Dambazau, who is representing Takai/Sumaila Federal Constituency in Kano, in a statement issued on Friday and titled ‘10th National Assembly: Why APC should consider North-West and why Barau Jibrin should be next Senate President,’ listed the gains for the ruling party should the position go to the zone.
The lawmaker expressed support for Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Barau Jibrin, who is representing Kano North Senatorial District, to become the next Senate president.
Two members of the Senate have so far openly declared their presidential ambitions.
They are the Majority Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia, South-East); and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Jibrin Barau (Kano, North-West).
Former Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom, South-South); and Chairman, Committee on Senate Services, Sani Musa (Niger, North-Central), are yet to officially declare for Senate presidency but their loyalists within and outside the chambers have been speaking for them.
Dambazau’s statement read, “It is almost time for the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly and Nigerians are eager for the new leadership of the new Assembly. Aspirants are emerging for the various leadership positions but we, who are rooting for Senator Barau Jibrin to become the next President of the Senate, believe in his capacity and capability to steer the wheel of the federal parliament towards the path of growth and stability for our dear country, as envisioned by the founding fathers of the ruling All Progressives Congress.
“Jibrin, is not only an experienced parliamentarian having been elected for a third term but also a seasoned administrator, a quality he has shown as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. It is worthy to note that Jibrin has been in charge of the Federal Government’s budget in the Senate when the 9th National Assembly returned the country’s budget cycle to January-December, which greatly helped the President Mumammadu Buhari-led administration in achieving its economic goals. Indeed, his loyalty to the APC government and party is exemplary.”
Dambazau added, “The 10th National Assembly needs a leader like Jibrin who has garnered knowledge and experience from within and outside Nigeria, going by his academic records and qualifications.
“Jibrin is representing Kano North Senatorial District in Kano State, the biggest state in the North-West geopolitical zone, which has consistently voted for the APC and its candidates, from President Muhammadu Buhari to President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“While leaders and members of the APC, especially in the National Assembly, are waiting for the ruling party’s direction in terms of zoning of the parliamentary leadership positions, it is our strong belief that it will be strategic for the party to zone the position of Senate President to the North-West. This will help in building on the party’s presence in the zone, especially in Kano and other states where the opposition parties have occupied.”
The current 9th National Assembly was inaugurated in June 2019 and the 10th is expected to be inaugurated the same month in 2023.
