10th Assembly: CSO drums support for Senator Akpabio
Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN), a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has called on senators-elect to support the choice of Godswill Akpabio as President of the 10th Senate.
The National Secretary of CNPDN, Mr Francis Wainwei, who made the call in a news conference in Abuja on Friday, said the choice of Akpabio would unify Nigeria.
On concerns that some lawmakers were revolting against the party’s zoning formula, Wainwei urged the lawmakers-elect to work for the unity of the country.
He allayed the fears that the APC zoning formula would lead to the emergence of a rubber stamp legislature.
The national secretary said there was a need for lawmakers-elect to drop their personal interests for the collective interest of Nigerians for a holistic development of the country.
“They should focus on the sacrifices they can make for the betterment of the country and not what they can gain for themselves at all costs.
“We concede to the fact that the right to choose their leaders is solely theirs but there is the burning national need for synergy and cooperation with the Executive.
“This is for a better and robust relationship that will ensure smooth and seamless take-off of the new administration.”
According to him, the independence of the National Assembly is to serve the collective interest of the country and not to be used as a means of promoting selfish interests.
“It is our strong opinion that the ruling party and the President-elect have made the best choices for the leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly.
“As such, aggrieved aspirants for the same leadership positions should accept the choices of the party in good faith,” he said.
He said the need to respect the party’s choice had become necessary to avoid a repeat of the acrimony experienced in 2011 and 2015 in the National Assembly.
“Let us not repeat history with the same attitude of selfishness.
“Let the Lawmakers-elect shun selfish and parochial interests to enable the new administration start on a solid and formidable foundation.
“We are therefore, call on all other aspirants for the Senate Presidency to drop their ambitions and support Sen. Akpabio” he said.
NAN/N.O
