Senator Barau Declares Interest In Senate Presidency; Dismisses Religious Concerns

Senator Jibrin Barau has declared his interest to vie for the presidency of the 10th Senate, claiming that he is the most experienced candidate for the job.

Mr Barau, an All Progressives Congress senator representing Kano North spoke with reporters in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that with the array of candidates who had indicated interest for the position, he was the most competent.

“I want to tell you that I intend to seek to be the 10th Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“In a few weeks, I will make a formal declaration,” he said.

Mr Barau, who is also the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation said that the Legislature was a distinct arm of government that worked on competence.

“It doesn’t work on sentiments, it works on your ability to do the job. It is a tradition all over the world. It is there in our rules and this rule is a product of our constitution.

“It is clearly in our Standing Rules too that aspiration or election for the Office of the Senate President shall be in accordance with ranking.

“And among those who are seeking to occupy that office as we speak, I have the highest ranking. I’m the most experienced.

“The issue is that of competence, you need to be grounded in the procedure of legislation before you are able to be the President of the Senate.

“Do you now relegate competence for other sentiments?”

He further said that the position of the Senate President was not based on religion.

“You remember there was a time the Senate President, David Mark and his Deputy, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu were christians.

“At that same time in the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh was the Speaker.

“This is because they were the most experienced at that time. That is the tradition.

“Do we now relegate competence to the background? It is not possible. If you are talking about sentiments, North-West deserves the senate presidency.

“Bringing religious sentiments won’t fly,” he said.

Mr Barau also said that the Legislature was that arm of government that needed to work hard to check the Executive.

“So, when you bring that kind of sentiment into the legislature, you are not doing well for that arm of government. We need to remove that sentiment,” he said.

(Sahara Reporters)