a principal position. By implication, the most senior senator is considered and granted preference. Incidentally, the North-East presently boasts of the most experienced lawmaker in the Senate.

The APC should check the legislative credentials of senators such as Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan (Yobe North). Senator Lawan is unarguably the only APC senator to have been in the National Assembly consistently since 1999. He was a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) from 1999-2007 and was voted into the Senate in 2007 on the same opposition party platform. He has now won his fourth term in the Senate and is the most ranking of all the APC senators. It is therefore important for the APC to consider such consistently loyal senator that has track record of never cross-carpeting in its zoning arrangement.

The party should not ignore the need to give sense of belonging to the people of North-East in order to heal their wounds.

Senator Lawan, has become virtually a household name in the country, after his attempt at the Senate Presidency in 2015. His record of performance as a lawmaker in the last 20 years speaks volumes of his personal integrity and proven loyalty to the people.

The APC has a near simple task of elevating the current Senate Leader to the position of Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly. This will ensure the desired checks and balance between the arms of government within acceptable democratic practices.

Abu, a public affairs analyst, wrote from No. 4 Mubi Close, Kaduna.