By Festus Owete, Emma Ogala and Ayo Okulaja
May 2, 2011 03:07AM
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The outgoing Kwara State governor and senator-elect, Bukola Saraki, and his Gombe State counterpart, Danjume Goje, may be heading for a battle with the Senate President, David Mark, as they have reportedly shown interest in occupying the number three position.

Both governors were elected senators on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the April 9 parliamentary elections to represent Kwara Central senatorial district and Gombe Central senatorial district respectively. Mr Mark, also of the PDP, was re-elected to represent Benue South senatorial district for the fourth time since the return of democracy in 1999.

It was learnt that both Mr Saraki and Mr Goje are already positioning themselves for the job even though the party's hierarchy is yet to meet to decide the zoning formula for the next dispensation. The party, reports say, is billed to meet soon to decide on the zoning of the offices of the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as other principal offices. According to the current formula, the North-Central produced the senate president while the office of the deputy senate president was produced by the South-East. In the House of Representatives, the speaker is produced by the South-West zone while his deputy is from the North-East zone.

However, the results of the recent elections may have made it inevitable for the re-zoning of the offices. Bode Olajumoke and Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, both from the South-West zone, who had shown interest in the position before the elections, lost their seats to their Labour Party (LP) and Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challengers in the April 9 parliamentary polls.

At the height of the PDP zoning controversy last year, President Goodluck Jonathan had said that the National Assembly offices are only zoned by the party after the election of the president and vice president.

"The office of the President and other elective offices like the senate presidency, speaker and National Assembly officers, the PDP has reasonable control as long as we are in the majority. Those offices could be zoned. But before you zone those offices, the president and the vice president would have first emerged," Mr Jonathan said.

Going by the result of the elections, the ruling party has the majority of the senators-elect with over 60 of them while the Action Congress of Nigeria, which came second, has about 14. The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has six senators-elect, All Nigeria Peoples Party 7, the Democratic Peoples Party 1, LP 3 and All Progressives Grand Alliance 1. The PDP also won majority of the seats in the House of Representatives.

All eyes on North-Central

Both Mr Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo, both of whom were elected on April 16, are from the South-South and North-West zones. This therefore rules out the two zones from presenting candidates for the four presiding offices of the two chambers of the National Assembly - senate president, deputy senate president, speaker and deputy speaker.

Already, members of the party from the north central zone have commenced intense lobbying of the PDP leadership and some hawks in the presidency to retain the zoning of the senate presidency while those from North-East are demanding that it should be shifted to the zone.

The North-Central zone is anchoring its demand on the fact that the PDP controls five of the six states in the zone. The states are Benue, Plateau, Kogi, Niger and Kwara. The party lost Nasarawa to the CPC. Besides, out of the four zones, it produced the largest number of PDP senators, followed closely by the South-East.

Only four out of the six states in the North-East zone are controlled by the PDP. They are Taraba, Bauchi, Adamawa and Gombe. Borno State and Yobe were retained by the ANPP.

The South-West zone is not in contention for the position because the PDP won only one senatorial seat in the zone.

A source said the senate president has been lobbying the lawmakers from his zone to have another shot at the senate presidency just as he is said to have promised them juicy committees. Thus, if it is zoned to the North-Central, Mr Mark may have secured an easy victory. Other senators who were re-elected from the North-Central zone include Smart Adeyemi (Kogi), Zainab Kure (Niger), Dahiru Kuta (Niger) and Sule Ajibola (Kwara) have not shown interest in the position because it is not clear if the PDP will retain the position in the zone.

Mr Adeyemi did not respond to text messages yesterday on the issue. Kola Ologbondiyan, the special adviser to the senate president on media, confirmed yesterday that Mr Mark is interested in retaining his position but did not however say, if Mr Mark has been meeting with senators or if he has pledged anything to them.

However, should Goje and Saraki eventually join the race, they might face a tough battle because they are new senators. But an aide of Mr Saraki, said yesterday, "I am not aware of this plot that you are talking about. The man (Saraki) is even out of town."

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5696508-146/saraki_goje_may_battle_mark_for.csp

This is an uphill task for both of them since it is against the senate rules that a first timer senator to hold their presidency. David mark is most likely to win Though it is widely believed that with the likes of Ayogu Eze, Ekweremadu, Udoma Egba and Mark himself all at the top ranking positions, the New Senate might still retain the same inordinate allowances and even do worse.

Please Mark Should retain the position for more dividend of democracy.

enyojo:

This is an uphill task for both of them since it is against the senate rules that a first timer senator to hold their presidency. David mark is most likely to win[b] Though it is widely believed that with the likes of Ayogu Eze, Ekweremadu, Udoma Egba and Mark himself all at the top ranking positions, the New Senate might still retain the same inordinate allowances and even do worse.[/b]

That is my worry also. Another 4 years of deliberate legislative obstruction, indolence and stagnation. Not at all what we need.

enyojo:

YOU ARE SIMPLY OUT OF TUNE WITH REALITY.

Indeed. David Mark is one of the most pro-elite and anti-people politician in Nigeria today. Him and Ekweremadu (deputy senate President) are bad news .

If not Mark who else?

