9th Senate: ‘Goje is better than Lawan, Ndume’

AS campaigns for the leadership of the ninth Senate leadership reach a fever pitch, the Publicity Secretary of the Gombe State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Na’omi Joel Awak, has joined the call for the adoption of Mohammed Danjuma Goje for the position of the Senate President.

Awak said in an interview on Friday that Senators Ali Ndume (Borno State) and Ahmed Lawan (Yobe State) could not match Goje, who is a former governor of Gombe State, in terms of qualification for the position of the nation’s number three citizen.

According to her, Senator Goje is a force to reckon with in the power equation of the North-East geopolitical zone.

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She said the former governor is a grassroots politician, having won election into the House of Assembly in the old Bauchi State and gone on to become a governor for two consecutive terms. She said Goje is also a former minister and going to the Senate for a third time.

The Gombe APC spokesperson identified one of the greatest leadership qualities of Goje as his loyalty to the APC and his ability to keep the party together in his state.

She said these were factors that gave the former governor an edge over Lawan and Ndume. She added that Goje had the capability of leading the Senate successfully.

Speaking on the party’s resolve at the national level to support Lawan, Mrs Awak said: “As a party loyalist and obedient daughter, I am only appealing that the party and the elected senators look the way of Senator Goje as I am convinced that he is the man capable of doing the job well and protect the integrity of the party, the country and the president.

“I know the senators, especially those returning, know him better and I’m sure if given the opportunity, they will all rally support for Goje because we are aware of the goodwill and reputation he has with his colleagues. We are talking of a great Senate that will also be taking Nigeria to the next level in terms of good legislation.”

In the same vein, a political pressure group, Amalgamated Youth Forum North East Consultative Forum, has called on the leadership of the APC to allow senators from the region to choose their candidate for the presidency of the ninth Senate.

The group, which is rooting for Senator Goje, made the call at a meeting in Bauchi  with the convener, Mr Muslim Maigari, saying that since the party had zoned the Senate presidency to the North-East, the senators and other APC stakeholders should be allowed to select a consensus candidate.

According to the group, although it is a wise decision for the party to zone the major leadership positions to the various geopolitical zones in the country, it is imperative to allow internal democracy to work.

The group noted that it preferred Senator Goje for the Senate presidency because of his competence and track records as a former minister and governor and a three-time senator.