BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE, DANIEL IDONOR, HENRY UMORU, BEN AGANDE, EMMAN OVUAKPORIE OLASUNKANMI AKONI & INALEGU SHAIBU
AFTER days of high wire intrigues, horse-trading and politicking, leaders of the Seventh National Assembly were elected yesterday at colourful ceremonies in Abuja.

According to projections, Senator David Mark retained his Senate Presidency post alongside his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. And Rep Aminu Tambuwal and his large troop of supporters made good their threat of going against the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning formula ceding the speakership to the South-West geo-political zone.

Tambuwal, who hails from Sokoto State, North-West was massively elected as Speaker with 252 votes compared to 90 votes garnered by government and PDP-backed Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who hails from the South-West.

In what is panning out as nailing of the PDP power sharing formula, Hon Emeka Ihedioha of the South-East  was elected as deputy speaker. With the election, apart from South-West, which has lost the speakership, the North-East has also lost the deputy speakership just like the South-East lost the National Chairmanship and North-West lost the presidency.

Senate President David Mark takes oath office while Clerk of National Assembly Alhj. Salisu Mekaswua looks on during Swearing in of 7th National Assembly in Abuja. Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan

Given the implications of the events, the PDP has begun moves to heal wounds arising from the elections. Determined to mend fences with the affected leaders, the PDP hierarchy will meet with leaders of the National Assembly today.

See more photos of the inauguration here

Meantime, eminent Nigerians including President Goodluck Jonathan, governors of the 36 states of the country, former Speaker Dimeji Bankole among others felicitated with the new NASS leadership, pledging to work with them, to develop the country. However, legal icon, Professor Itse Sagay faulted Tambuwal’s election and asked him to resign on account of the N10 billion loan saga.

This is as Senate President Mark, Speaker Tambuwal and some new senators unveiled their agenda for the Senate and security agencies almost marred the inauguration.

Mark pledges cut in governance cost

In his acceptance speech, Mark said his unanimous election by the senators “sends a strong signal about the new Nigerian spirit, the birth of a new National Assembly and increasing maturity of our democracy.”

He promised to continue with the collegiate leadership style that he adopted in the Sixth Senate, adding: “I will preside with the fear of God,” adding that the diversity of representation in the Senate was a consolation that all the senators would bring in their experience to move Nigeria forward.

While emphasizing the need for co-operation and collaboration among the senators as well as co-operation between the other arms of government, Senator Mark reminded his colleagues that “we are as strong and as effective as the strength of our team work.

For effectiveness, we must ensure collaboration, team spirit, networking and consensus building through dialogue and consultation. To accomplish more, we have to listen and consult more with the civil society, the organized private sector and other major stakeholders” he said.

Let us review our federation—  Tambuwal

On his part, Speaker Tambuwal called for a review of the Nigerian federation. “We should review how we federate as a nation with the aim of achieving more cumulative efficiencies in the federating units, based on comparative endowment advantages,” he urged.”

According to the Speaker, post election and sectional violence and other crises have sought to tear us apart and plant distrust and disunity amongst our people, peace and justice are our heritage from our heroes past and our hope for today.

“As the people’s representatives, we must heal our people and heal our nation, we must work to redeem the efforts of our political predecessors and we must work to redeem Nigeria.”

Jonathan congratulates NASS leadership

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the newly-elected NASS leadership and looked forward to enjoying harmonious working relations with them. A statement by Mr Justus Abuah, a Deputy Director in the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said: “President Jonathan believes that the re-election of Senator David Mark as President of the Senate and the election of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives by their peers in the National Assembly is an affirmation of their leadership qualities and commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

“The President looks forward to working harmoniously with the re-elected Senate President and his deputy, as well as the newly elected Speaker and his deputy, other principal officers and all members of the Seventh National Assembly on the implementation of his agenda for National Transformation. He wishes the leadership and members of the new National Assembly a successful tenure in the service of the nation.”
Bankole congratulates successor

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Dimeji Bankole, has congratulated the newly elected Speaker of the House, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in the keenly contested but transparent election.

In a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunao, the former Speaker, who could not be part of the handing over ceremony as he was being detained by EFCC following his arrest on Sunday night, said Tambuwal’s election reflected the wishes of the members of the House and by extension the people of Nigeria, adding that the Parliament, as the bastion of democracy, must elect its leadership democratically.

Police beat, tear-gas journalists, bar governors, others

The smooth inauguration of the Seventh National Assembly at the National Assembly Complex yesterday was smeared by overzealous mobile policemen, who almost halted the exercise They barred a serving Governor, some journalists, Senators-elect, Reps-elect and legislative aides from entering the complex over what they described as security reasons.

A senator-elect was manhandled and his clothes shred. A journalist was slapped by a mobile police woman for protesting while over four  canisters of tear gas were shot to chase away people.

