SENATE PRESIDENT : BETWEEN CHOICE AND CRISIS

First came the propaganda that outgoing Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki was trying to hijack the leadership of the 9th Senate to remain politically relevant. Many did not buy that piece of cake as it seemed to them like another product from a desperate manufacturer bent on sinking the "fallen man".

Then came the big stick. Adams Oshiomhole, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) like a competent and highly discipline secondary school Principal attempting to whip anyone who kicked against the choice of the party's chieftains for Senate President into shape and straight on the line. He meant business. It is either you ship in or you ship out.

He went a step further by presenting the choice of the party, Senator Ahmed Lawan to whoever cares to listen. This time, there shouldn't be any error, no stories, no excuses and no friction. It is a matter of the party crushing whoever stands in its way of "crowning" Lawan. This is to avoid a repeat of the movie which grew in interest to become an award winning season film between Saraki led Senate/NASS and the presidency backed up by the party.

But the events of the last few days suggest that not all the APC Senators have been whipped into line....at least not outspoken Ali Ndume. Some are already wondering why the party and the executive arm of government will decide who leads them. Some say, Oshiomhole has no business interfering in matters concerning the election or appointment or selection of the Senate leaders or leadership. Gradually, the voices are aligning. The murmuring is getting louder and it seems the same storm is gathering again. Nigerians won't be surprised if there is an implosion within the APC again or do we say within the Senate as a result of this brewing crisis.

Painfully, if this crisis is not nipped in the bud, it would naturally escalate into another round of cold war between the legislative arm of government and the executive especially as it is alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged into the matter by Oshiomhole. Though, Mr. President has vowed that he would ensure there is no repeat of the scuffle between both arms of government.

He has promised to support the NASS to choose leaders that would work for the interests of the country and the APC led government. His body language suggests that he wants to be involved in the whole process even if from afar. He avoided being dragged into it in 2015. He doesn't want to be seen as being dragged into it in 2019 either but he surely doesn't want that nightmarish encounter of the past four years with the Senate in particular and the NASS at large.

However, with some Senators of the APC in the 8th Senate already in the PDP as we prepare to usher in the 9th Senate coupled with the loud voices of some APC Senators like Ndume agitating for free hand to pick their leaders and frowning against the choice of Lawan, it may be another long walk to freedom, talking about the peace and unity that should exist between the executive and legislative arms of government for the nation to progress. Without this peace we can only keep dreaming of progress as the cat and mouse rumble will keep tumbling the process of good governance. It will certainly slow down the acceleration of the NEXT LEVEL promise as declared in Mr. President's campaign slogan

Can we for once get it right? Can we for once stop running round this circle? Can we for once stop doing the same unproductive thing over and over again? Can we for once stop being selfish? There is the principle of separation of power in government....and all arms of government must operate freely. Can't this work in our clime? Can it work in this administration? Hasn't it worked successfully before?