Who’ll lead the 8th Senate?

The import here is that the party will almost certainly produce the president of the Senate and Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives considering the interplay of unknown and unpredicted political intrigues and last-minute review of intra-party zonal arrangement. There are many tested Senators vying for leadership positions. The most keenly watched scenario is […]

The import here is that the party will almost certainly produce the president of the Senate and Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives considering the interplay of unknown and unpredicted political intrigues and last-minute review of intra-party zonal arrangement. There are many tested Senators vying for leadership positions. The most keenly watched scenario is who will emerge the President of the Senate. Names such as former Benue State governor George Akume, Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan, and ex-Kwara governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki have been mentioned. With President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC vowing not to interfere in the process, the battle now appears to be between Lawan and Saraki, and victory could go either way.  But all said and done, at the end of the day, given his antecedents, Senator Saraki has an edge over his rivals.
A qualified medical practitioner and ex-bank director, the prince of Ilorin Emirate proved his mettle as a public administrator when he was appointed Presidential Adviser on Budget in 2000 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. 
A two-term governor of Kwara on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Saraki also showed he was a formidable legislator when he exposed the shady deals in the Goodjuck Jonathan administration’s interaction with oil marketers in the government fuel subsidy scams. One thing led to another and led to his leaving the PDP. 
These are experiences, and the fact that he introduced many innovative schemes when he was governor would be of immense benefit if and when he becomes Senate President. He has been representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in National Assembly since 2011; his constituents returned him in the last election in March. He election to the Senate Presidency will certainly complement President Buhari’s vision for change in Nigeria.

Auwal Kanwuri, Abuja <[email protected]>