Gbawe:

Indeed. David Mark is one of the most pro-elite and anti-people politician in Nigeria today. Him and Ekweremadu (deputy senate President) are bad news .

You are entitle to ur back yard opinions about the man. You are definitely the one that is anti-people. Black belly people. You must be CPC.

Saraki clears them all. The guy get Brain past the Dumbo called Goje and Mark

markiris:

You are entitle to your back yard opinions about the man. You are definitely the one that is anti-people. Black belly people. You must be CPC.

You are such a clown!
So u descended so low to register an ID just for David 'Misadventure' Mark (as some people call him)

He tried to deceive his people by saying he will cut part of Kogi and add it to Idoma to form Apa State so that he will be a Gov. As if it is creating 100 states that will solve out problems.
Yet they voted massively against him.
All of a sudden, with the Umbulerra rigging, he won.

enyojo:

You are such a clown!

So u descended so low to register an ID just for David 'Misadventure' Mark (as some people call him)

He tried to deceive his people by saying he will cut part of Kogi and add it to Idoma to form Apa State so that he will be a Gov. As if it is creating 100 states that will solve out problems.
Yet they voted massively against him.
All of a sudden, with the Umbulerra rigging, he won.

You do clowns a disservice calling this chap a clown.

I thought they zoned the senate presidency to the SE?? Look oh, monkey don work finish baboon won chop

enyojo:

This is an uphill task for both of them since it is against the senate rules that a first timer senator to hold their presidency. David mark is most likely to win Though it is widely believed that with the likes of Ayogu Eze, Ekweremadu, Udoma Egba and Mark himself all at the top ranking positions, the New Senate might still retain the same inordinate allowances and even do worse.

As far as i am aware no such rule exists and if it exists it cannot stand against the constitition which clearly says any senator can vie for the seat , first time or 2nd timer s irrelevant.

Either Goje or Saraki in my view were good administrators in their states but neither in my humble opinion will represent or effect the neccessary changes we yearn for. Another 4 years of national misery IMO

Lagosboy:

As far as i am aware no such rule exists and if it exists it cannot stand against the constitition which clearly says any senator can vie for the seat , first time or 2nd timer s irrelevant.

Either Goje or Saraki in my view were good administrators in their states but neither in my humble opinion will represent or effect the neccessary changes we yearn for. Another 4 years of national misery IMO

I tend to agree. Ideally , for vibrant and rapid progress, we should not gain another conservative leaning politician as Senate President but it looks like that is what we may have in the trio of Mark, Goje and Saraki.

@Gbawe: What do you think of this Smart Adeyemi guy?

Lookin really juicy for the SE.

^-- The senate presidency? Haven't heard any word about it being given to the SE. . . seems NC is the most likely region to keep it.

Speaker of the House seems a fair bet, though. We shall see.

ekt_bear:

^-- The senate presidency? Haven't heard any word about it being given to the SE. . . seems NC is the most likely region to keep it.

Speaker of the House seems a fair bet, though. We shall see.

Dont know if you got the memo,but the SE is not going for senate presidency;instead, they are going for Speaker of Reps and are favored highly to get it. NE & NC quarreling is a good thing. It makes bad blood in the north and makes NC seem more like southerners now with all that has aspired. The NE is applying hard pressure on Mark and putting religious sentiment into it because Mark is a christian so that may knock mark off at the end. Saraki's definitely not going to get it for obvious reasons.

how can two incoming senators with no seniority be senate president over ranking members! NOT POSSIBLE

Chyz*:

Dont know if you got the memo,but the SE is not going for senate presidency;instead, they are going for Speaker of Reps and are favored highly to get it. NE & NC quarreling is a good thing. It makes bad blood in the north and makes NC seem more like southerners now with all that has aspired. The NE is applying hard pressure on Mark and putting religious sentiment into it because Mark is a christian so that may knock mark off at the end. Saraki's definitely not going to get it for obvious reasons.

Right, but most of that has nothing to do with the speaker bid

Chyz*:

Lookin really juicy for the SE.

So to you getting federal appointments instead me grassroot development is juicy. Ibos sha always after their own pocket. Akpu thinking

seanet02:

So to you getting federal  appointments instead me grassroot development is juicy. Ibos sha always after their own pocket. Akpu thinking

Akpu is very juicy as well,especially with Ofe Oha

Chyz*:

Akpu is very juicy as well,especially with Ofe Oha

Not as juicy as amala to gbona felifeli with ogbona soup

Ileke-IdI:

Not as juicy as amala to gbona felifeli with ogbona soup

Yummy . Mehn im about to go eat soup

[img]http://3.bp..com/_8mqyN49vyws/TOfa5-_yOtI/AAAAAAAABhw/QR2mjt157Ac/s320/Ogbona%252520Soup%252520Fufu%252520Pounded%252520Yam%255B1%255D.jpg[/img]

seanet02:

So to you getting federal appointments instead me grassroot development is juicy. Ibos sha always after their own pocket. Akpu thinking

Relax. These positions don't really matter. No big deal. Of what benefit is a few federal appointments if the requirement for that is poor governors? It isn't worth it.

