PDP could’ve produced Senate President, says Ogunlewe

A former Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe, says the Peoples Democratic Party was magnanimous to the All Progressives Congress by conceding the Senate Presidency to Senator Bukola Saraki of the APC.

He explained that when the election of the Senate President took place inside the chamber on Monday, the PDP had 49 senators while the APC had only eight. The remaining 51 APC senators were said to have been having a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

Ogunlewe, who represented Lagos-East senatorial district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly between 1999 and 2003, said this during an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.

He said, “There was to be an election in the chamber at 10am and instead of them (APC senators) to be present, they went for a meeting at 9am. The Kwara senator (Saraki) outsmarted them. If the PDP wanted to produce the Senate president at that time, the party could have.

ADVERTISEMENT

“All that was needed for the PDP to produce the next Senate President was 12 votes. However, the Deputy Senate Presidency going to the PDP is enough for now. At least, it is alright for the success of Nigeria.

“It is not necessary that the ruling party produces the Senate President. The constitution is clear on this matter. It states that the senators must elect a Senate President among themselves.”

Ogunlewe said the emergence of Saraki as Senate President was a lesson that posterity would learn from.

The PDP chieftain praised Buhari for respecting the independence of the legislature by not interfering in the election of principal officers.

He said the emergence of a PDP Deputy Senate President in a Senate dominated by the APC was good for democracy and would ensure more transparency in governance.

He said with a balance of power in the National Assembly, Buhari would truly belong to ‘no one’.

He said, “Anything that was done needs two thirds majority to alter it. This is the best thing that ever happened to Nigeria and Buhari is the luckiest President ever because he will get a lot of things easily in the National Assembly.

“The principal officers in the National Assembly can be called upon by him to take any decision. He cannot be held to ransom by any political party.

“He can easily table his programme without major opposition because everybody’s interest is protected. Things will move faster.”

Ogunlewe said those who wanted to go court to challenge Saraki’s victory would be wasting their time because no law was breached. He said the judiciary could not undermine the legislature which is an independent arm of government.

 

Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.