By Richard Akintade
The Senator – elect for Osun East Senatorial District of Osun state, Prince Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, has called on the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow the elected lawmakers choose their principal officers
Fadahunsi made this call in a press statement signed by his media assistant, Sam Segun-Progress and made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Friday.
The Senator elect said the executive must allow the principles of separation of powers takes its root and operate in our democratic system. Any interference in the affairs of the legislative arm by the executives and or political party would nugate the course of politics and democratic tenets.
Asking rhetorically, he said, “what is the business of the executive with the election of principal officers of the National Assembly?” Why should the election process of the National Assembly create the tension it is creating within the APC leadership? ”
According to the Senator-elect, ” the way the party is going about it is exposing Sen. Lawan. The actions of the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomole is like that of a headmaster giving instructions to his pupils.
Adding that the party ought to be discreet with its lobby, not grandstanding about imposing an anointed candidate on the Senators. This is because the party is exposing Sen. Lawan to the danger of being viewed and labelled as a stooge of the executives.
He however noted that the executives should endeavour to deplore their energy and zeal on revamping and regenerating the economic fortunes of the country which has dwindled and require special attention rather than dissipating energy, time and resources on the issue of Principal Officers of the National Assembly.
He added that “majority of the elected Senators are matured people that has been trusted with leadership positions in the past. Some have been Governors of their various State before contesting and winning the Senate seat. Therefore, they know who have the best of what it takes to lead the red chamber successfully as well as the nation. And they are the representatives of their people as they are not representing parties but constituents”
According to Fadahunsi, ” once a Senator is elected, he/ she becomes a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not APC/PDP Senator. Therefore, the executives arm and the APC leadership should for the sake of our national interest outgrow various primordial and divisive interest in the legislative arm of Government as it happens in other climes. ”
The former Customs boss therefore charged the 9th Senate “to strive hard and be committed to bills that can improve the economy and fight poverty which according to him is the biggest problem confronting the country. This is because posterity and history will judge every man doe their actions and inactions in improving the lives of the citizenry”.
