MN News Hub
March 22, (THEWILL) – The lawmaker representing Kano North Senatorial District, Jibrin Barau, has declared that he is the most experienced candidate for the 10th Senate Presidency.
Barau was reelected as Senator, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the February 25 election.
“I want to tell you that I intend to seek to be the 10th Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a few weeks, I will make a formal declaration.
“It doesn’t work on sentiments, it works on your ability to do the job. It is the tradition all over the world. It is there in our rules and this rule is a product of our constitution.
“It is clearly in our Standing Rules too that aspiration or election for the Office of the Senate President shall be in accordance with ranking.
“And among those who are seeking to occupy that office as we speak, I have the highest ranking. I’m the most experienced.
“The issue is that of competence, you need to be grounded in the procedure of legislation before you are able to be the President of the Senate.
“Do you now relegate competence for other sentiments?”, Barau told newsmen I’m Abuja on Wednesday, adding that the position of the Senate President was not based on religion.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, said the Legislature was a distinct arm of government that worked on competence.
“You remember there was a time when the Senate President, David Mark and his Deputy, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, were Christians At that same time in the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh was the Speaker.
“This is because they were the most experienced at that time. That is the tradition.
“Do we now relegate competence to the background? It is not possible. If you are talking about sentiments, North-West deserves the senate presidency. Bringing religious sentiments won’t fly.
“So, when you bring that kind of sentiment into the legislature, you are not doing well for that arm of government. We need to remove that sentiment”, he said
Barau also said that the Legislature was that arm of government that needed to work hard to check the Executive.
Source: TheWillNigeria | Read More
