THE Presidency and leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, kickstarted moves aimed at dousing the growing tension in the National Assembly, as senators, for the second day running, adjourned sitting without considering government business.
The lawmakers, who commenced what was described as protest sittings on Tuesday, had vowed to continue until further notice.
During the protest sittings, the lawmakers vowed to keep government business at bay, while only opening sittings and adjourning without considering issues on the Order Paper.
But sources close to the Presidency and the leadership of the PDP told the Nigerian Tribune, on Wednesday, that the party had been badly hit with the news of protests in the Senate.
It was learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan had immediately summoned a meeting with the national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu where the Senate President, David Mark and some leaders of the Senate were also present.
•Party asks govs to accommodate two senators per state
Sources confirmed that the meeting resolved to immediately make concessions to the senators, many of whom had been schemed out by governors in their states.
The source said the meeting resolved to call a large meeting with the Senate caucus of the PDP, where the entire concession would be unveiled.
It was, however, gathered that the president had mandated the national chairman of the party to enter into talks with PDP governors, to ensure that, at least, two senators from their states returned to the Senate in 2015.
The meeting involving the president, party leaders and the Senate caucus of the party, which started at 10.00 p.m. on Wednesday, was underway as of press time.
Sources, however, said the senators had been asked to accept the return of two of their colleagues per state, while the governors, who intend to contest election into the Senate, should also be allowed to get the ticket.
“The concession being offered senators right now is that two senators should return from each of the states and that the governors who intend to come to the Senate should also be offered the ticket.
“The party is of the view that this will help douse the tension and serve as a win-win situation,” a source said, adding, however, that some of the states still remained knotty, as of Wednesday night, as some of the second term governors were moving to unseat serving senators.
Another source said “the PDP is anxious to resolve the problem with the senators. They are the real pillar of support to our president and with a speaker in the hands of the opposition, the situation with government business can only get tougher.”
The source added that the governors had been told that removing all the senators as they planned would only allow the lawmakers defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is already offering them free tickets and also ensure that the APC gained control of the two chambers of the National Assembly before the 2015 election.
“The party is of the view that allowing the rancour to escalate will only empower the APC and the conflagration that could result could consume the entire PDP and the governors, even before the general election,” another source said.
•Aggrieved senators force Mark to adjourn sitting again
Meanwhile, senators, on Wednesday, made good their threat to shun legislative business, when they adjourned sitting till next week.
An unwilling Senate President was forced to adjourn the sitting by the PDP lawmakers, who were in the majority, even amidst protests from APC lawmakers.
The PDP senators ensured that the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, did not table any issue for discussion before seeking to adjourn sitting till next week.
Mark, however, explained before ruling on the adjournment that the Senate’s decision was in solidarity with their colleagues in the House of Representatives, over the withdrawal of the security personnel attached to the office of Speaker, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal.
“We are not to interfere in the internal affairs of each house. However, as chairman of the National Assembly, I cannot fold my arms or pretend that all is well about the current crisis.
“I am, therefore, going to do all I can to resolve the current impasse. Furthermore, the matter is already in a court of law, we cannot, therefore, discuss the issues here. I want to assure all of you that I will do the needful to protect and defend the legislature at all cost,” he said.
Thereafter, the senators went into closed door meeting in one of the Senate committee rooms.
At the meeting, the senators were said to have been briefed by Mark on the outcome of his meetings with the president and leaders of the PDP on the 2015 issue.
It was also gathered that the meeting was briefed of the concession being offered to the senators by the PDP and that a meeting to finalise the issues would be held late on Wednesday.
Sources at the meeting confirmed that the senators resolved to continue their protest until President Jonathan and the PDP listen to them, by removing what was called the autocracy of the governors through the PDP congresses.
A source at the meeting said: “The meeting was fruitful. We were briefed on the advocacy the Senate President has undertaken all along. We were also told that the president would lead a meeting of the National Working Committee of the PDP to discuss with us today (Wednesday night).”
Another senator said the lawmakers are demanding automatic tickets for their return to the chamber, while there should be level playing field for all aspirants in the 2015 contest.
Senate Leader, Ndoma-Egba, who briefed newsmen on Wednesday, said the Senate was in defence of democracy, adding that “defending democracy is bigger than the Senate.
“I am sure you are aware that PDP caucus met yesterday and today (Tuesday and Wednesday) on fundamental issues affecting democracy in Nigeria, arising from the ward congress of our party last Saturday.
“The issues need to be addressed very urgently by relevant PDP stakeholders in the interest of our democracy. You will all surely be briefed when the issues are addressed.
“Our democracy is bigger than the Senate. The situation in the North-East you talked about requires military attention, which is already being handled by the military.”
But senators of the APC rejected the continued shutdown of the chamber on Wednesday, calling the PDP senators’ squabble with their party an internal political matter.
Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who spoke for the caucus, said the action of the PDP lawmakers were of no benefit to the overall well-being of the nation.
He accused PDP senators of not allowing the Senate to sit for two days, adding that the chamber was adjourned as soon as it convened on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He said the decision was insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
“While we are in sympathy with our colleagues for their fate in the hand of President Jonathan and the governors in their respective states, we the APC Senate caucus, however, condemn the habit of prioritising personal interests over national interests at the expense of the people that they swore to protect.
“We had planned today (Tuesday) to raise the issues of insecurity to Nigerians and the trend of insecurity in Nigeria. Mubi, which is the second largest town in Adamawa State, has been overrun by terrorists.
“Nigerians in that area are fleeing their homes, afraid and uncertain of the preservation of their lives. Emirs are being driven from their palaces.
“A foremost cement factory in Gombe, Ashaka Cement Factory, has been taken over by Boko Haram, according to news reports. Many may not believe the alarm raised by the deputy governor of Borno State, Zanna Mustapha, that it is just a matter of weeks before Boko Haram takes over the whole state, but the reality is even scarier than this.
“Unfortunately, our brothers and sisters in the PDP do not see it this way. They rather prefer to bicker over party nomination and return tickets,” he said.
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