The newly elected President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, says he will be fair to his colleagues irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliation.
He said this while delivering his remarks at the end of the inauguration of the 9th Senate, which saw to his emergence.
Lawan said the senate under his leadership would do justice to all to ensure that it perform its role for the benefit of Nigerians.
He added that “elections are over. It shows that we voted for a united senate and it is clear that the outcome is bipartisan.
“All parties including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP) voted for me and with this outcome, the 9th Senate is ready to take off as a united senate.
“Today means so many things. It is the commencement of another decade of our democracy and we will work to ensure best global parliamentary practice among other things,” he said.
Lawan, who polled 79 votes to defeat his only contender, Senator Ali Ndume, who polled 28 votes, promised to ensure a secure and a prosperous future for all Nigerians.
He promised to run a senate that would be responsive to the needs of the masses whose mandate the senate holds in high esteem.
He called for the support of his colleagues to ensure a robust senate, adding that, “we will not settle for anything less than the best. We will dream big, aim high and take good initiatives.”
Lawan pointed out that the agenda of the 9th senate would include improved Information Communication Technology (ICT).
He added that the senate would work in collaboration with the Executive, to tackle cattle rustling, kidnapping and other crimes bedeviling the nation.
He said: “We will work with the executive for sustained pursuit of national ethical renewal.”
The president of the senate said the 9th senate would address youth unemployment, high rate of suicide, depression, corruption, insecurity among others.
He also said the upper chamber would work towards finding lasting solutions to the disturbing educational challenges in the country, adding that it is embarrassing to have about 14 million out of school children.
He further allayed fears that the senate under him would be subservient to the executive.
According to him, the senate will be independent while working with the executive.
“We will choose unity of purpose instead of conflict,” he said.
He pointed out that he would ensure that senate’s relationship with stakeholders including civil society organisations and the media is strengthened.
He stressed that “we must drive a trans-formative senate dedicated to serving the people with confidence, courage and patriotism.
” In doing so, we are convinced that our past was only a story told while our future can yet be written in gold.”
Meanwhile, the people of Yobe, the home state of Lawan, expressed excitement over his emergence as head of the Red Chamber, saying “it is a reflection
of national interest.”
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, made the announcement in Abuja.
Sani-Omolori declared that having scored the highest votes, Lawan had been duly elected as Nigeria’s Senate
President of the 9th National Assembly.
Alhaji Muhammad Gagiyo, the Zanna Dujima of Bade, described the election of Lawan as a new dawn for patriotism and
national development.
He said “Nigeria now has a committed senate president with a passion to serve the country and improve peoples’ lives.
“The new senate president over the years exhibited commitment with quality representation of his constituency. We are
optimistic that he will provide the required leadership to the senate to see national service over and above selfish interests.”
The community leader appealed to the legislators to support and cooperate with the new leadership to achieve the set goals of
improving the lives of Nigerians.
Alhaji Ibrahim Usman, a member of APC in Yobe, said the new leadership would provide the support to move Nigeria forward.
He added that “Sen. Ahmed Lawan has the required leadership skills for a friendly and productive senate.”
Alhaji Mamman Suleiman, the Majidadin Bade, another community leader, described the election of Sen. Lawan as well timed
one to support the policy and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari -led administration.
Suleiman assured that the competence and commitment of the new Senate President “will translate into improving the lives of Nigerians.
Abubakar Musa, a student of Political Science, Yobe State University, said the emergence of both the senate president and
deputy president from the ruling APC was a good omen for the ruling government.
He said “the party has produced both the president and deputy president, unlike what was obtained in the last leadership.
“The lawmakers should therefore settle down and work assiduously for government to actualise its programmes and improve
the lives of citizens.”
At the National Assembly, name of former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, was missing from the list of lawmakers-elect from the state.
This was revealed when the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, read out the roll call of eligible senators-elect from all states and the FCT for the Tuesday’s election in Abuja.
Okorocha, who got the court’s nod as senator-elect for Imo West, is yet to be issued a Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Out of the three slots for senators from Imo, only senator-elect Ezenwa Onyewuchi (PDP) from Imo East was mentioned at the chamber.
The election of Mr Benjamin Uwajumogu for Imo North is yet to be determined.
Senator-elect Yahaya Abdullahi (APC-Kebbi) nominated senator-elect Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) to run for the office of the senate president while senator-elect Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos) seconded the motion.
In the same vein, senator-elect Ishiaku Cliff-Abo (PDP-Adamawa) nominated senator-elect Ali Ndume (APC-Borno) for the senate president’s office and the motion was seconded by senator-elect Npigi Barinada (PDP-Rivers).
Both Lawan and Ndume accepted to run for the office.
Before the election, the National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, was seen at the assembly complex.
Oshiomhole, who arrived about 9:27am, was led into the Senate chamber where majority of the senators-elect were already seated.
The Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, also led APC governors into the red chamber about 9:33am.
Some of the APC governors in company of Fayemi, included that of Nasarawa, Kwara, Kebbi, Ekiti, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Osun, Kogi, Lagos, among others.
The immediate-past Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, also walked into the Senate chamber about 9:45am as well as the immediate-past Minister of Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika.
Other dignitaries at the complex are former President of the Senate, Sen. Adolphus Wabara; former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, among others.
Unaccredited National Assembly staff and visitors were not allowed into the complex.
Security was tight around the National Assembly Complex in the Three Arms Zones, Abuja, venue of the inauguration.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, pronounced the dissolution of the eighth session of the National Assembly and announced the proclamation of the ninth session of the federal parliament.
