By Taiye Odewale
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Strong indication emerged Thursday in Abuja that the race for the Presidency of the 9th Senate may be a triangular one among Senators Ahmad Lawan ( APC Yobe North), Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South) and Danjuma Goje ( APC Gombe Central ) .
While Ahmad Lawan and Ali Ndume have in one way or the other within the last two weeks , publicly made their intentions known, Senator Goje who is yet to make a public declaration to that effect , was openly called upon by a group of Amalgamated Youths from North East to do so without any further delay .
In making the call at the entrance to the National Assembly , the group led by one Bello Ambo from Bauchi State , said neither the endorsement of Lawan by the National leadership of APC nor expression of interest by Senator Ndume, should prevent Goje from throwing his hat into the ring now .
According to him, as far as public service experience is concerned , Goje stands far above the other two having controlled a whole state for eight years between 2003 and 2011 and been in the Senate since then with required parliamentary experience .
” Position of Senate President requires administrative and parliamentary knowledge enormously possess by Goje as against the two other contenders from the zone “, he said .
When reminded that the ruling party has taken a final decision on who should occupy the position with the endorsement of Lawan last week Monday , the Coordinator of the Amalgamated group said Senators-elect are matured people who can decide who their leader should be and should be allowed to do so .
“Our party ( APC) is a party of the people and not few leaders , the party should allow the people in this case , Senators -elect , to decide whoever they want as their leader in whatever capacity .
” For us the Goje Support Groups from the North East for the presidency of the 9th Senate ( GSGNE), Senator Danjuma Goje is the right man for the job. He has the required experience as tested administrator and high ranking lawmaker .
” He is a man of the people and a senator with all what it takes , in carrying others along across party lines and most importantly , a party man to the core who will fit perfectly into the next level agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari “, he said .
Another leader of the group from Yobe State , Abdul Saleh in his own remarks said though Lawan is from his State , but since the position of the President of the 9th Senate is zoned to the North East, Senator Goje should come out to contest for it and take it .
Saleh in his response to question as regards their sponsorship , said nobody sponsored them as they are yet to meet Senator Goje personally .
” We are politically conscious youths from the North East resident in different areas of the federal capital territory and in particular, card carrying members of the All Progressives Congress ( APC).
” We are calling on Senator Goje to contest for the President of the 9th Senate , being the most qualified person from the zone as far as we are concerned .
” The party might have spoken in support of Senator Ahmad Lawan but Senators-elect are to decide when the time comes . Goje should come out and contest , the same way Senator Ali Ndume is doing .
” The more they are in the race, the better the offers before Senators-elect to pick from”, he explained .
Members of the Groups who spent about four hours ( from 9:30am to 1:00pm) at the main entrance of the National Assembly to drum support for Goje carried banners with various inscriptions and Goje’s portraits to amplify their message to passersby and motorists .
Support for Goje to join the race is coming 48 hours after Senator Ali Ndume rolled out his 9- point legislative Agenda if elected President of the 9th Senate in June , in defiance to official adoption of Senator Ahmad Lawan last week Monday by the national leadership of APC .
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