Anxiety as Saraki’s group plans to influence 9th Senate leadership

* We’ve learnt our lesson, says Lawan

There is anxiety in the All Progressives Congress caucus in the
Senate over alleged moves by the outgoing President of the Senate,
Bukola Saraki, to influence the emergence of new leaders of the 9th
Senate.

It was learnt that Saraki was working on how to remain relevant
in national politics having lost his re-election bid for the Kwara
Central Senatorial seat.

A source told our correspondent on condition of anonymity that
Saraki had planned to contest the position of the President of the
Senate again if he had not lost the last National Assembly election
to the APC’s candidate, Dr Oloriegbe Ibrahim.

The source said, “Saraki is leading an influential group in the
Senate, comprising principally the PDP senators and some members of
the APC caucus who crave his influence to win the support of the
PDP caucus.

“He is still working on the 2015 template with which he emerged
as Senate President with the candidate of the opposition PDP
caucus, Ike Ekweremadu, as Deputy Senate President.”

Findings revealed that the PDP group met last week at the
Maitama residence of Saraki where some PDP senators-elect were said
to have resolved to influence the emergence of new Senate
leaders.

The group, according to investigations, planned to work with and
support any APC senator that was amenable to its proposal to
accommodate the PDP caucus in the Senate leadership.

Specifically, the group, according to sources, was interested in
retaining the position of the Deputy Senate President.

The source said, “The group has come up with Plans “A”, “B” and
“C”, preparatory to the horse-trading that is expected to
characterise the race for the position of the Senate President.

“The group’s Plan A is to sponsor one of them for the position
of the Senate President in the event that two or more members of
the APC caucus present themselves for the position on the floor of
the Senate.

“If it becomes difficult for the group to activate Plan “A”, it
was agreed that it should support Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe
in North East) who, according to members of the group, was more
amenable; and, they believe that with him, they could win the
position of Deputy Senate President.

“The group’s Plan “C” in case plans “A” and “B” fail is to
support Senator Ahmed Lawan who they believe would not act to
adversely affect the group’s interests.”

Another source said, “We have 42 senators-elect already. We need
just about 14 senators from the APC to disagree with the zoning
arrangement of the party and pitch their tents with the PDP.

“The APC cannot afford to have two candidates for the position
of the Senate President. If they do, the PDP will take over, either
directly or by putting a friendly person there.

“Our meeting last week was to ensure that we act in unity in
order to strengthen our relevance in the 9th Senate.”

Attempts to get the reaction of Saraki through his Special
Adviser on Media, Yusuf Olaniyonu, on Sunday evening failed as
calls made to his mobile phone did not connect.

He had yet to respond to a text message sent to him as of the
time of filing this report.

However, the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, who had declared his
intention to contest the position, told our correspondent in an
interview that his colleagues would act in unity to ensure that the
APC takes over the leadership of the 9th Senate.

Lawan said, “We have learnt our lessons as a party. I believe
that the issue of the National Assembly leadership will be given
maximum attention to ensure that the two chambers have leadership
that would function well and collaborate well with the executive
for good governance.

“Many of us in the APC believe that we are going to listen to
what our party will advise us to do and follow our party’s
instructions.

“I don’t think that there is a single senator-elect who wants to
antagonise or challenge the leadership of the party and naturally,
we are expecting that the leadership of our party will come out
with suggestions on the way and manner that the leadership of the
9th National Assembly will emerge.

“We are looking forward to all party members, as committed
progressives, to obey what our party and our leaders would want us
to do.

“I believe that our party and leaders will turn their attention
to how the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly
would be constituted as soon as the supplementary elections are
over.

“They say once beaten, twice shy. We cannot possibly forget,
very quickly, what we have been going through in the last four
years or so.”

Attempts to get the reaction of Senator Danjuma Goje failed on
Sunday as calls made to his mobile line were not answered while he
had also yet to respond to the text message sent to him as of the
time of filing this report.