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  • Senate Leader responds to criticism of coercing lawmakers to join APC

    Senate Leader responds to criticism of coercing lawmakers to join APC

    Leader of the Senate Opeyemi Bamidele, has said that President Bola Tinubu was not coercing opposition lawmakers to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) contrary to public criticism.

    He said this during plenary on Tuesday, while justifying the defection of all the three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators from Kebbi to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Bamidele noted that the ruling party “is now running a government of national unity.”

    Bamidele spoke in the presence of the APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje; Governor of Kebbi, Alhaji Nasir Idris and APC National Organising Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Argungu, among others, who were at the Chamber.

    Those who defected are Sen. Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North) and Sen. Garba Maidoki (Kebbi South).

    Bamidele noted that their defection was based on the overriding public interest and had nothing to do with turning Nigeria into a one-party state.

    According to him, the ruling party will not close its doors to anyone intending to join the party.

    “In the same way, we will not also discriminate against anyone either on the basis of religion, tribe or any other factor. Our doors will continue to be open for more people to join at all levels.

    “In the meantime, we will continue to work with the members of the minority political parties.

    “It is not by sheer coincidence that virtually all political parties from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the Peoples Democratic Party have to join the ruling APC.

    “Even APGA, which has not joined the ruling party, has also graciously nominated and donated a minister of state to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the APC administration.

    “That is to say, what we are now running is a government of national unity,” he said.

    Bamidele specifically commended the defectors for their decision to join the ruling APC while reflecting on how the PDP was coercing members of the opposition parties to defect to its fold when it was in government at the federal level.

    He said: “We were all in this country when PDP was the ruling party. We saw all the things that happened under the PDP in an attempt to get more states, more seats in the Senate and more seats in the House of Representatives.

    “We are not at the polls. No one is being coerced.

    “If anyone is coerced, the person is definitely not Sen. Adamu Aliero. All of us know that the person cannot be Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi that will be co-opted.

    “Neither will Sen. Garba Maidoki with a stint in the private sector before he ventured into politics will defect to APC without clear conviction.

    “As far as we are concerned, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi that I know will rather stay in opposition and be very loud.

    “They all recognise that this is not the time for grandstanding. This is the time for all of us to work together to take Nigeria to the next level.

    “One of the defectors has been privileged to be the Gov. of Kebbi, precisely from 1999 to 2007”.

    “For us in APC, this is a wonderful development. For those who are keenly watching political developments, rest assured that at the end of the day, this can only be for the good and greatness of Nigeria.

    “To the rest of our colleagues on the minority isle, we will continue to work together for the progress of Nigeria.

    “I say it again for the umpteenth time. Those who refer to this parliament as a rubber stamp parliament should note that we are at a very critical stage of our national life when all hands must be on deck”.

  • NASS positioning Nigeria for $1tn economy by 2030 – Senate Leader

    NASS positioning Nigeria for $1tn economy by 2030 – Senate Leader

    Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, on Tuesday said that the upper chamber had been passing diverse laws aimed at positioning Nigeria for a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

    Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said this at a meeting with a delegation of the United Kingdom Parliament, held at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

    He said that many of the legislative initiatives were already making a difference in the daily lives of the citizens and the collective prosperity of the country.

    The senate leader said that the National Assembly would continue to play pivotal roles in building a resilient economy and functional political system which would guarantee citizens’ security.

    “Since the birth of the 10th Senate about two years ago, I have been discharging the duties of my office with modest records of accomplishments.

    “One of such accomplishments is the timely passage of key legislations, particularly in the areas of fiscal reform and national security.

    “By engaging my colleagues across all political divides, we have successfully passed laws aimed at creating an environment for economic competitiveness and positioning Nigeria for a $1 trillion economy by 2030.

    “I am proud to say that many of these legislative initiatives are already making a difference in the daily lives of our citizens.

    “As we look towards the future, we remain deeply committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

    “We are also ensuring that the national assembly continues to play its pivotal role in building a resilient economy and a functional political system that guarantees the security of all,” he said.

    Bamidele said that the nation’s parliament was building synergy with different parliamentary associations and institutions across the world to address the dearth of institutional capacity.

    On the issue of gender sensitivity, he promised the delegation that the 10th senate would give the issue attention.

    In her presentation, Leader of the delegation, Kate Osamor, solicited for inclusion of more women in the national assembly to address the existing gender gap in the nation’s elective offices.

