Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are scheming to get their pound of flesh from senators and members of the House of Representatives for what many of them consider a betrayal with respect to recent amendments to the Electoral Act and other sundry infractions.
Sunday Vanguard gathered, ABNTV reports, that the Cold War between APC governors and federal lawmakers from their respective states highlighted over the weekend following President Bola Tinubu’s hint that he would wish to see the return of all of the party’s federal lawmakers to the National Assembly.
Tinubu had, at an interfaith breaking of fast with members of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, at the State House, hinted on returning majority of the federal lawmakers except areas where there are rotational and zoning arrangements.
The president, while commending the Speaker who earlier canvassed for the return of lawmakers to the 11th Assembly, said, “I appreciate the impressive turnout, and this shows the spirit of unity. You spoke very well as a team leader; you are a very good leader.
“I am very happy with the representation I see here tonight, which reflects your consciousness and the richness of your leadership. I thank you for speaking so well.
“I will do everything within our party’s power. In several constituencies, there are rotational arrangements. I wish that everyone would return.”
Abbas equally expressed gratitude to Tinubu for continuing the tradition of hosting members for the breaking of fast, noting that the coincidence of Ramadan and Lent this year was very significant and unique.
This came as he sought the President’s support for the return of members, lamenting that when up to 80 percent of National Assembly members do not return after elections, it undermines legislative continuity, as new members must undergo lengthy learning processes.
Uncomfortable with what a party insider described as the “unusual declaration”, the governors under the umbrella of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) “will, baring any last minute changes meet Tinubu before he departs to the United Kingdom next week.”
The high ranking source sympathetic to one of the governors said, “It’s an unusual declaration that caught the governors unawares and they are to meet him possibly before he leaves for the UK next week.”
The source also confided in Sunday Vanguard that the governors are scheduled to meet a day prior to their planned meeting with the president.
Top on the agenda is an agreement on possible concessions to be extracted from the president. Details of the concessions are still being worked out, said the source.
The situation is, however, not universal as governors-especially those seeking second term-are battling to replace a majority federal lawmakers with loyalists as part of a larger scheme to control the 11th National Assembly.
Those familiar with the development confided in Sunday Vanguard that the battle of wits started roughly ten months ago but got to its turning point when the PGF tipped their Chairman and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, to replace Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next Senate President about one week ago.
In what appears to be a unique case, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is said to be seeking the replacement of all of Ondo State three senators as well as at least seven out of the nine members of the House of Representatives.
Although the governor and the federal lawmakers have all, at different forums, denied the existence of a row, a credible source said: “It is not out of place for governors to have loyalists in the National Assembly”.
Aiyedatiwa’s grouse against federal lawmakers from his state is said to be their refusal to accede to his overtures to present a common memorandum seeking to amend Section 182 (3) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) to allow for a fresh term in office.
Section 182 (3) stipulates:
“A person who was sworn-in as Governor to complete the term for which another person was elected as Governor shall not be elected to such office for more than a single term”.
One of the federal lawmakers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the governor met six of them to initiate the amendment process.
According to the source, “It is an open secret that the Governor wants to have third oath of office which is against the letter and spirit of the Constitution as it is today.
“He invited six of us to a meeting on the need for us to initiate the process through a joint memorandum but we were unanimous that such was an uphill task except it is decided by the courts.
“Basically, we warned him not to attempt it because it would not fly; and apart from that, we hinted him that (Ex-President Goodluck) Jonathan would benefit from such an amendment if it succeeds but rather than showing understanding, he threatened that we will all lose our tickets to return to the National Assembly.”
