SENATE Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, challenged the new Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, over his assertion that he will run a fair Senate.
Lawan had, while appreciating his colleagues in the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the floor, told the senators that “he will run the affairs of the Senate for the benefit of all.”
Senator Akpabio immediately countered, saying that Lawan was elected to lead the APC, adding that Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, was in charge of the Senate.
“I want to say that Senator Lawan is the Majority Leader and he cannot run the Senate. The Senate president is in charge and he will run the affairs of this house,” Akpabio said.
Lawan had, in his speech, called on his colleagues to cooperate with him, to ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy to all.
“Nigeria is our country, it does not belong to APC. It belongs to Nigerians. We should put our hands together and ensure stability in the country. I urge the cooperation and understanding of my colleagues.
“The Eighth Senate started on a shaky foundation. This Senate will end on a solid, stable and successful foundation. I thank the APC caucus for having confidence and trust in my judgment and ability to serve as leader of the Senate.
“I ask the opposition that what the APC caucus has done is for all of us. I am not a leader for the APC caucus, I am a leader of the Senate. It is the will of God and as religious people, we believe in destiny. We have accepted our fate and we have accepted to work for the betterment of Nigerians,” he said.
Akpabio, however, acknowledged that with the election of Senator Lawan, all the grumblings and disaffection affecting the red chamber would be brought to an end.
“We are delighted. We want to note that in spite of the situations of this and that, the Senate is focused on national issues. We are implementing issues on bi-partisan basis. We will continue to remain bi-partisan where the interests of Nigerians are concerned.
“We will support the Senate, the APC caucus and President Muhammadu Buhari on things we believe will take Nigerians out of recession,” he said.
In his remarks, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, assured Lawan of the support of all senators, while also commending the former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, for his service to the Senate.