Of Senate Presidency, APC and Akume

As countdown to the May 29 inauguration of the All Progressive Congress is on, the tussle for various leadership position in Nigeria`s 8th Assembly has commenced. Just as the leadership of APC is working assiduously to ensure a smooth transfer of power to it by PDP, there are concerted efforts to enthrone a holistic legislature that will complement the executive arm of government post-May 29, 2015.

Indeed, the office of the Senate Presidency; being the Head of Nigeria`s Legislature, is very critical to the success or otherwise of any executive arm of government. Realizing that the Senate President will play a pivotal role in governance and political direction of the country from May 29, 2015, the APC must do everything within the ambit of law, equity, fairness and justice to ensure that a Senate President that will effectively and efficiently co-ordinate the legislature to collaborate with the executive is elected or selected.

True, a stable united and unified legislature is the surest assurance of the realization of the campaign promises of the APC government. The performance or otherwise of a legislature, is determinant on Parliament. In most democracies, the stability of its legislature determines the socio-economic and political relevance of the executive arm of government.

Recall that between 1999 and 2007, Nigeria`s democracy was fraught with instability in the legislative arm of government; particularly the Senate, which produced five presidents in eight years. The alteration rate of these changes had negative impact on the performance of the legislature and by extension the executive arm of government.

However, a measure of stability was achieved in the post – 2007 legislature, where the Senate had just one President. This positive development, has in many ways, affected the productivity of the legislature to national discourse and political development.

Perhaps, it is in realization of the necessary role that the Senate President plays in Nigeria`s democracy, that the leadership of APC has been involved in various meetings; at different levels, to arrive at a choice that will, expectedly, galvanize the legislature to complement the executive arm of government.

In the past weeks, numerous names and permutation have been thrown up in the media and public discourse, as the likely Senate President by June 2015

Whilst the various caucus and leadership of APC continues on the search for a Senate President, the writer counsels that these factors should be considered or used as template; political antecedent, pedigree, contribution to the party/nation, contribution on the floor, popularity, acceptability, ability to lobby colleagues, carriage and loyalty.

Realizing the sensitive time that Nigeria is going through, the Senate; post May 29, needs an accomplished, competent, stable and matured person to preside over it. The Senate President must be somebody who can not only command the respect of his colleagues, but be able to provide effective and efficient leadership at the National Assembly and complement the constitutional duties of other arms of government to deepen democracy, promote good governance and meet the aspirations of Nigerians.

Considering the sensitive and strategic position of the Senate President, it requires somebody that understands the leadership intricacies, operation and workings of the legislature. He must be somebody that understands the body language of colleagues. He must possess responsive negotiating skill, administrative acumen and diplomatic depth. Above all, he must not only be loyal to the party, but have the ability to rally support for the President, at difficult times.

As the APC continues with search for who becomes Nigeria`s No.3 man, these attributes and qualities enumerated cannot be compromised if the part or by extension General Muhammadu Buhari is desirous to redeem, execute and deliver on promises made to Nigerians during electioneering campaigns.

After comprehensive and comparative analysis of these qualities vis a vis the names of contenders for the Senate President, the writer; without prejudice to others, argues that Senator George Akume is fit and proper for the position.

In other advanced democracies, it is a norm that when a Minority Party wins an election (at Executive/Presidential), the sitting Minority Leader automatically becomes the leader of the Parliament. If this time-tested convention is replicated and adopted in case at hand, Senator George Akume; being the Minority Leader, should have no issues emerging Senate President in June 2015. For someone who led the Opposition in Nigeria`s Senate for four years without any controversy or sycophancy, Senator Akume will successfully lead the Red Chamber and the legislature, as President and Chairman respectively. As Minority Leader, the Tiv-born politician extraordinaire ensured that squabbles were non-existent. This shows that his ability to manage, co-ordinate and lead his colleagues is not in doubt.

Ever driven by quest for accountability, fairness, justice, equity and rule of law, Senator Akume, in 2011, left the PDP for APC, following series of decision and activity against his political associate. An action which many politicians dare not to take, considering the total dominance of PDP in Benue state and at the Centre. That Senator Akume was able to build ACN to win National and State Assembly seats; under six months, to the 2011 Election, speaks volumes about his acceptance, popularity, organizational dexterity and administrative depth.

True, it is not out of place if one refers to Senator Akume as loyalty-personified. He is always loyal to every course, Party and friend. He towers above many Senate Presidency-seeking contenders in terms of loyalty. Over the years, Senator Akume has shown unquestionable loyalty to APC; a quality that will be useful to the party and General Muhammadu Buhari in the days ahead as the government pushes through needed reforms, policies and programmes.

Senator George Akume is a visionary, pro-active, conscientious and foresighted public official who is wholly committed to good governance, stewardship and probity. An unusual and uncommon politician who always put the interest of the people first, above any other consideration. The Tiv- born Senator was a career Civil Servant who rose to the peak as a Permanent Secretary. He is a consummate politician, bridge-builder, keeper and sustainer of friendship across board, reputed for his legendary compassion, humility and humanness. As a highly detribalized and cosmopolitan Nigerian who has built enduring friendship, linkages and alliance across the country; which he effortlessly deployed to the success of opposition in the Senate, his Senate Presidency will be a big boost to an executive that will be in need of strategic people to help right some wrong perception about the Buhari Presidency.`

Senator Akume`s knowledge and expertise on the workings of the executive (as governor for eight years) and legislature (as senator and minority leader) makes him the most suitable person to steer the ship of the Senate and National Assembly. An Akume leadership will smoothen better working relationship between the executive and legislature. It is pertinent to note that since 2011, when he won the Benue North West Senatorial election, George Akume has consistently gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues, APC and PDP, in the National Assembly. His contribution to debates at plenary and committee sessions has been spot-on progressive and developmental. As leader of opposition, he gives the necessary direction to the caucus.

For the Buhari Presidency, Senator Akume`s legendary attributes as a selfless leader who gives inclusive leadership, offers sacrificial service, operates open door policy and encourages cross fertilization of ideas, is what the in-coming government needs to endear itself to the people. Similarly, Senator Akume`s humane, accessible, level-headed, passionate and charismatic personality will be a massive boost and rallying point for the Senate and National Assembly, which will complement the executive.

An Akume-Senate Presidency will no doubt give necessary legislative support to General Mohammadu Buhari`s campaign against corruption. This is predicated on the fact that Senator George Akume is the only former Governor from the North Central (in the Senate) that is not having money laundering or corruption charges with EFCC.

The choice of Senator George Akume as Senate President and leader of the legislature will provide the needed and necessary religious balance in the structure of the APC Government. In fairness and to balance the religious divide in Nigeria`s political development, Senator Akume as the longest serving Christian Senator from the North Central should be considered for the Senate Presidency. Being a Tiv; arguably the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria cutting across four States in the North, makes him a massive unifying factor in the North and by extension the nation.

As the June 6 inauguration day of the National Assembly approaches, one hopes the leadership of APC will rise above group pressure, selfaggrandizement, individual posturing and other narrow cleavages by doing the rightful in picking a responsive, respectable and responsible person to lead the Senate and by extension National Assembly.