By Akombo Aondona, Abuja
Member, Presidential Committee on Constitution and Electoral Reforms, Barrister Cecilia Omonya, has canvassed the zoning of the Senate President in the incoming 10 National Assembly to the South-South, stressing that Sen. Godswill Akpabio is currently the best candidate for the top job from the region.
Omonya, a lawyer and head of Chambers at Adams Cecilia and Associates, stated this on Wednesday 3 May 2023 after presenting a letter to the National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullah Adamu, demanding the APC National Working Committee, (NWC) zone the position of the Senate president to the South-South for fairness and equity.
In the letter entitled, “A Case For South – South Senate President”, Omonya argued that the South-South had not produce the Senate president since 1999, hence it was the turn of the region to produce the next Senate president.
Addressing journalists at the APC National Secretariat, Abuja after presenting her letter to the APC National Chairman, Omonya said: “I’ve come here today because I’m a passionate daughter of the South-South and I have come here with regards to the issue that is trending all over the country – the issue of the Senate president.
“I have come to lend my voice as a passionate daughter of the South South to appeal to our President-Elect, Bola Tinubu Ahmed and our great party the All Progressives Congress to support our zone the South-South because since 1999, the South-South has not enjoyed that office and we feel this is our chance now in view.
“Although originally zoned to the South which includes all of us, my special appeal to the national chairman is to say that they should look favourably to the South-South because we have not enjoyed that office before and it will be a good compensatory reward for us in view of the performance of the South-South during this just concluded election. We pulled over three hundred thousand votes for the president-elect. If that is not a thing worthy of note, I don’t know what is.
“Secondly, I come in support of our illustrious son, Senator Godswill Akpabio. The reason I stand for him is that I’m aware that in the Senate he has served two terms and he is now eminently qualified. That is the criteria for becoming the Senate president. Hence, he is eminently qualified to be our South-South Senate president.
“Of course his antecedents, he joined the APC from the PDP by stepping down as the minority leader, by becoming just a floor member. In this past election, he, together with the other stakeholders in the South-South gave over eight hundred thousand votes while the South East gave about a hundred thousand votes to the president-elect. This means that the South-South gave more than seven hundred thousand excess votes for the APC presidential victory. I believe Senator Godswill Akpabio is eminently qualified. He’s been a commissioner, been a governor, a senator and minister. His wealth of experience surpass any aspirant contesting for the Senate president.”
Omonya added: “For that reason what is not there to love about the man. This 10th Senate, if he becomes the Senate president he is going to take the Senate higher. The Senate president is the number three rank by the constitution and the Senate requires a legalistic mind. He is a barrister, he is hardworking, he is competent and he is futuristic in thinking and a visionary. We don’t need a Senate president that is just a leader. We need a Senate president that understands the nitty-gritty of the constitution and the law, who will give priority to the laws that we require to make Nigeria a better place. We need a Senate President who will work with the President so that together they will take Nigeria to the highest level. That is my wish and that is why I have came here.
“Akpabio will do great things if given the mantle of leadership. The president has a template already. He has shown it in Lagos and the sky will be the starting point when he assumes office.”
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