The 8th Nigerian Senate has been replete with political
game-plays orchestrated by major actors popularly called ‘cabal.’ Below are 7
senators who constitute the ‘cabal’ in Nigerian Senate today, as compiled by Nigerian
Bulletin.
1.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki – Bukola Saraki needs no introduction. He is
the President of Nigeria’s 8th Assembly. The Kwara-born lawmaker is a strong
man in both in home politics, and on the national level. Saraki is believed to
be the Most powerful senate president that Nigeria has till date – he wields so
much influence that any opposition attempt against him will fail.
2.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu – Ike Ekweremadu is the Deputy Senate
President. Though a PDP lawmaker, he pitches tent with the strong-men in the
house – pushing various agenda. Anytime Ekweremadu assumes position as the
Senate president in Saraki’s absence, the house always boils, with so many news
items for journalists. He presided over the house that sent Customs Boss,
Hameed Ali out of Red Chambers for non-appearance in uniform. He also presided
over the sitting that failed to confirm Ibrahim Magu as substantive EFCC
Chairman.
3.
Dino Melaye – Coupled with the earlier mentioned duo, Dino Melaye constitute
one of the cabal in the Red Chmabers. The Kogi-West lawmaker is controversial
for many reasons. He’s recently involved in a messy certificate scandal as
alleged by Sahara Reporters that he didn’t graduate from Ahmadu Bello
University, Zaria. Melaye is Senate President’s, Saraki’s godson. Melaye in
2016 declared that Saraki, despite the allegations of corruption hanging on
him, must remain in office for four years. He had also drummed support for his
becoming the Senate President, and faulted the APC leaders for attacking
Saraki. This ‘godson’ truism also played out in his recent scandal, and how he
was cleared alongside Saraki by the Senate Probe committee.
4.
Ahmed Lawan: Ahmed Lawan is the new Majority Leader in Nigerian Senate. He
replaced Ali Ndume with 39 of the party’s 63 senators approval. Ndume’s removal
from the Senate was believed to have been facilitated by some ‘forces’ in the
parliament ‘APC Caucus’ Ndume was removed for insisting that the Senate did not
follow the proper procedure before declaring that it had rejected the
nomination of Ibrahim Magu as head of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC.
5.
Godswill Akpabio – Akpabio is the Minority Leader of Nigeria’s Senate. In
November 2016, he led a staged-walk out of PDP Senators from the chamber,
following uproar that trailed the defection of Yele Omogunwa to the ruling All
Progressives Congress. He raised a point of order saying there was no division
in the PDP, leading to a shouting match between the opposition senators and
their APC colleagues who stood to welcome Mr. Omogunwa to their fold.
6.
Olusola Adeyeye: Adeyeye is an APC Senator from Osun state. Adeyeye is one of
Nigeria’s hilarious senators. In 2016, during the debate on the 2016 Budget,
Adeyeye made the call for government to tax ‘sin behaviors’ if the the country
must make progress. Also on March 15, 2017, Senator Adeyeye, caused drama in
the house when he withdrew his support for motion mandating the Customs boss
Hammed Ali to appear before the Senate in his uniform.
7.
Senator Olujimi: A female lawmaker, Senator Olujimi was among the Senators that
stood grounds on Customs CG, Hammed Alis refusal to wear uniform to the
chamber. She also lashed out at the President Muhammadu Buhari for keeping mum
on the face-off between the Senate and the legislative arm.
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