We've got to keep our eyes on the prize.

ekt_bear:

@Gbawe: What do you think of this Smart Adeyemi guy?

Adeyemi would be a good choice IMO. His first name (Smart) is really appropriate. Bright chap. The problem is that he is perhaps too outspoken and direct. He made a lot of noise about wanting corruption in the Senate investigated. I don't think the "business as usual" crew (with David Mark and Ekweremadu most prominent) will stop reminding their colleagues that Adeyemi is not "good for business" . I personally tip David Mark to get it. GEJ is strong on courting "strong men" loyalty ahead of everything else and I think the "doctrine of necessity" has given Mark a lot of mileage with GEJ. Adeyemi is probably leftist (for social change and progressive ideals ) while Mark , undoubtedly, is historically right wing i.e given to preserving the status quo. We can remember , as communication Minister, he once posited that the telephone "is not for ordinary Nigerians" 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Mark

His name is commonly used in conjunction with Nigerian advance fee fraud emails. He also has the unenviable reputation of claiming that telephone was not meant for ordinary people when he was Minister of Communication.

I suspect that Mark's conservative style , at a time a progressive is needed, will suit Jonathan and his backers. It is instructive that Otedola is seen everywhere with GEJ these days. Mr. President is supposed to be on a 7 day break yet a private business man (Otedola) is one of those who arrived at his holiday destination with him !!!!! WTF !!!

The choice of senate President will be the first clue as to GEJ's leaning i.e wether he is left or right wing. No doubt Nigeria needs all the leftists it can get. The ACN is effectively a left wing Party and we know the PDP is conservative so folks should consider , for our socio-economic peculiarity , that the ruling Party is naturally not the most predisposed to swift change that affects the status quo sharply - even if the inverse effect is superb for national development. The feet dragging over the PIB (with Mark and Ekweremadu the main culprits) is proof of this.

I conclude that rightists , like Mark and all others touted for the Senate President job so far,  are always good for the tiny percentage of "owners of Nigeria" club but bad for the majority of Nigerians. I still expect the general leftism of an ACN administered SW to be a developmental advantage regardless of the shenanigans and Horse trading at the centre. Tinubu's job is not done .

Gbawe:

. It is instructive that Otedola is seen everywhere with GEJ these days. Mr. President is supposed to be on a 7 day break yet a private business man (Otedola) is one of those who arrived at his holiday destination with him !!!!! WTF !!!

Other regions are killing themselves or recording 98% votes for GEj while Yorubas sat at home, at the end of the day, a Yorubaman is about to pounce and cash in.

Monkey don work finish, better ppl wan chop

Marks senate presidency has been dull and uninspiring.Lets have a competent guy at the helms of affairs.I have my reservations about Saraki too.

dayokanu:

Other regions are killing themselves or recording 98% votes for GEj while Yorubas sat at home, at the end of the day, a Yorubaman is about to pounce and cash in.

Monkey don work finish, better ppl wan chop

Man mi , I suspect Otedola will be GEJ's own Dangote. Find the pictures of GEJ celebrating the announcement of his victory and you will see Otedola present with many prominent Northerners.

Can you see Otedola in the back , below, when GEJ is welcomed to Obudu for his 7 day break. Very strange a private businessman , with no Government role, is with Mr. President on his holiday . Anyway na conjecture at this stage but there is usually no smoke without fire and I suspect some people will be shocked by those who will benefit from GEJ's Presidency. Some people will learn that the "owners of Nigeria" club does not discriminate along ethnic lines. They are all very united in purpose i.e benefiting from how Nigeria is currently arranged unfairly .


[img]http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRE7UrjS9-PjeMJXI0ZjfPiez1PlAQaqhfPbw80u6aWUp-adWGA[/img]

^-- lmao

ekt_bear:

^-- lmao

My brother , see as the "owners of Nigeria" dey laff in the picture above while some want to give themselves high-blood pressure by shouting naively all over the net that they are the new "powerbrokers". Below them still dey laff Me sef dey laff "business as usual" style. Below, Otedola , 'coincidentally' , is first on the scene to congratulate GEJ.



The "owners of Nigeria" congratulating GEJ. We sef dey laff with them.

[img]http://api.ning.com/files/8qbJhb03ag-8fEUtxYD-FMkbC7D-Gi2HQ1lb2n4eaDw2PuRCLCYmCyN6*OxozE7fJP15CwcMLPHY-CbHhadDINnhgpXIgfMB/VICTORYGOODLUCKYAYALEANDANENIH2.jpg?width=737&height=491[/img]



[img]http://api.ning.com/files/CG6JZUghkTPwx*BaiThW-li*WS4ip6XRIZOP7BpJin4JRdsINAclOlKp3Jg3*dDhk1Y8GC9ZkOuN6VNhOD6qL5knpOEANLq7/VICTORYSOLOMONLARCONGGOODLUCKWITHSAMBOINMIDDLE.jpg?width=737&height=562[/img]

A breath of Fresh air!!!!

Well Otedola sharp guy, We dont have to kill ourselves, we dont have to record 96% votes but we still get the loot.

While the 97% voters have returned to sell "markate" Otedola is concluding Billion Dollar deals ROI