ABUJA, Federal Republic of Nigeria. The office of the Deputy President of the Senate, in an attempt aimed at not being drawn into the National Assembly crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), has debunked as false, a statement credited to Senator Ike Ekweremandu by social media that he has tried to justify the feud in the two chambers of the National Assembly as fighting for the interest of Nigerians.
In a statement signed by Ekweremadu’s Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu, the office said its attention has been drawn to the report making the rounds in the social media and online reports in which the Deputy President of the Senate was quoted to have tried to explain away the brawls at the National Assembly.
The fraudulent statement reads; “Dear Nigerians, please be rest assured that we are all fighting for your interest; we need your prayer and support for a better Nigeria.”
Anichukwu noted that his statement was to inform members of the public that the said ‘statement’ purportedly written from Senator Ekweremadu’s Twitter handle is both ‘fraudulent and mischievous.’
He continued: “It would be recalled that this Office had cause to issue a statement about a year ago (specifically on June 29, 2014) to the effect that the Senator had since shut down his social media platforms and warned members of the public to disregard any message put out on these platforms supposedly by him, adding that the decision was necessitated by fraudulent and mischievous activities such as the current report.
“The Deputy President of the Senate did not twit, does not own a Twitter handle, and did not even grant any interview whatsoever to any reporter on the sad developments at the National Assembly.
“Those who are strenuously trying to drag Senator Ike Ekweremadu into the fray should please bear their cross and leave him out of it. Nigerians know those brawling at the National Assembly, and it is up to them to explain to Nigerians why they brawl.”
“We call on the media houses, to kindly crosscheck with our Office on information such as the one in question before going to the public with it, so as to help check the activities of mischief-makers.”
Senator Ekweremadu is not of the APC and is not one of those caught in the web of the crisis. But there had been an attempt by loyal APC members in the Senate, on Wednesday, to drag him into the fray by an attempt to effect his removal as Deputy Senate President. But this was swiftly prevented by Senate President, Saraki.
Ekweremadu, a PDP senator, against the traditional of the Federal Legislature emerged Deputy President of the Senate in the Bukola Sariki’s legislative coup against his party, APC.
Senator Kabiru Marafa, one of the leading supporters of Ahmad Lawan – the APC choice for Senate President – had raised a point of order on Wednesdaywhere he observed that the election of Ekweremadu was in breach of the Senate standing rules.
But the Senate President swiftly ruled him out of order, citing the Senate rules that if a matter on presiding officer’s election had been decided, there could be no further inquiry into it.
Ekweremadu had, with the support of Saraki, defeated Senator Ali Ndume of the APC to emerge the Deputy Senate President.
Both Chambers of the National Assembly had in the last week been embroiled in a controversy sparked off by the refusal of both Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to accept their party (the APC)’s principal officer nominees.
According to a letter from the APC Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, the party’s decision was that Senator Ahmed Lawan (North-East) should be Majority Leader and Prof. Sola Adeyeye (South-West) to be (Chief Whip).
Others were Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader)—North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim (Deputy Chief Whip)—North-West.
Saraki had undermined the party’s decision and gone ahead to pick his own men, thus, once again, defying his party.
The development had thrown the NASS into a chaotic state which forced adjournment until July 21, obviously to calm flailed verses.
Credit: Daily Independent (Nigeria)
