Yari to senators: Disregard religion, ethnicity when choosing next senate president

Abdul’aziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara state, says the 10th assembly deserves a compassionate, honest, and result-driven senate president.

Yari had declared interest in running for the office of senate president in March.

In a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in April, Yari said the incoming senate president should be from the northern part of Nigeria but the All Progressives Congress (APC) had nominated Godswill Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs, for the position.

In a congratulatory message to the senators-elect on Saturday, Yari advised them to avoid religious, tribal, and ethnic sentiments in electing the senate president.

“I congratulate you all on your well-deserved victory at the polls. It is a testament to your popularity among your people and the confidence they have in you to deliver democracy dividends to them,” Yari said.

“You must therefore not disappoint them in any way because your actions, inactions, omissions, and commissions may affect them directly or indirectly.

“While in the senate, you should always be reminded that you are indebted to your constituencies and should work towards attracting development projects to your people.

“This, in the first instance, is the reason you are elected to serve, and this is why you need a senate president that is compassionate, honest, fair-minded, and result driven.

“This is the time to eschew religious, tribal, nepotic tendencies and ethnic sentiments in the choice of the president of the senate which is first among equals.

“As I continue to consult on my aspiration to serve you as your president of the senate, please accept the assurances of my highest esteem.”

He asked the senators-elect to see the journey they are embarking on as one for the unification of Nigeria and an opportunity to rebuild the country.

He encouraged the lawmakers to use the opportunity to partner with Bola Tinubu, president-elect, in achieving the economic agenda of the country.

“The division among Nigerians resulting from religious, tribal and ethnic sentiments is a narrative we must all work together to change for the country to move forward,” he said.

“You must all think up ways to work towards building a better and united country to make it safe for all.”

Yari expressed optimism that the 10th assembly would make the country a better place.