Lead by example, vacate Senate President’s office — Oshiomhole tells Akpabio

Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has challenged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to vacate his position over the controversial move to amend the Senate Standing Rules to bar first-term lawmakers from emerging as principal officers.

 

Oshiomhole argued that Akpabio himself had not spent up to eight years in the Senate to justify such a provision.

 

The former Edo State governor spoke while reacting to the proposed amendment aimed at restricting newcomers from occupying principal leadership positions in the Red Chamber.

 

Speaking with journalists, Oshiomhole described the move as undemocratic and morally questionable.

 

“The beauty of democracy is why that Section 70 is inserted into the constitution. When they say ayes or nays, you can’t deny your position afterwards,” he said.

 

He urged Nigerians to pay attention to lawmakers backing the amendment.

 

“I want Nigerians to see those senators trying to narrow future leadership to themselves as if it is a family or traditional rulership,” he stated.

 

Oshiomhole noted that Akpabio became a principal officer during his first term in the Senate, having emerged as Minority Leader in the 8th Senate.

 

“The Senate President became Minority Leader in his first term in office in the 8th Senate. He is now presiding and asking us to change the rules such that somebody who has done one term cannot become a principal officer,” he said.

 

He further argued that Akpabio himself would not meet the proposed requirement if the rule was implemented.

 

“As we speak today, the Senate President has not done eight years in office, even if you count the previous tenure and the current one.

 

“So if we pass the rule that you must do eight consecutive years before you can become Senate President, then he has to lead by example by vacating the office because he would not meet the qualification,” Oshiomhole added.

 

The senator also warned against making laws designed to favour specific individuals or political interests.

 

“As leaders who are products of bye-laws, we must not make laws to perpetuate anyone,” he said.