Senator Ningi: “How we cautioned Senate President, Akpabio at first plenary”

Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) Senator, expresses confidence that the Tenth Senate will be an entirely different Assembly, explains how lawmakers cautioned newly-elected President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

 

“We also cautioned him that in spite of whatever happens, the Senate is the institution that made him the Senate President and the Chairman of the National Assembly”
– Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central)

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The lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, has stated that the Tenth Senate will not be confrontational in its relationship with the executive arm of government.

Ningi, a former Deputy Senate Leader, made this statement on Wednesday while addressing journalists in the National Assembly shortly after Senators emerged from their first plenary session after their inauguration.

“We are not going to be confrontational as we have never been but we are not going to be a laid-back legislature. We will make sure we understand our functions, powers and limitations, and we will outrightly inform the executives of our powers under the constitution, under the House rules and under the legislative matters privileges. We are not going to be caged,” Senator Ningi expressed.

Giving highlights of a closed-door session held in the Red Chamber, the Bauchi lawmaker said: “The highlights of the resolutions was first of all, we had an executive session and then we went through the order paper, corrected some typographical errors and then we sent a congratulatory letter to the House. We also sent a communication to the international co-bodies and other legislative international bodies.”

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A member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ningi also expressed confidence that the Tenth Senate will be an entirely different Assembly, explained that this was another opportunity for members of the legislature to do what we have not been properly done in the last couple of years.

“This National Assembly was crashing a few months back, but with what is happening with the inauguration of the National Assembly, I’m very positive that we are going to reset this country and it will benefit from our experiences. And with the paces I have seen in the National Assembly, I have no doubt in my mind that the Senate will be an entirely different Senate this time around.

I’m very happy this afternoon because the first thing that the Senate President did was to call for an executive session and it was a very exhaustive delivery, and I’m happy he has started on a clean state. I can see that he is ready for this job and we have assured him that once he gives us our respect, we are going to accord him our followership.

We also cautioned him that in spite of whatever happens, the Senate is the institution that made him the Senate President and the Chairman of the National Assembly and because there was a former Senator here, and you could see clearly that he is ready to work with us on behalf of the people of this country. Over the years, things have not been done so well, but time will give us another opportunity to do what we have not been able to do in the last couple of years,” the Senator explained.

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Senator Ningi further encouraged the press to remain steadfast, notwithstanding the several challenges facing the country.

“I want to call on the press in particular, to remain steadfast in what they are doing. We don’t have any other country but Nigeria. I know we have challenges or tribal, religious or regional sentiments, but at the end of the day, we bare the same consequences and destruction. 

We have tasted insecurity, and it is not a respecter of anybody. From the executive to the parliamentarians, to the common men and even to the Nigerian security process have been confronted by this insecurity. And then there is this issue of poverty and hunger in the society and unless we put Nigeria first, which is actually easier said than done. We must make sure that this country is pushed forward,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Senate adjourned plenary at the end of legislative business Wednesday, for two weeks. The Chamber is expected to resume on the 4th of July.