Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has been issued a stern warning by the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF, on Thursday.
The youths warned Senator Godswill Akpabio against being a rubber-stamp Senate President.
According to AYCF National President, Yerima Shettima, they will fight Akpabio if he becomes a rubber-stamped Senate President.
Shettima, however, described Akpabio as a qualified lawmaker who can saddle his new leadership role.
According to him, Akpabio’s emergence has doused the tension created by the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
According to Shettima:
Akpabio’s emergence has doused the tension created by the Muslim-Muslim ticket.
According to Shettima: “Our concern was that the office of the Senate Presidency is not zoned to a Northerner or somebody with a Muslim background, to that extent, Nigeria is a circular state, so we must give respect to other faiths considering how the country is at this critical period.
“It’s a welcomed development that the Senate President came from the Southsouth; our first target was the Southeast but only God knows why APC zoned it to the Southsouth.
“Though, it’s for good that he came from the South with a Christian background, so the tension will go down a little, unlike when it is given to a Muslim Northerner.
“This period of sentiment and nepotism must be wiped out in the course of governing this country because there are tensions and panic everywhere.
“Our demands are that we are looking forward to seeing an independent legislature, the right things being done and I commend Tinubu for the bills he has passed; this has given Nigerians hope that the executive and legislature will work together without being rubber-stamped.
“I know Akpabio to be an intelligent person as a governor and I know him to be an independent-minded person but I pray he doesn’t become a rubber stamp because if he does, I will be one of those who will stand and fight him.
“He’s a lawyer, an experienced lawmaker, and a former governor, so by all standards, he’s qualified. And if he opts to be a rubber stamp, we will bring the fight to his doorstep.”