| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Most Nigeria Northern Senators have poured cold water on President Umaru Yar'Adua's performance, and are said to recoil at the thought of him remaining in the Villa beyond 2011.
That was the first of three feelers at the weekend.The second is that all Senators in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) sent Senate President, David Mark, to tell Yar'Adua of their displeasure at the way he runs the country.The third: All PDP Senators told Mark to ask Yar'Adua whether he wants a second term in 2011.
PDP Senators held a closed door caucus meeting last week where they told Mark to present a list of grievances to Yar'Adua, which include dissatisfaction with his governance, the economy, electoral reform, 2011 election, his seven-point agenda, non-consultation with PDP National Assembly (NASS) caucus, and Constitution review.
The PDP has 87 of the total 109 Senators.Part of the message is for Mark to convey to Yar'Adua the strategy for the party to win in 2011 and the need for automatic tickets for PDP Senators, except those angling for Governorships.The meeting of the caucus was called to convey members' grouse with Yar'Adua over "his style of governance," which they tabled through Mark at the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
The first meting held at Mark's official residence on Thursday morning, and the enlarged caucus brainstorm took place at a Senate Hearing Room.The first gathering was attended by only the kitchen cabinet of the caucus - comprising the leadership, key PDP Senators, and a Committee Chairman.Most Senators who spoke strongly against Yar'Adua at the closed door parley, which was held shortly before the PDP NEC meeting, were Northerners, it was learnt.
One attendee confided that opposition against his style came mostly from "his kinsmen from the North. Almost all Senators present had a thing or two to say about the state of affairs of the country."The truth of the matter is that the nation is adrift. Nothing is happening. The economy is in a shambles and Yar'Adua and his economic team do not have any answer on how to bail us out of the obvious recession Nigeria is in.
"The source recounted that PDP Senators only stopped short of calling for his resignation because "nothing concrete has happened in almost two years of his leadership."They asked Mark to tell "Yar'Adua that he should be decisive on how he wants to run the country. We want to hear from him how he intends to salvage the remaining two years left."PDP Senators also reportedly slammed Yar'Adua over the stalled Constitution review for "keeping quiet when it matters most" and for not "intervening directly in the imbroglio in the National Assembly.
"We expected that by now, he and the PDP would have intervened over the matter. We expressed strong reservations that they shouldn't have kept quiet."Their deliberate silence over the non-progress on the Constitution review is giving PDP Senators concern. It is giving us concern.
"PDP Senators expressed disappointment that electoral reform proposals are coming rather late.
"Concerning the 2011 elections, where it specifically relates to the National Assembly, the Senators bemoaned the frequent changes which they believe have depleted experienced lawmakers from returning to Abuja.
The message to Yar'Adua, through Mark, is simple: "Don't change legislators in 2011, except those who have expressed a desire to contest for Governorship positions. Give room for experience by returning federal lawmakers who wish to do so."Senators took turns to knock Yar'Adua's seven-point agenda too, which they said has not worked for the country.
Mark responded to the agitators: "You are my bosses. I will deliver your message and I want to thank you for your support in helping to stabilise the Senate since 2007."
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi, Assistant Editor, Abuja
