Sen. Abu Ibrahim(APC-Katsina) has said peace will be elusive in the Nigerian Senate until its President, Senator Bukola Saraki relinquishes the position.
In an interview with newsmen on Thursday, Ibrahim commended Saraki for honourably leaving the All Progressives Congress.
However, he asked him to follow up with the next logical deed: by honourably resigning.
“I think it is commendable that he has left the party. He has chosen the path of survival because it is the issue of political survival not anything for Nigeria.
“But next is for him to resign as Senate President because by all conventions all over the world, the majority party produces the leadership; Senate President, the Majority Leader and others.
“Again, let him be gentleman enough and resign as Senate President.
“If he does not, we will never have peace in that Senate because it is absolutely clear that APC has the majority to produce the leadership.
Senator Ibrahim debunked PDP claims that it has the majority in the Senate with recent defections.
“I hear the PDP claiming the majority, but it is crystal clear that APC has the majority. We will have more members. We will conduct two bye-elections and we will have the two members.
“We also have some alliance with APGA. It is clear that APC has the majority.”
“APC with the majority should produce the leadership in the Senate. 49 cannot produce the leadership.
“Saraki should resign as Senate President.”
Ibrahim also debunked as unfounded an allegation that some senators attempted to break into the Senate chamber on Wednesday to reconvene plenary.
“How do you break into the chamber? If we like we can reconvene legally because it is legal for us to reconvene.
“We do not need to break into the chamber when we have the number. I will never subscribe to that.We can reconvene. The rules are there that if we are up to 30 we can reconvene.
“Why should we break into the chamber when we can reconvene legally and do what we want to do.
“It is legal. I do not see why anybody should contemplate that we can break into the chamber.
“I do not know about it and even if I know about it, I will say it is unwise.
” However, if the leadership does not ask for peace, it will not get peace. Peace is a function of leadership.
“I have been in the Senate for about four times. I cannot allow anybody to manipulate me. I cannot take it.”
(NAN)