Former Governor of Akwa Ibom, Obong Victor Attah, was equally barred but later ushered in through a secret entrance but all the journalists that followed him were chased away and rudely asked not to come near the entrance again.

Another female police officer with the name tag,Rita Egbe, rough handled a female journalist, Kemi Ajala of Crowther FM when she wanted to enter the complex. The police officer shoved Ajala, held her dress and threatened to have her thrown out of the complex, but other security agents intervened.

Well over 40 journalists had to stay outside the complex for more than five hours even after the Senate had concluded its election. Journalists with authentic NASS identity cards were shabbily treated like lepers by the mobile policemen who threatened to beat up a Vanguard correspondent  and two of his colleagues.

On investigation on why journalists were specifically singled out to be molested by the police,  who worked in conjunction with other security agencies, a Police Inspector, who spoke in confidence to Vanguard said, the Sergeant at Arms specifically advised them to make sure journalists were dealt with “even if possible chase them away from here, na so oga talk.”

Our mission in the Senate —Okowa, Ewherido

Some newly elected senators, who were sworn in yesterday were upbeat about their missions in the Senate.
In separate  interviews with Vanguard, a cross section of the fresh senators said they would collaborate with their colleagues from other parts of the country to improve infrastructure development in the country and ensure that the living standard of the Nigerians was improved.

Senator  Ifeanyi  Okowa (Delta North) said his priority in the Senate would be to ensure that the Revenue Sharing Formula Bill was passed to ensure that states and local governments had more funds at their disposalfor rapid development of the states.

Reason: “If we want achieve the Millennium Development Goals, we have to ensure that more money is given to the states and local governments. They are closest to the people and they need more money to ensure that there are greater infrastructural developments in the country.”

Okowa said he would also work hard with his colleagues to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill was passed into law as soon as possible in order to not only sustain the peace being presently experienced in the Niger Delta region but also ensure that individual families in the region benefited from the resources in the area.

“As a senator, I hope that we will organise our people to ensure that we galvanise our people to work towards the actualization of our people producing the governor of. The best way to achieve this is to engender unity among the various groups inDelta North so as to present a common front,” he said.

For Senator Pius  Ewherido (Delta Central), the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, which was done by the Sixth Senate needed to be looked at again as there are areas that have not been properly captured.

“The constitution has to be amended to ensure that we practice true federalism. I still believe that the constitution , though it was amended by the last Senate, has to be reworked to properly guarantee our practice of the federal system. I believe that the centre is too heavy and we need to devolve more powers to the states.”

On the power situation in the country, Ewherido said all functionaries of government, no matter their political affiliations, “need to support Mr. president to actualise the dream of stabilising electricity in the country as it is bedrock of development and the easiest and fastest way of bringing about  employment, which is the fastest way to poverty alleviation.”

… Oshiomhole too

On his part, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole congratulated Speaker Tambuwal over his keenly contested election and charged him to be sensitive to the growing national concerns about the huge cost of governance.

In a letter of congratulation issued in Benin City, the governor wished Tambuwal a successful tenure and assured him of the “full support and partnership of the people and government of Edo State and my personal solidarity to ensure that you succeed in qualitatively uplifting the House of Representatives”.

Sagay faults Tambuwal’s election

However, legal icon, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) is not part of the ululation trailing Tambuwal’s election.
Condemning the election of Tambuwal as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sagay said he should have withdrawn from the speakership race following the N10 billion loan scandal.

The professor of law contended that for Tambuwal’s name to have come up in the N10 billion scandal in the House was enough for the new Speaker to withdraw, I think he should resign.

According to him, “if it were to be in a civilised society, it shows that there is no moral and practice of ethics in public offices. It also shows that our democracy is immature, is still in its formative stage. In United States of America that we imitates such thing could not have happened.”

Apparently referring to the scandal, Sagay said Tambuwal does not have the image of a speaker for impressing it on the leadership of the house that there was need for an upward review of the running costs for members which is unconstitutional and illegal.

“They went and borrowed money for their selfish interest, the whole thing is illegal and a man in the fore front of it should not have been elected. If he knows what is good for him, he should just resign to save the country from further shame.”

Governors’ Forum fetes Mark, Tambuwal

Also governors of the 36 states of the country yesterday congratulated Senate President Mark and Speaker Tambuwal and pledged to work with them to develop the country.

In a statement on behalf of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, said: “I write to congratulate you (Senate President, David Mark and House Speaker Aminu Tambuwal) on your recent elections as President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

That you were elected to this high and strategic positions in our country is an indication of the high confidence of your distinguished colleagues in your leadership abilities and style.

“Your elections is a worthy testimony to many years of hard work and dedication to the lot of the common man and thus a fitting and eloquent way to appreciate the years of sacrifice and commitment.  We wish you a successful tenure as the Senate President and House Speaker.”