Senate presidency: Ohanaeze congratulates Akpabio, lists demands

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has congratulated Senator Godswill Akapbio on his emergence as President of the Nigerian Senate.

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation said Akapbio’s emergence as Senate President was an indication of a harmonious relationship between the executive and legislature.

In his congratulatory message, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also made six demands of the new Senate President.

Speaking with newsmen, Isiguzoro said: “We want to use this opportunity to congratulate the new Senate President of the 10th Assembly. I want to congratulate the leadership of the House for toeing the line, recommendations, and directives of President Bola Tinubu.

“Akpabio’s emergence has shown that there is going to be a harmonious relationship between the legislature and the executive.

“Nigerians and Ohanaeze Ndigbo expect that this mutual understanding and harmonious relationship will birth a lot of bills that will improve the lives of Nigerians.

“That they toed the line of Mr President does not mean that the independence of the 10th Assembly will not be respected.”

He subsequently listed the demands.

“At this moment, we recommend the review of the 1999 Constitution.

“The 10th Assembly should look into the discarded South East Development Commission.

“We expect that our in-law, Akpabio, will vet the creation of an additional state from the Southeast.

“Ohanaeze will officially notify Tinubu and the Senate leadership of the intention to expedite action for the creation of an additional state, making it the sixth state in the Southeast, so these are our expectations.”

Isiguzoro further noted: “Mr President now has an ally in the Senate, and we expect that he should foster unity and peace, and he should ensure the passage of bills presented by Mr President that would be passed by the 10th Assembly.”

In conclusion, he thanked senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Osita Izunaso, and Dave Umahi “for stepping down for our in-law Akpabio to emerge as the President of the Senate.”

He added: “We thank our 15 senators whom we spoke to that we can’t afford to have a Muslim-Muslim presidency and a Muslim-Muslim leadership of the House.

“Akpabio is a round square in a round hole, and we expect that his emergence will be good news.

“However, we will continue to mount pressure on our leaders who are feeling aggrieved that they should be considered for leadership positions.”