A Port Harcourt-based frontline political pressure group, Universal Democracy Monitors, has condemned the recent public endorsement of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the position of Deputy Senate President (DSP) of the Ninth National Assembly.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday and signed by Messrs Richard Ogolo and Timi Oraka, the group’s National Chairman and Secretary-General respectively, it in very strong terms condemned the All Progressives Congress (South-South) Saturday endorsement of the Senator representing Delta Central, as the next DSP.
The group in the statement said: “It is baffling, and we consider it the height of insensitivity that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege who was accused in April 2018, of allegedly leading thugs to steal the mace of the Senate while plenary was ongoing, could now be the best option for the APC in the South South geo-political zone to present for the exalted position of DSP in our nation’s democracy”.
“How will the international community rate us as a people and a country, when it analyzes the fact that a man whose thugs drove out of the National Assembly in a black SUV, and with the mace, the symbol of authority of the parliament is now the one deputizing the string of activities in the same hallowed chamber?”.
“Are we as a country trying to tell outsiders that Omo-Agege who was later arrested by Abuja Police at the Senate premises, and whisked away in a black hilux van, even as no punitive measure was meted out to him; is now being rewarded with the plum job of the Deputy Senate Presidency”.
Earlier on May 10, a Punch Newspaper report had stated that the national leadership of the APC had settled for the senator and set machinery in motion for his emergence, while jettisoning Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) who had also declared interest in the office.
A statement released Saturday by the APC Vice-Chairman (South-South), Ntufam Hilliard Eta, and the Zonal Secretary, David Okumgba, said the choice of Omo-Agege became imperative; even as Senator Francis Alimikhena from Edo State who also indicated interest to contest the office of the Deputy Senate President, is eminently qualified for that office as he is also a ranking Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; but considering the current zoning of political offices in the zone whereby Edo State produced the current National Chairman of the Party in Adams Oshiomhole, the zone therefore has no other choice than to support the candidature of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege for the office of the DSP.
Before now, Legit.ng had reported that the concerned caucus of the APC had rejected the endorsement of Senator Omo-Agege for the position of DSP of the Ninth National Assembly. The group was reacting to a statement credited to Senator Ita Enang that Omo-Agege had been endorsed for the position.
According to the group, Enang can neither speak for the party nor the presidency as he is no longer the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on NASS Matters (Senate) in line with the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended); insisting that his statement about Senator Omo-Agege should be seen wholly as a figment of his imagination, because he has probably supported him.
Meanwhile. recall that the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, June 6, had reportedly mocked Senator Omo-Agege during the valedictory session. It was widely reported that Saraki who was presiding, made the expensive joke when he addressed Francis Alimikhena, as not “a mace snatcher; apparently referring to the Omo-Agege mace-snatching saga of April 2018.
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