Ahead of the June 13 inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, a group under the aegis of The Natives has kicked against the election of another Muslim as the next Senate President.
The Leader of the group, Smart Edwards, while addressing a press conference on Thursday in Abuja called on Senators-elect across party lines to key into the wisdom of President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to promote peace, ensure inclusion and national unity that would endear the parliament to the Nigerian people.
He urged Senators-elect to dissociate themselves from any political, financial and insensitive approach or act that would promote a Muslim for the office of the Senate President.
Edwards said: “We cannot toy with the expensive acts that can widen the divide of the people post-elections. While it is politically permissible, we persuade the 10th Assembly to dissociate themselves from any political, financial and insensitive approach or act that will promote a Muslim for the Office of the Senate President for this is a display of national sabotage.”
He noted that the plethora of disruptions and carryover of pre-election bitterness, resistance and echoes from the people was a clear indication that no group whatsoever should be seen fanning the flags of discord in the name of financial war chest.
To this end, the group appealed to Senator Abdulaziz Yari to shelve this ambition and become the hero.
It added: “Senator Godswill Akpabio/Barau ticket represents the consideration of the mood of the country, an evidence of healing rather than the braggadocious display of strength or the coronation of religious dominance.”
The group called on new lawmakers and returning ones to support the choice of Akpabio and Senator Jibrin Barau as ratified by the ruling APC