10th NASS: CSO tells President-elect to reach out to aggrieved aspirants

A Civil Society Organisation, CSO, the Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN), has called on the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reach out to aggrieved Senators-elect opposing the choice of Godswill Akpabio and Jibrin Barau as President and Deputy President of the 10th Senate respectively.

The CSO said, this became necessary as aspirants have been kicking since the All Progressives Congress, APC, announced zoning and micro-zoning three weeks ago.

They said there will be disharmony between the executive and the legislature if for any reason the present zoning is jettisoned, even as the group cautioned the lawmakers-elect not to revolt against the zoning formula.

According to the CSO, it will be in the interest of nation’s developmental plan that other contestants shelve their ambitions.

Addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, National Secretary of CNPDN, Francis Okereke Wainwei dismissed concerns that the APC zoning formula would lead to the emergence of a rubber stamp legislature.

Wainwei said: “They should focus on the sacrifices they can make for the betterment of the country and not what they can gain for themselves at all costs.

“We concede to the fact that the right to choose their leaders is solely theirs, but there is the burning national need for synergy and cooperation with the executive, for a better and robust relationship.”

Smooth and seamless take-off, the maintained, was necessary particularly as it relates to another person entirely coming to take over governannce of the country.

They reminded all Senators-elect that being in the National Assembly is to serve the collective interest of the country and not to be used as a means of promoting selfish interests.

CAPITAL POST recalled that: “The ruling party and the President-elect have endorsed Sen. Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President, Sen. Jibrin Barau for Deputy Senate President, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas for Speaker of the House of Representatives and Benjamin Kalu for Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly.