APC Senator-elect, David Umahi, has said that one of the Senate presidency contestants, Abdulaziz Yari, lacks the constitutional requirements to emerge senate president.
Senator Umahi, in an interview with ARISE NEWS in Friday, said the decision to back Akpabio who is a Christian, is to balance the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the presidency.
“The fact remains that I went through the amended constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria and discovered that the constitution as amended, recognized two things.
“One is that two-thirds of senators-elect shall constitute the minimum requirement for the Assembly to be inaugurated. Two, the constitution recognizes the rules of both the senate and house of reps and so as it stands now, Yari was a member of the house of reps but constitutionally and going by the senate rules, I don’t believe that Yari has the constitutional requirement to stand that election, so we are not bothered about that.
“We are bothered about the fact that we went through a very tough election by the reason of a Muslim- Muslim ticket and yes, religion should not be something that should be brought to be in our national politics but it has come to be and we have to work very hard to do away with it but before doing that, we have to repair the situation and that’s why in the wisdom of the APC leadership and Mr. President, we said let us allow a Christian senate president. The number 3 person to be a Christian.
“It is very logical and it will help to stabilize the nation. So, I think that we should begin to put the interest of the nation first before other considerations.”
Umahi also stated that the APC has the backing of most of the PDP senators-elect in ensuring that Akpabio emerges as Senate President in the interest of the nation at large.
“I’m not in PDP but I can assure you that over 70% of PDP senators-elect are working with us. This is a fact. For example, the G5 governors met with the president on Thursday and assured Mr. President of the commitment of their senators working with us and of course their senators are working with us.
“The most important thing is that a lot of the PDP senators-elect have decided to put the interest of the nation first before talking about personal interest.”
The former Governor of Ebonyi State also said his choice to back Senator Akpabio instead of Senator Uzor Kalu, is because he has party supremacy at the top of his priorities and since Akpabio has been endorsed by the president, he would not oppose that position by supporting Uzor Kalu.
“Party supremacy, respect for the leadership of the country and the party were the upmost in my heart. So, when the party took a position and Mr. President also approved that position, for somebody who was the chairman of the south-east governors’ forum, I should not be seen opposing the president and my party.
Umahi said he left the PDP for the APC so that south-easterners are brought to play at the centre.
“The personal interest of myself or my good brother and senior colleague, Orji Uzor Kalu, must take a back seat for the interest of the south-east and of course at large, the interest of the nation.
“This is the reason why I support the decision of the president, in line with the decision of the party, APC.”
Umahi also spoke on the removal of fuel subsidy, stating that though it has brought an initial hardship, it will yield more money for the federation.
“Subsidy removal is good for the common man as it will stabilize our currency.”
Chioma Kalu
Follow us on:
