Despite lacking legislative experience, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state is qualified to be Nigeria’s next Senate President.
The state’s commissioner for Information and Oeientation, Uchena Orji disclosed this on Monday, while responding to suggestion that the Ebonyi helmsman lacked required experience to be the country’s number three citizen.
Apart from his inexperience, those with this line of thought said the governor who became a senator-elect after winning the February 25 election to represent the state in the National Assembly, said he stands no chance considering the array of contestants gunning for the job.
They include Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Godswill Akpabio, Ali Ndume, amongst others who are all ranking senators, by virtue of which they are at advantage over new comers to the NASS.
Speaking Orji said being a fresher does not prevent Umahi, his boss from running.
According to him, Umahi had a good relationship with legislators as governor, adding that Ranking should not be used to edge the governor who has a passion for public service, out of the contest.
He claimed that nothing in the Senate guidelines prevents Umahi from contesting like other senators who already declated their interset to run.
Orji said, “Much has been said about Ranking in the Senate as if it is a condition precedent for being a Senate President. This sentiment has shrinked the thought of legal minds and suppressed the pre- eminence and considerations of the rule of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on who qualifies to be elected as Senate President of Nigeria’s Senate.
“Under the constitution, the eligibility for being a Senate President is clear. By Section 50 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), every member of the Senate, who has taken oath is eligible to be voted for as Senate President. Ranking is not given any iota of pre-eminence.
“It is expected that in electing a Senate President, emphasis should be on nation building, capability and character to lead the Senate to achieve the aspirations of the Nigerian people. The Senate members are known to be distinguished representatives of the people who must emphasise the virtue of mental and moral character (not ranking) as a yardstick for who is to be elected President of the Senate.
“Order 3 of the Senate Senate Standing Orders 2015 as Amended has three categories of people that can be elected as President of the Senate of Nigeria. A first timer is clearly empowered by Order 3 to contest for Senate Presidency alongside ranking members and those who came from the Federal House of Representatives.
“Essentially what determines the pendulum is the mindset of the Party in Majority, in this case the APC, the interest of the majority of the Distinguished Senators and the prominence of power play between the ranking Senators and the first timers. Mind you, the first timers are greater in number under the 10th Senate.
“No rule says that Ranking members will determine who is elected as President of the Senate. All the inaugurated Senators have equal voting rights. The Ranking Senators have no extra- influence or right of first refusal in who becomes the Senate President.
“In the 10th Senate, Nigerians want a Senate Presidency that will be vibrant, that will balance the national political equilibrium and geo-political tripod. South East deserves the fullest consideration in this regard.
In Zoning considerations, South East is one of the three major parts of the tripod. In the history of Nigeria’s independence, leadership of this Nation has always stood on the tripod of East, West and North. This is fair and equitable.
He said if Governor Umahi is elected as the next Senate President, he will provide leadership to the chamber, noting that pedigree should should be key in the quest to ensure that the next occupier of the office hails from the south east.
