Tanko Yakasai, an elder statesman and former Adviser to Second Republic President, the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari on National Assembly Matters, has praised Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for declaring support for Senator Godwill Akpabio and Senator Barau Jubrin for the presidency and deputy presidency of the 10th Senate respectively.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Yakasai stated that Tinubu’s interest in the National Assembly leadership is a step towards building a better Nigeria.
He added that the choice of Akpabio by the APC leadership was a step in the right direction, describing him as fit and qualified to become Senate President.
Yakasai also commended Tinubu for picking a deputy from the North-West and sees the combination of Akpabio and Jubrin as capable of taking the Senate’s leadership to greater heights.
He said, “Don’t forget that Tinubu as a former two terms Governor and also a former Senator himself, knows what he is doing. Therefore, the choice of Akpabio and Barau Jibrin was not done for him to have a team that will be by his side in running the affairs of his government.
“Yes, there are indeed other regions who are gunning for the Senate Presidency, but did they support APC during the presidential elections? Did they have the required political pedigree in maintaining the party’s strength and support even beyond 2023? I doubt much!”
He further noted, “The Red Chamber is very critical to the success of running any government. The senators decide who becomes what in any government through the screening of the appointees. Therefore, the President needs somebody that he will trust to help him as Senate President.”
He further stated that “the designers of Nigeria and American constitutions made it mandatory and legal that the Senate, not even the House of Representatives, has the powers to scrutinize and determine who is appointed to every political office in the countries.”
