Ike Ekweremadu: A political toughie

Why I re-contested for deputy Senate president -Ekweremadu

Why I re-contested for deputy Senate president -Ekweremadu

Newly re-elected Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has said that he decided to take another shot at the position to save the South-east from being schemed out in the new dispensation.

Ekweremadu said he had to take the bold step when it appeared the people of the zone were about to be sidelined.

Addressing a crowd of supporters that gathered at the Enugu International Airport to welcome him, Ekweremadu said the people of the South-east have no regrets voting for PDP in the last election.

He said given another opportunity, they would vote in the same manner.

"We have no regret, Igbos have no regret for the way they voted; if they have the opportunity tomorrow they will do it again. We are convinced we voted rightly, and because we believe we are part and parcel of this country, we believe what we got is within our rights. So we expect that APC should be able to accommodate the people of South-east as they form their government, because, don't forget that Buhari got about 15 million votes; we have more than 150 million Nigerians, so he is not the president of 15 million people; the rest of the people must be accommodated."

He urged follow senators and indeed all political office holders to settle down for business to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians as days of politics were over.

Also speaking, Chairman of Awgu Council Area, Mathanus Nze who joined hands with his Aninri Local Government Area colleague described Ekweremadu as a good son of Enugu State who has made the people of the entire South-east proud.


He urged the deputy Senate president not to be distracted but remain focused and ensure that the PDP is refocused to reclaim it's mandate in future elections.
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Ike Ekweremadu: A political toughie

"An election cannot give a country a firm sense of direction if it has two or more national parties which merely have different names, but are as alike in their principals and aims as two peas in the same pod." -Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) Thirty-second President of the USA.

That said, when his detractors were discretely jubilating and popping their Champaign in celebration for a downfall of a man, who was second in command in the Senate; a man they detest for an obvious myopic and unparalleled selfish reasons, little did they know that what seemed like a scene in an action movie was brewing and being perfected long before the National Assembly session. But it was a political chess match-a gamesmanship that had all the trappings of a movie that has all the necessary characters, including the villains and protagonists scheming to outdo one another with tactical superiority.

To the admirers of Ike Ekweremadu, who scoffed at the notion that the last day of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy President of the Senate was eminent, were cautiously optimistic that the election of the National Assembly officers would produce him as a substantive officer because of his antecedents, his leadership skills and his pragmatism. Secondly, they contended that the constitution of the country never prescribed anywhere that the majority party should produce all the leaders of the National Assembly.

But in Nigeria where politics is a zero-sum game and the All Progressives Congress (APC) members who were bent on tightly controlling power, the chances of Ekweremadu retaining his position started growing dimmer to the delight of Ike Ekweremadu's enemies. Thus, winning the office of the Deputy President of the Senate against the headwind of APC majority, would be a consequential feat for Ekweremadu, who had stealthily crafted an impressive pathway for political survival.

As the Sun appeared to be breaking through the cloud, the strength of All Progressives Congress (APC) notwithstanding, the improbable crescendo of the election of the National Assembly leaders was the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki of Kwara State as the Senate President and Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa-Balewa Federal Constituency of Bauchi State as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Both Saraki, 51 and Dogara, 47 are members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), but did not receive their party's nod to run for their respective offices. Their elections are now creating ripples within APC. Also, during the process, Hon. Suleiman Yusuf Lasun of Osun State was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

But what was more improbable climax of the scene was the reelection of Senator Ike Ekweremadu as the Deputy President of the Senate against all odds. Indeed, Ekweremadu never lost hope in the system and in himself; he worked to make it better. Since becoming a senator in 2003, I've followed the Deputy Senate President, Distinguished Senator Ike Ekweremadu and he has carried his responsibilities with honor and grace. Ekweremadu's activities i n the upper chamber is reminiscent of how senators in the United States do their job as well as attend to the need s of their constituency as pa rt of their responsibility. In the deliberative body, Ekweremadu has demonstrated legislative prowess without partisan political antics. He has achieved legislative successes with principled, constructive, and pragmatic approach knowing t hat one has to possess the human and technical skill s required to be able to navigate the uncharted Nigeria's political terrain where tribal politics impede progress and manage deluge of eccentricities inherent in the senate.

So, when common sense and superior argument took over the National Assembly, the outcome of the leadership election of the chambers became virtually predictable. With the outcome of the Deputy President of the Senate election, Ekweremadu demonstrated that he had a huge political capital to dispense regardless of his party. Billowing in a cloud of confidence reposed in him by his colleagues, Ekweremadu will not fail his fellow citizens; he will harness and expend his political capital to effect change that the common man can feel and touch throughout Nigeria. Ekweremadu , the most de-tribalized Nigerian, has focused mainly on national issues that would uplift every Nigerian, as well as not losing sight on his federal constituency. Kendy Ovbiebo, who resides in Seattle, Washington once shared this with me about Ekweremadu: "You have always made us proud as a PDP leader," referring to the principled leadership of Dr. Ike Ekweremadu. "Our blessings and support are always with you; may you continue to sail through all the obstacles and challenges that come your way as you triumph in success." That was a profound statement attesting to the character of Ike Ekweremadu.

Ekweremadu, a political stayer, is truly a team player, who will definitely work well with Senator Saraki, the President of the Senate.

Senator Olubukola Abubakar Saraki, former Governor of Kwara State (2003 to 2011), was first elected to the senate in 2011 as People's Democratic Party (PDP), representing the Central Senatorial District of Kwara State. Saraki was reelected in office in March 2015 as the All Progressives Congress (APC) member. It is believed that he has the temerity and leadership skills to carry out his duties as the President of the Senate responsibly. Similarly,

Rt. Hon. Yakubu, a member of the Federal House of Representatives since 2007, has chaired and served on numerous House Committees, gaining the necessary legislative skills and leadership experience to serve honorably as the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.