Senate Presidency: Senator Sankara, Doguwa endorses Barau
From Salim Umar Ibrahim, Kano
As zoning is yet to be announced by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for important and key positions for the incoming administration, Senators Abdullahi Danladi Sankara and Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa have endorsed the candidacy of Senator Barau Jibrin for the 10th Senate Presidency.
Sankara and Doguwa made their separate endorsements when some party loyalists of the aspirant paid them a courtesy visit in their offices.
Daily Trust gathered that the race for the 10th Senate Presidency is gathering steam as Senators from various geo-political zones have thrown their hats in the ring to emerge as the number three citizen of the country.
Though the All Progressives Congress (APC), is yet to zone the office, both old and new lawmakers are already jostling for the position.
“Politics is segmented at levels as the Senate is an organ in itself. Senators have the mandate to elect whom they want according to the majority despite the intervention of the president who has a say.
“We have 21 senators in the North, Northwest that deserve this in terms of population and many things. They might zone it to Northwest or otherwise and when it happens, then we have nobody better than him.
“While we have started lobbying for him, let’s smoulder relationships first, Barau, is a good and respectful man, our senators have the mandate on that day of election and while outsiders which comprises the party and the president, the full mandate is with the senators.
“I believe and confident he has all it takes that’s why he is contesting. He was reps for four years, senate for three years. So, he is a ranking senator. If there is something more than eligibility, he is. Even in the senate, he came out from one of the strongest groups,” concluded, Senator Sankara.
On his part, Senator Mas’ud El-Jibrin Doguwa who expressed mixed feelings for the Senate Presidency, said, he also had a special interest for the position of speaker for his ‘son’, Alhasan Ado Doguwa.
“We look at productivity and issues at stake, politics more especially at the national assembly will never ever think of somebody coming from this direction or that, we have been fighting. It’s an independent arm of government and they don’t want a situation where one will be imposed on them so that they look like a rubber-stamp.
“Barau has a lot of good rapport among his colleagues, himself and the localities, even the success of APC in North senatorial zone is based on the performance of Barau Jibrin. If not, we wouldn’t have been talking about APC in Kano.
“He has a lot of initiative as a grassroots politician. I am not denying the right of my son whom I came from the same local government with, Alhasan Ado Doguwa who is also aspiring for the position of speaker, they are equally competent for the various positions.
“We have to bear in our minds that our political parties are superior but that does not negate that atvleast people will not go round seeking for A, B, C or D.
“I am absolutely in support of Barau Jibrin to become the next senate President if and only if our party zone that office to our area likewise for the speaker.”
Currently, those eyeing the 10th Senate presidency include, serving Senate President, Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North); Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East); Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North); Senator Jibrin Barau (APC Kano North); Senator Godswill Akpabio (APC, Akwa Ibom North-West); Deputy Senate leader, Senator Abdul Ningi (APC, Bauchi Central); and Senator Abdul- Aziz Yari (APC, Zamfara).
