Buhari, APC leaders endorse Lawan for Senate President

Ahmad Lawan, the senator representing Yobe North Senatorial District has received the support of President Muhammadu Buhari and All Progressives Congress leaders.

Senator Lawan is favourite to be Senate President of the 9th National Assembly having missed out on the chance last time around.

Reports say President Buhari, APC governors and leaders have endorsed the Senate Leader after consultations.

The leaders considered  his qualifications, prudence, accountability, loyalty and rich legislative experience.

It is also believed that his leadership will provide a robust Executive-Legislative relationship that was lacking in the 8th NASS.

TheNation gathered that Mr. Buhari prefers Lawan because he is someone who wants to leave sustainable legacies.

Mr. Buhari who addressed senators-elect on Monday regretted the frosty relationship between his administration and the leadership of the 8th National Assembly.

Senators Danjuma Goje and Adamu Abdullahi were calm, but Senator Ali Ndume protested against what he called Lawan’s imposition.

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The search for the President of the Ninth Senate started immediately after the February 23 elections when members of the “kitchen cabinet” sought the opinion of the President on the direction to go.

It was gathered that the President wasted no time in picking Lawan.

Besides, every time the governors met with Buhari, his refrain was always “I will be involved in the election of principal officers in the National Assembly this time around”.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The choice of Lawan for the office was not the making of the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

“The President had zeroed in on Lawan since 2015 and he did not mince words in asking the leaders of the party, APC governors and even senators-elect to ‘leave the Senate President for me’.”

“He spent the past few weeks to consult with some leaders of APC, governors and senators-elect to feel their pulse on Lawan.

“Having realised his position, some APC governors asked senators-elect from their states to be part of Lawan’s campaign.

“Security reports on Lawan’s lifestyle revealed a commitment to accountability. He does not indulge in wasteful spending. He fits into the austere focus of Buhari.”

Security agencies, it was learnt, rated Lawan as a loyal politician, who has been consistent in the last 20 years as a progressive.