Why Yari Can’t Be Senate President, By Opeyemi Bamidele

A Senator representing Ekiti central in the Senate, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, has said the former governor of Zamfara state, Abdulaziz Yari is not qualified to be the president of the senate.

Bamidele made the declaration while featuring on the Arise News current affairs programme, The Morning Show, monitored in Lagos on Monday. According to him, only ranking Senator can aspire to be the Senate president.

On why Senator Godswill Akpabio was appointed Senate minority leader in 2019 despite being his first time in the senate, Bamidele said, Senator James Manager who ought to be the minority leader based on ranking stepped down for him. “There’s something uncommon with Akpabio, ” he said. Continuing, he said; ” the constitution is clear about who can be the Senate president. It’s about ranking . He’s is a first time senator-elect, there’s no way he can be our president. It’s not possible. Even, in the Senate Chambers, our sitting arrangements is about ranking. Yari will sit at the back of the chamber. Also, it will take about six months for a first time senator to fully understand the rules and everything. The Akpabio you referenced earlier was made possible because the rightful Senator, James Manager, who has been in the Senate for twelve years before Akpabio joined stepped down for him. There’s something ‘uncommon’ with Akpabio.” Bamidele also said the 57 Senators who are Christians will not vote for Yari tomorrow because of religious balancing.

It will be recalled that Yari and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has paired together to undo the zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly leadership by the All Progressives Congress which favours Senators Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin.

All entreaties to Yari and his group to queue in on his party’s zoning arrangements have fallen on deaf ears.

Also, his campaign manager, Jimoh Ibrahim, another new entrant to the Senate has said the Yari group has the number to beat the Stability Group led by Akpabio.