The Minority caucus of the 10th Senate has vowed to resist any attempt to destabilise the leadership of the opposition parties, according to a statement on Saturday by the stakeholders in the minority Senate.
Some of those who signed the statement are the leader of the caucus, Senator Adamu Aliero; former governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aminu Tambuwal; former governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Seriake Dickson; and Senator Abdul Ningi.
Others are Senator Abba Moro, Senator Francis Onyewuchi, Senator Sumaila Kawu, and Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.
Last Thursday, the former governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike visited the Senate complex and was hosted by Senate President GodsWill Akpabio and his deputy, Jibrin Barau.
Others were were Senators Salihu Mustapha, Jibril Isah and the recently appointed Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters (Senate) to the President, Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Gumel.
Following the meeting, sources alleged that Wike was trying to usurp the minority caucus by ensuring his men emerged in its leadership.
The minority caucus however said that it would vehemently resist such an attempt
The caucus stated: ” It has come to the notice of the minority political parties in the Senate of an attempt by forces inside and outside the Senate to divide the minority parties and foist a pliant and compromised leadership on them.
“We have pledged to work constructively with the new Senate leadership and the Executive branch to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people.
“We consequently hereby advise and caution that they should not aid any group inside or outside the Senate to divide and destabilise the minority parties and the Senate institution”.
The lawmakers further stated that Senators of the minority parties would meet when the Senate reconvenes and, in consultation with its respective political parties, select its leaders without undue interference from anti-democratic forces within or outside the Senate.
The Senate minority noted: “For the avoidance of doubt, no Senator has yet been endorsed or selected for any Minority position as this would await due process as agreed by all Minority Parties in their last meeting.
“Attempts to foist a one-party dictatorship would be resisted and would fail.
“We call on all members of the Minority Political Parties to work together in unity to defend the democratic institution of the Senate and Nigeria”.
