A former Senate Leader, Mr Ali Ndume, on Tuesday dared leaders of All Progressives Congress, including President Muhammadu Buhari, and National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, by unfolding his agenda as a candidate for Senate presidency in the ninth National Assembly.
The party leadership had last week endorsed Senate Leader, Mr Ahmad Lawan, as Senate president.
But on Tuesday, despite the stand of the party, Ndume went ahead to unveil his nine-point agenda if elected as next Senate president on June 9.
The Borno South senator in a document, a copy of which was made available to one of our correspondents in Abuja, promised to improve upon the performance of the 8th Senate.
He also pledged to make the office of Senate President less attractive by reducing unnecessary privileges attached to it.
The former Senate majority leader pledged to uphold independence of the legislature and expressed his willingness to “work harmoniously and inter-dependently with the executive without undermining the principle of separation of powers.”
Ndume said he would prioritise and ensure passage of Constituency Development Bill to make “constituency projects more transparent, accountable, efficient and effective.”
He said Senate would agree on timelines for confirmation, passage of bills especially the annual budgets, which he said, would not exceed 90 days from the day of submission.
Ndume added, “We will make laws that will block leakages devise improved means of generating revenue, especially through amendment and review of our tax laws which will help to reduce reliance on local and foreign loans to finance budget.
“We will run the 9th Senate transparently, through open accountability with full participation of all senators. For example, we will transfer approving powers of privileges of senators like foreign travels, allowances to Senate services committee or a new committee to be known as “ways and means committee.”
He also said that his presidency would uphold the party’s principles and policies and that Senate under him would make laws and review existing ones in tandem with APC’s Next Level agenda for Nigeria.
Recall that APC national chairman, had at a meeting with House of Representatives members-elect last week, said the party had endorsed Lawan as Senate president.
But Ndume in his reaction said Oshiomhole unilaterally picked Lawan without the backing of the party.
Spokesman for APC, Mr Lanre Isa-Onilu, however, faulted Ndume, saying, “The ticket he (Ndume) is holding belongs to APC and he cannot go and work with the opposition to give what belongs to APC to the opposition, like it happened in 2015 when the position of Deputy Senate President was given to the opposition by some desperate former members of APC.
“Ndume will be wrong to be calling out the party’s national chairman. The national chairman spoke on behalf of the party. And when we talk of the party in this instance, it is not just about the NWC.
“The President (Muhammadu Buhari) was there when he said it. He did not say anything that the President was not aware of. He did not say anything that leaders of APC are not already part of.”
Our leaders will take a decision on Ndume, says APC
However, Isa-Onilu on Tuesday said the party hierarchy would meet and take a decision on Ndume’s declaration.
He expressed the hope that the issue would be resolved since negotiation was ongoing.
“The party will look into it and a decision will be taken. Remember that consultation is still ongoing,” Issa-Onilu told one of our correspondents shortly after Ndume made his public declaration.
When asked how soon the party would take a decision on the matter, the APC spokesman said, “We are not putting a timeline on when the decision will be taken.”
Punch