The recent emergence of G-77 group of Senators headed by Senator Godswill Akpabio (PDP) was no surprise to those conversant with high level politicking in the National Assembly.
The group comprising the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and PDP Senators, is largely dominated by the PDP who have firmly taken control of happenings in the Senate particularly that Ike Ekweremadu now presides as Saraki faces day to day trial at the CCT.
DAILY POST’s checks revealed that the strength of membership composition of the group comes from South East – South South extraction as well.
Belief that the ceaseless leadership crisis of the 8th National Assembly is being coordinated by political interlopers from outside who have successfully divided the upper lawmaking arm along personal and political interest in the last ten Months is the rationale behind Saraki’s trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, hence the need to respond through unity of purpose by first timers.
Notwithstanding, the group, oblivious of the vexed issue potently pending at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on the alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules that produced Saraki as Senate President and Chief Ike Ekweremadu, a Peoples Democratic Party Senator as Deputy Senate President, also alleged that what the Senate President’s traducers failed to achieve on the 9th of June, 2016 by supplanting Senator Ahmed Lawan from Yobe, is what is now in court, with the belief that their cronies would do their bidding, noting that the only way to tackle those unrepentant elements bent on intruding into the Senate was the Senators themselves.
It was also seen that the trial of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the unfolding events of pro and anti Saraki’s protests at the CCT and at the National Assembly suggesting that the Senate President may not survive the legal battle, calls for weighing the balance of probabilities among the group.
The group was purposely formed to barricade outsiders’ influence and to tell those festering around the National Assembly with regard to foisting Senate President of their choice should Saraki be removed that they were of age to take decisions on their own.
While briefing Senate Press Corps on Wednesday, Akpabio said: “We the G-77 stands by the current leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki and would not give to chances by allowing anybody or group of persons from outside to define our leadership for us.”
“We are committed to independence of the legislature, and during Senate President’s trial, we will maintain loyalty and nothing surreptitious would be allowed”, he added.
However, Akpabio was said to have drawn inspiration of possibility of succeeding Saraki when the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun was said to have made a statement that ‘if Saraki was removed as Senate President as a result of CCT trial and a PDP became the Senate President, the ruling APC would accept as part of change,’ a statement he later denied anyway.
As the group have their ears on the ground for any eventuality, fears were that Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is currently the minority leader might ambush Senate Presidency having seen the weaklings in the ruling All Progressives Congress.
A source told DAILY POST penultimate week that Akpabio himself was heard telling some people after a PDP Senate Caucus meeting that it was not impossible for him to vie for Senate Presidency, while citing scenarios of the former Senate President, Ken. Nnamani who succeeded Adolphus Wabara in the fifth Senate despite that he was a first timer.
“In case of any eventuality, who told you that I may not be interested in Senate Presidency? ,” the source quoted him to have said.
A first time Senator of the Peoples Democratic Party from the South East who pleaded anonymity while acknowledging Saraki’s magnanimity by making sure that sizeable first time Senators were made Chairmen of Committees which was a departure from the past confirmed that Godswill Akpabio may be interested.
He added that the idea of G-77 group and the notion of maintaining peace was actually mulled from South East Caucus meeting, and since they were dealing with a game of number, they also agree that the group should include all first timers so that it will not be seen as a regional struggle in the Senate.
He affirmed hat it was not absurd for a new Senate President to dissolve Committees formed by his predecessor, hence, the G-77 was capable of producing Saraki’s successor in order to retain the status quo.
“If Saraki eventually leaves, a new Senate President may dissolve all committees, so we are ready to produce one so that status quo can be retained,” the Senator said.
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