2011 Post-Election Updates - Race For Senate Principal Offices Open To All, Says Mark

[TGD]

At separate fora in Enugu and Benue states yesterday, Senate President David Mark said the contest and holding of principal offices in the Upper House was not the exclusive preserve of returning senators. He said the race is open to all elected members, irrespective of political parties.

He explained that though ranking was a major standing rule in appointing members into positions in the National Assembly, any member however wishing to contest or hold such offices would not be barred, adding that the controversy over the issue was unwarranted.

Opening the 2011 induction workshop for elected members of the National Assembly in Enugu, Mark said ranking was not new to both chambers of the National Assembly, stressing that it is being misconstrued as barring new members from holding or contesting appointive positions.

There was also indication yesterday that the South-East zone of the country would make its position known on zoning and the way forward for the region in the new dispensation after a meeting slated for this weekend.

Towards this end, an enlarged emergency meeting of Ohanaeze Ndigbo with governors and traditional rulers from the area to deliberate on the matter and other national issues would hold in Enugu.

The Guardian learned that the meeting would harmonise views raised by the various groups in their separate meetings with the intention to getting the best for Ndigbo.

Chairman, South-East Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Ilomuanya, who confirmed the planned meeting, said it was part of the resolutions reached during the meeting of the traditional rulers held in Enugu yesterday.

On ranking of senators, Mark said: "Let me also touch on a topic that has become topical. It is the issue of ranking and I want to say that it is not new because rule 97 (1) F, says there is ranking in the Senate and House of Representatives; all that we have done, is to explain what ranking means, but a lot of people are making comments on it. We are not barring anybody from contesting or anybody from holding appointment within the Senate but some people say we have barred others from contesting on the floor of the Senate. People say we should throw it open so that anybody irrespective of political parties can contest.

"I want to say here that the issue is being misplaced by some people to cause mischief. We have not asked anybody whether new or old not to contest, all we have tried to do is to explain the existing rule. Therefore, any member is free to contest any appointive position because we have people who joined the Senate in 2007 and became chairmen of committees or deputy leaders in the Senate," he added.

Mark appealed to the lawmakers not to do or think about anything that could jeopardise the interest of the country and scale up the process of debate that would help the administration to succeed.

While paying tributes to members of the outgoing Senate, he stated that the National Assembly had become a key institution for harmonising interests for political stability and sustenance of democracy in the country.

He listed the achievements of the sixth Senate to include the successful handling of the transition and transfer of presidential powers when President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua died, the amendment of the 1999 Constitution, the amendment and passage of 2010 Electoral Act to enhance democracy within the political party and provide the level playing ground for free, fair and credible elections.

Expressing happiness that another dispensation had come, Mark charged the lawmakers-elect from Gombe, Kebbi, Kano, Yobe, Zamfara, Taraba and Adamawa states as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to contribute their quota through regular attendance at the plenary, stressing that the weeklong event would prepare them for the challenges ahead.

At the Makurdi retreat, Mark said the National Assembly had not done anything unconstitutional in its ranking of members in its standing rules, saying that such rules were not meant to stop anyone from contesting elections in the legislature.

Mark said: "Let me quickly comment on a topic that I think is largely and innocently misunderstood or deliberately being misconceived by mischief makers. Please the Senate is not bringing in a new law to bar new senators or new members from contesting any election. I think all of you who are members already know that it is not a new law.

"We have got in our standing order, ranking. What we have done, is to define ranking. For the Senate for instance, people know that senators Arise, Ayogu and Akinyede, just to mention a few, so many other senators are committee chairmen. Senator Osakwe who was a very ranking senator was not a committee chairman. I know that some people genuinely did not understand."

Ilomuanya said the Igbo rulers extensively discussed the future of the zone in the emerging dispensation, especially the various agitation for zoning of political offices, stressing that though they (traditional rulers) have taken a position, it would be harmonised with the one already held by Ohanaeze and the governors.

"That is why an emergency meeting of Ndigbo is holding this week. We on our own have had a successful meeting. We have discussed on the welfare of our people and taken a position on some issues including the zoning formula but we cannot be speaking differently. So, we must take a position as a group and that becomes the stand that we will send to the Federal Government," he said.

The monarch urged Igbo to refrain from making individual comments on certain national issues, stressing that the leaders were determined to ensure that the zone gets its fair share in the distribution of political offices.

Source: Race for Senate  principal offices  open to all, says Mark