Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North Senatorial District, has condemned the newly amended senate ranking rules, cautioning that any move to circumvent the provisions to favour specific individuals in the senate could weaken democratic ideals, hence putting the country on a path of dictatorship, news.ng reports.
Speaking on the controversial senate ranking and its consequences, Oshiomhole, who was on Arise Television on Tuesday morning, clarified that his stand was not targeted at the President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, but it is about ensuring that the right thing is done.
“The fight is not over because even the current Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, did four years. Subsequently, he lost election to the Senate, and he became a minister. Now, he came back this term, and he became senate president,” Oshiomhole said.
He interrogated the rationale behind claims that the minimum requirement of consecutive eight years of legislative experience should be the basis for the eligibility of the Senate president, noting that adherence of such a rule automatically disqualifies Akpabio as the leader of the Senate.
He stated, “If eight years is a minimum requirement, he doesn’t have the right to preside because he has not qualified. If he got it in error, it has to be corrected. That is why you don’t make laws with people in mind.”
He, therefore, clarified that the term “consecutively” is the only basis that makes one a ranking senator in the Senate.
According to Oshiomhole, a former Governor of Edo State, the proposed new rules have created an unfavourable outcome for former senators such as former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege and former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who left for other roles.
“Now this amendment says that once it is not consecutive, you are not ranking. You cannot even be—not just president—you cannot even be a principal officer. How fair is that?” he asked.
He further cited example of former Senate President David Mark, who earned the trust of the distinguished during his time.
He noted, “He [David Mark] held that office for eight years and all he needed to do to hold the office for eight years was to earn and sustain the trust line between the Senate presidency and the distinguished senators.”
While his unwavering intervention on the ranking rule might have created a perceived animosity between him and Akpabio, Oshiomhole clarified that his position is driven by national interest
“Akpabio was my friend, but anybody who knows me knows that my friendship is important, but the country is much more important than my personal relationship with anyone,” he added.
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