by Alexander O. Onukwue

Reports have it that there was a botched attempt to make Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as Acting President.

In the absence of Prof Osinbajo, who is attending the AU summit at Addis Ababa, a motion was raised by Abia South Senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Kabiru Marafa of Zamfara Central, which portrayed the position of the Presidency as being vacant at the moment.

The disturbing motion, which drew support from other members, was built on the refusal by the Senate – who only just convened after a three-week break – to hear the matter of confirming Mr Lanre Gbajabiamila as the Director General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission. He was one of four names submitted to the upper legislative house by Prof Osinbajo for confirmation. Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Ahmed Yerima, had moved a motion questioning Acting President Yemi Osinbajo for sending a nominee to the Senate after he reportedly said that the upper legislative chamber did not have the power of confirmation.

Saraki, true to expectation, quelled any such suggestion to have him recognised as Acting President. It was brief, it was a relief, but like that moment after your laptop is ignored by the unexpected thief, it was also chilling.

More than a move to actually cause a change at the Villa, it was a demonstration by the Senate of the powers it had as far as matters of State are concerned. This they would have deemed good for their armoury in line with the boast by deputy speaker, Ike Ekweremadu, that the matter of Dino Melaye’s (or any other person’s) recall was an ultimate waste of time, seeing the decision would depend on them if the INEC process is authentic or not. Ekweremadu noted that the process of the removal of a senator was similar to that required for Executive impeachments.

As would be expected, it went rife on social media, with varying degrees of reactions, from “madness” to fear, and calls for prayers for Nigeria. If it was designed to stir Nigerians to the consciousness of what the Senate could do, it achieved its aim for sure.

They have some force, this Senate, and, if only for a few minutes, they did show it.

Editor