Yari vows to ignore persuasion of Tinubu, to step down for Senator Akpabio in the Senate Presidency race
By Emma Ogbuehi
Baring last minute strategic moves, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), appears set for another confusion in its selection of the National Assembly (NASS) leadership. Pointers to the uncertain situation emerged during the week with Zamfara West Senator-elect, Abdul’Aziz Abubakar Yari, vowing to ignore persuasion of President-elect, Bola Tinubu, to step down for Senator Godswill Akpabio in the Senate Presidency race. The erstwhile Zamzara governor insists on going ahead to contest position.
Recall that the APC Caucus led by Tinubu had on Friday endorsed Akpabio as the preferred candidate for office of the Senate President in the incoming 10th National Assembly.
Yari however said the contest for the Senate Presidency will be based on constitutional provisions and not instructions by Tinubu or anyone. His insistence comes on the heels of assumptions in some quarters that the office had been programmed for Akpabio. Earlier contestants for the office have been hushed out of the race or corralled into supporting the Akpabio candidacy.
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Among these is the Ebonyi state governor, David Umahi, who declared that he was stepping down from the contest in deference to Tinubu who told him that he had pledged support for Akpabio for the position.
Former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, who had also signaled interest in the office, seemed to have lost steam, apparently in yielding to Tinubu. But Yar is undeterred.
He said, “What is going to happen that day, it is going to happen based on the instructions of the constitution and not for anyone.”
The former member of House of Representatives described the contest as Senators’ business, backed by the 1999 Constitution to choose their leaders within themselves and not based on instructions from anyone.
Yari’s insistence finds bearing in the recent declaration by the APC leadership that the leadership positions in the Assembly had not been zoned to any sections of the country or individuals.
Yari’s North West has been in strong contention for the position, arguing that it does not make for balance for another southerner to be senate president, with Tinubu as President.
If the former Zamfara governor pushes his position, there are fears of a repeat Bukola Saraki/Yakubu Dogara episode playing out in both chambers of NASS. Distrust between Saraki on one hand and the presidency/APC leadership, began to take shape shortly after the inauguration of the eighth NASS on June 9, 2015.
Before the inauguration, APC in a manner that was not elaborately explained to even some key members, had advertised Senators Ahmed Lawan/George Akume leadership for the Senate as well as Femi Gbajabiamila/Ali Monguno for the House of Representatives.
The decision however did not go down well with the Bukola Saraki group in the Senate nor the Yakubu Dogara elements in the House. The aggrieved elements who clearly had been schemed out of APC consideration, went into alliance with their Peoples democratic Party (PDP) colleagues, which gave rise to Saraki/Ike Ekweremadu victory in the Senate and Dogara’s emergence in the House.
APC did not take kindly to the matter. Raising the banner of threats and protest, the party vowed to get even with the Saraki. Saraki however carried on, absorbing attacks from the APC till the end of his term in 2019. Insinuations are rife that chieftains of the APC not comfortable with the Tinubu imposition, may reach out to the minority parties in the chambers to have their way.