Damilola Oyedele in Abuja
Senator Ali Wakili (Bauchi APC) who is one of the lawmakers who opposed amendment of the Electoral Act, yesterday disclosed that there was never a time Northern Senators’ Forum (NSF), agreed to remove its former Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu.
This came as Adamu denied being involved in any mismanagement of funds belonging to the forum.
Speaking at plenary yesterday, Wakili also said the forum never accused Adamu of financial mismanagement.
“I come from the North and I am an active member of the NSF. At no time have we met and put to question any of the leaders of the northern senators forum,†Wakili said.
He added that the announcement was made at plenary.
“It was brought to this place and it was announced and some of our colleagues went to the press centre and made statements that referred to some of us as monkeys.
“We are taking this political brinkmanship beyond the level we are supposed to take it. We are supposed to be wise men.
“The fact that I am not privy and the fact that the northern senators forum was dragged , my privilege has been breached because nobody called me for a meeting. Senator Barau Jibrin, secretary of the forum, had never called for a meeting. Senator Dino Melaye, the public relations officer of the forum, had never called for a meeting,†Wakili added.
The senator said some concerned northerners have expressed disgust at the way the forum is trying to destroy its leadership.
Meanwhile, Adamu in an interview with Channels television aired yesterday morning, described allegations that N70 million was ‘carted away’ under his watch as baseless and false.
He also maintained his opposition to the change of order of elections which was adopted in the recent amendment to Section 25 of the Electoral Act 2010 which provides for the National Assembly elections to be conducted first, followed by the governorship and state assemblies, and the presidential polls to be conducted last, all on separate days.
The amendment, when signed into law, is expected to reduce the bandwagon effect of elections, and reduce the influence of state governors in picking state legislators.
Adamu alongside eight other senators, staged a walk out from Senate proceedings last week at the amendment which they said was ‘hurriedly passed’ to target President Muhammadu Buhari.
As a fallout of his vocal opposition, he was unceremoniously removed as chairman of the influential forum.
The pro-Buhari senator further revealed that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta APC) who apologised for his comments on the amendment, was forced to do so when he was threatened with suspension by some senators.
Omo-Agege on Wednesday publicly apologised for saying the amendment was deliberately targeted at the president.
He is scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, over the comments.
