The immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, has asked former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, to respect the All Progressives Congress (APC) decision on the zoning of presiding offices in the Senate and House of Representatives.
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that this has boosted former Senate Minority Leader Senator Godswill Akpabio’s Senate Presidency ambitions ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
Remember that the APC had announced its support for Senator Akpabio and three other candidates for key positions in the National Assembly. Senator Akpabio of the South-South was endorsed by the ruling party for Senate President, Senator Jubrin Barau of the North-West for Deputy Senate President, Tajudeen Abass of the North-West for Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Hon. Kanu of the South-East for Deputy Speaker.
This did not sit well with some members of the party, particularly those aspiring to Presiding Officer positions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Osita Izunaso, Senator Sani Musa, Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, Hon Aliyu Betara, and many others have pursued their ambitions.
However, according to Vanguard, Buhari has flatly rejected Yari’s bid for the country’s third position.
According to reports, when Yari visited Buhari to seek his endorsement, he was turned down.
According to a source, Buhari was enraged by Yari’s decision to pursue his ambition despite the country’s fragile state since the election of a Muslim President and Vice President.
The source said;
They came to Daura believing that they could use their money to buy the conscience of the former First family just as they believe that money would get them the position.
They were all told to go back and respect the position of the President and the party leadership on their choices for the leadership of the National Assembly.
According to the source, Buhari reminded Yari that he did not meddle in the affairs of the National Assembly during his eight years in office and that he would not attempt to undermine the legislature’s independence to choose its leaders now that he is out of office.
It was also reported that efforts to drag former First Lady Aisha Buhari into the matter failed, as she was said to have rebuffed the attempt.
She was quoted as saying that the former president’s family prioritised national unity over personal ambition.
Only five Senators-elect were said to have accompanied Yari to the former President’s Daura home.
At the time of writing, it was learned that the camp of Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau had gained five new converts, increasing the number of Senators-Elect who have endorsed the ticket.