SENATE PRESIDENCY: PDP, "Buhari" Versus Jagaban

Buhari has just proven he meant his inaugural statement when he said "I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody". That "nobody" is Jagaban himself. He was allaying the fears of many Nigerians that he would not be a puppet in the hands of Jagaban. he would be a man of himself and the people.

The 'victory' of the PDP at the N'Assembly did not just start today. Like Buhari's continued failures in clinching victory in the past presidential elections before he got it this time, so have many powerful APC party members (especially those who decamped from PDP) been trying to break Jagaban's solid influence and control of the party. First they tried to break Jagaban's control at the APC presidential primaries, where others supported Atiku and Kwankaso and Jagaban supported Buhari. They failed. Jagaban won. Buhari became President. They also tried to tackle Jagaban at the APC gubernatorial primaries where Jagaban's candidate was Ambode and some persons supported Hamzat (Fashola's candidate) and Sasore. Ambode emerged winner and later became Governor of Lagos state. They failed. Jagaban won.

Now the tussle for Senate Presidency and Speaker lingered on. These APC party leaders have been wiser by the previous losses to Jagaban and have strategised on how to beat this JAGABAN. They came to together and planned. They chose a subtle candidate Saraki, a political half-caste of PDP and APC breeds. The Jagaban's camp truly did not trust his party loyalty and decided to settle for Ahmed Lawan. The mock elections conducted by the APC was rejected by Saraki's camp and termed 'primitive' and 'undemocratic', the open ballot voting system.

On the day of Senate Presidency elections which was yesterday 9th June, 2015, Lawan and his supporters (Jagaban's camp) were at the International Convention Centre (ICC) to meet with Buhari for a meeting he (Buhari) scheduled for 9.00am. Buhari had earlier arrived Abuja at 12.53am and was at his Presidential lounge at 2am. Whereas, all Senators were aware that elections would hold at the N'Assembly by 10.00am. At 9.50, Buhari was yet to arrive for the meeting. At 9.52am Durojaiye entered the Senate chamber and announced, at exactly 10am that he had the order of Buhari, through a letter, to inaugurate the Eighth Senate. (Buhari who was to meet with other APC senators at ICC). Hmm... Durojaiye, after Maikasuwa’s proclamation, commenced the process of voting by reading out the names of senators-elect and at the end of the roll call, he announced that there were 57 of the senators in attendance.

Majority of the members of Senate Unity Forum, who were canvassing support for the emergence of Lawan as the Senate President, were at the ICC where the meeting with Buhari was to hold. The question is; if Buhari was aware of the meeting at the ICC, why did he then order Durojaiye via a letter to inaugurate the 8th Senate? HAHAHAHOHOHO! (Political laugh is worrying me o...). Who can question Mr. President or query him on why he didn't show up for the arranged meeting? Funny enough, Jagaban himself was in the venue of the said meeting. When news of the victory of Saraki filtered in, they all scrambled for their vehicles to see for themselves (whispering...including Jagaban). Hope you didn't hear that? You need to see the jubilation at the N'Assembly as this time they beat Jagaban. Atiku and others have sent in their support to Saraki.

I BELONG TO EVERYBODY AND I BELONG TO NOBODY
President Muhammadu Buhari later issued a statement in which he said he stood by his earlier position that he would work with whoever the lawmakers elected as their leaders.

He added in the statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Femi Adesina, that even though he would have loved that “the process of electing the leaders as initiated and concluded by the APC had been followed,” he “took the view that a constitutional process has somewhat occurred.” Though sounding evasive this looks like Buhari 'knows something'.

“President Buhari had said in an earlier statement that he did not have any preferred candidate for the Senate and the House of Representatives, and that he was willing to work with whoever the lawmakers elected,”

PDP have however paid Jagaban in his own coin. As Tambuwal is to APC so is Saraki to PDP. Tambuwal was not the choice of PDP for Speaker but Jagaban influenced it. The table has been turned around. Saraki is not APC's choice but the PDP influenced it.

Now, 'they' won, Jagaban failed. Does Jagaban have the will power to overturn this 'PDP' sweet victory? Time will tell.