Group Canvasses Support For Lawan As Senate President As NASS Prepares For Inauguration

A group known as the National Coalition for Good Governance, South-East chapter has pleaded with the Senators-elect to “unanimously” elect Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan as the President of Senate and Chairman of the 8th national assembly.
The group, which consists of a number of Non-Governmental Organisations, in a Press Statement released in Abuja at the end of a post general elections forum cited consistency in character, capacity and competence as virtues that stand Senator Lawan out among other contenders,

It added that from its analysis of governance, the nation would require a stable, visionary and purposeful National Assembly, which “the Senate Presidency of Senator Ahmed Lawan will guarantee”

In an apparent analysis of all contenders for the post, the group declared “having scored so high in the areas of consistency, character and competence, we therefore strongly appeal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Senators-elect to please do the needful for the sake of posterity by electing unanimously, distinguished Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan as the President of Senate”.

Elaborating on their findings, the group in the statement signed by its South-East Coordinator, Eze Odiri, contended that Senator Ahmed Lawan had exhibited consistency in many areas, especially in party membership, stressing that he “has consistently been a member of the defunct ANPP until it merged with other parties to form APC”.

“Consistency in political party affiliations points to character and dependability which are critical to the person who will occupy the office of the President of Senate” stressing that “this means that the person has no excess luggage or encumbrance which can bring a smear on the office and institution”

It added that “Since the return to democratic governance in 1999, he has consistently been in the National Assembly viz, House of Reps 1999-2003, 2003-2007; Senate 2007-2011, 2011-2015, and 2015-2019”, listing his various committee membership as including “ Chairman, House of Reps on Agriculture-2003-2005; Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Education-2005-2007 and Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts-2007-2015”.

While contending that his “academic consistency also speaks volumes”, the statement said Senator Lawan, who holds BSc in Geography, Msc in Remote Sensing and PHD in Remote Sensing/GIS, “is among the few politicians who despite his consistency has no dent”.

“This outstanding attribute qualifies him for the Office of the President of Senate/Chairman of National Assembly in a regime that has promised to fight corruption” it noted, adding that “his consistency and character has brought to bear in the outstanding manner he has managed all the Committees he has chaired since entering the National Assembly”.

The group appealed to the senators-elect to take cognisance of the fact that Senator Lawan’s Chairmanship of Committees on Agriculture, Education and Public Accounts and membership of other Committees for a consistent period of 16 years in the National Assembly has exposed him to critical issues in National Development and good governance.

“There is a great difference between a legislator who has consistently been in the National Assembly [House of Representatives and Senate] and one who was once in the House and now in the Senate”, it contended, noting that “as important as being in both chambers at one time or the other may be, activities or committee responsibilities bring out the best experience required for the office of the President of Senate.