He marshaled his points in a meticulous way as an intellectual that he is. Diligent, urbane and cosmopolitan, he exuded charisma, carriage and dignity. But, his utterances also portrayed him as a humble politician driven by service. Having spent 16 years in the National Assembly, Dr. Ahmad Lawan is now eyeing the Senate Presidency. The puzzle is: can he weather the storm?
“I am running for the Senate President. I have what it takes to be the Senate President,” the legislator from Yobe North told reporters in Lagos. “I am fit for the office. I have the pedigree, experience, exposure and competence,” he added.
For 16 years, the legislator has endowed his seat with honour and visibility in the National Assembly. Tested and trusted by colleagues, he has headed sensitive committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, the highest committee reserved for an opposition lawmaker. Between 1999 and 2003, he was a member of the House of Representatives. Since 2007, he has been in the Senate. During the recent general elections, he was re-elected. A consummate debater and epitome of dialogue, Lawan has also managed to remain a non-controversial figure in the parliament.
During the in-house election, Lawan will contend with two compatriots-Senator Bukola Saraki from Kwara Central District and Senator George Akume from Benue State.
The senator is driven by two motives. He explained that he deserved the number three position, based on his experience as the longest serving member of the National Assembly in the race. But, he is also fighting for this geo-political zone, which he described as a marginalised region under the yoke of insurgency. The senator from Yobe North also explained why the Northeast should fill the slot in the next dispensation, stressing that it will give the zone a sense of belonging.
Lawan said the slot should be zoned to the Northeast as a reward for its massive votes for the APC in the recent election and compensation for the disruption of its socio-economic life by the dreadful Boko Haram sect in the last three years.
He added: “I have what it takes to be the President of Senate. Coming from the Northeast is also an advantage. The Northeast has gone through severe troubles; it has been ravaged and marginalised. The Senate Presidency will bring back the Northeast to Nigeria. At a time, we were taken out of Nigeria by Boko Haram, which declared a Sultanate.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has not zoned the slot to any region. But, Lawan said many factors will make it compelling for the party leadership to consider the troubled zone for the region. “It is for our leaders to decide. We can only show interest. It is our duty to tell our party leader, to convince them that the Northeast deserves the Senate President,” he said.
Lawan is particularly concerned about the plight of the Northeast. “There is no capital project being executed in the zone. Contractors are running away from the Northeast. The Northeast is paralysed. The zone is dislocated,” he stressed. But, the senator also adduced other reasons. He maintained that, “if votes count and this attracts reward, we are only second in the North, in terms of voting pattern. We gave 70 percent votes to the APC.”
The Yobe North senator also said that, if equity and justice are factors to be considered, the North Central should concede the slot to the Northeast. He recalled that former Senate Presidents, including Dr. Iyorcha Ayu and Ahmed Ebute, a lawyer, and out-going Senate President David Mark are from the North Central. He also pointed out that the North Central has produced three former Deputy Senate Presidents-Wash Pam, Haruna Abubakar and Ibrahim Mantu. “These go to show that the Northeast deserve the position in the next dispensation,” he stressed.
Besides, Lawan, who noted that public expectation about the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari is high, said the country deserved a Senate President who can assist the next President to accomplish his anti-corruption drive, push for economic revival and security. “When you see a youth trekking from Lagos to Abuja for Buhari, he is expressing a desire. During the campaigns, we saw many youths crying for change. They want employment. Therefore, we have a lot to do and the National Assembly must team up with the incoming President to proffer solutions.”
The senator is conscious of the reform-driven agenda of Buhari. He said only a National Assembly without a stain can lend a helping hand. To succeed, the legislature must assist the incoming President with robust legislations to effect change in the desired direction. Peeping into the future, Lawan, who spoke on the need to reduce the cost of governance, said some idle departments and units must give way because money is being allocated to them in vain. “There is the need for the review of the Orosanye Committee Report,” he said.
Lawan ruled said, if elected as the Senate President, he will not be a rubber-stamp Chairman of the National Assembly. But, he clarified that he would only be a partner in progress with the executive in an atmosphere of cooperative governance. “I believe in the independence of the legislature. I also believe in cooperative governance. The National Assembly must be independent. Despite our independence, we need to partner with the executive to have good governance. A rubber-stamp legislature cannot perform.”
Unfolding his vision for the Senate, Lawan, who holds a doctorate degree in Geographical Information Science, said: “I want to provide a 21st century Senate Presidency; a leadership that will ensure that we have a bi-partisan approach to legislative business. I will bring incorruptibility and credibility to the administration. Buhari was elected based on three isssues-anti-corruption, fight against insurgency and economic revival. I can complement the anti-corruption stance of the President.
“Nigeria needs a serious anti-corruption fight. If we don’t fight corruption, the resources will go into private pockets. We need to block leakages. My public accounts background will be of help. The judicious financial management of our resources is a priority. We are coming to power at a time of dwindling resources. Those who pillage the treasury will have to be brought to book.”
In Lawan’s view, the Senate must also rise up to protect its public image. He recalled that the National Assembly has been having image crisis since the furniture controversy broke out, adding that it has not recovered from the crisis. He lamented that many have insinuated that the lawmakers go home with big salaries, although they have not verified the budget of the National Assembly. “In the last four years, the budget of the National Assembly stood at N150 billion. Out of this, you have the National Assembly Institute, legislative aides; I have five aides; and other institutions. What goes to the members of the National Assembly is not what they say they collect,” he clarified.
The senator reflected on the constitution amendment crisis. He blamed the PDP for inaction and ineptitude. He said the stalled amendment underscored the inability of the ruling party and government to be on top of the situation. Lawan was silent on whether the matter will be reviewed, if he becomes the Senate President. He said: “The government and the ruling party should have interfaced properly with the legislature.”
Lawam maintained that he is qualified to serve as the Senate President because he has the pedigree, competence and experience. He said: “I have worked in the two chambers. I know the sentiments, tendencies, and sensibilities of the two Houses. The 16 years of experience have enabled me to work with three Speakers-Buhari Salisu, Ghali N’aaba and Bello Masari. I have learned to be a team player. I like to work on the basis of consensus. This is required to build a bridge of understanding among political parties in the National Assembly. Good governance must be supported by the National Assembly. There must be service delivery. The 20 per cent capital expenditure/70 percent recurrent expenditure ratio is not acceptable to Nigerians. We must balance the budget and reduce recurrent expenditure to have a pro-people budget.”
How should oversight functions be performed? Lawan said that there is the need for a change of style. “We need to enforce our oversight functions. We should have statutory or mandatory period for oversight for every committee to go and monitor the usage of funds allocated to all sectors. This will curb embezzlement. We need a Senate that is focused. We need a pro-poor Senate leadership.”
Already, Lawan has been endorsed by the Northwest and Southwest APC Senate caucus. Thus, he believes that he has a bright chance. He also said that, since he has a good rapport with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members from other zones, there will be no shortage of goodwill and solidarity from the opposition lawmakers. “As an ANPP member of the House of Representatives, I coordinated for Masari of the PDP when he wanted to be the Speaker. That means that I have good rapport with members across parties,” he said.
There have been media speculations that the senator was being sponsored by President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He denied it, saying that the two leaders have not anointed a candidate. Noting that the two eminent Nigerians wield influence, Lawan however, acknowledged said that their backing is crucial because they are respected leaders of the party. He said, like other aspirants, he will seek their support.
He stressed: “I am seeking the support of our leaders. They deserve respect.”
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