    “We have to make sure that more women are in the parliament. Every society is a reflection of elected representatives.” Osamor said.

  • Senate leader , Bamidele insists Tax Reform Bills was never suspended

    Senate leader , Bamidele insists Tax Reform Bills was never suspended

    The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Thursday clarified that the Senate of the National Assembly did not suspend or withdraw any consideration or deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024.

    Bamidele warned against the pervasive misrepresentation of the intent of the Senate on the tax reform proposals, noting that the “Senate cannot be bullied into adopting a certain procedure” not consistent with its rules and proceedings.

    Bamidele made this clarification at the plenary on Wednesday, describing how the Senate constituted a special committee chaired by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro on Wednesday, to resolve grey areas of the tax reform initiatives.

    The Senate presided over by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jubrin on Wednesday, set up the special committee to engage the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to resolve the issues surrounding the Tax Reform Bills, 2024.

    However, a section of the media had reported that the Senate had suspended and withdrawn further considerations and deliberations on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024 contrary to its rules and proceedings in the previous legislative day.

    With this misrepresented intent of the Senate, Bamidele invoked Order 42 of the Senate Rules as well as Section 60 and 62 (1-4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended) to clarify the position of the Senate on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024.

    In his presentation, Bamidele noted that no part of the votes and proceedings of the Senate where it was stipulated that further consideration of or deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024 had been suspended or withdrawn.

    He explained that the Federal Executive Council through the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sponsored the Bills at the two chambers of the National Assembly, saying the Bills were not a private member bill.

    Bamidele said: “Whatever we are doing is in accordance with the provision of our constitution. We are the legislative arm of government. We take our instruction and guidance from the 1999 Constitution and not from any other institution or individual no matter how highly placed, not even from the governors or any other person than the 1999 Constitution.

    “What was reported is that the Senate had suspended further consideration of or deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills 2024. The media platform even invited the Nasarawa State Governor, Mr. Abdullah Sule, pointedly telling the governor that the Senate had withdrawn the Bills.
    “The media platform even described Bills as conundrum, which suggested that the Bills were problematic and we do not move from one television to another. The privilege that we have is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “This is where we do our deliberation. This is where we make the law. This is where we do effective representation of our people. If we have an issue to clarify, this is also the floor that we have rather than issuing press statements.
    “Mr. President, we have just passed our votes and proceedings. It is a reflection of our deliberation of the previous legislative day. Nowhere in our votes and proceedings was it stated that we suspended further deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills 2024. This is because we did not.

    “It is important to place on record that this Senate did not suspend and does not intend to suspend deliberations, considerations of the Tax Reform Bills 2024. As to withdrawal, Mr. President, this is simply my position.
    “It is a misunderstanding of the legislative process for any person to have even reported that we have withdrawn the Bills. The Bills were executive bills transmitted by the Executive Arm of Government through the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “It is only the executive arm that withdraws this bill. It is not a private member bill sponsored by any Senator. So, no Senator is going to withdraw the Bills and there is no reason for these Bills to be withdrawn.
    “In a legislative process, it is normal that some people will have concerns that is why in its wisdom, this Senate is referring this matter to the Senate Committee on Finance,” Bamidele made his clarification on the point of law.

    He also warned that any attempt from any quarter “to intimidate the Parliament will be undemocratic,” noting that the National Assembly and its members would not be distracted from discharging their constitutional mandates.

    He further said: “We will encourage consensus, discussion and engagement at all levels. But we cannot be bullied into adopting a certain procedure not consistent with the rules and proceedings of the Senate.

    “As far as we are concerned, The Tax Reform Bills 2024 are still alive in the Senate. The Bills are equally receiving consideration at various levels. And we are open to further discussion, consideration and engagement on the Bills.”

  • I’m not working against Yoruba’s interest – Senate leader

    I’m not working against Yoruba’s interest – Senate leader

    The Leader of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele has faulted claims that he was working against the interests of the Yoruba in the National Assembly.

    He made the clarification in a statement by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Wednesday in Abuja while refuting claims in some media platforms.

    Some media platforms had falsely attributed a statement to the senate leader that “If we allow the regional system in Nigeria, we would have automatically given the easterners Biafra”.

    Bamidele, also, said that the claims “are baseless, false and unfounded,” noting that he had been dutifully serving the interests of Ekiti Central, Ekiti State, South-west and Nigeria by extension since his election into the National Assembly.

    He challenged any person with audio-visual and documentary evidence to come out and present such.

    Bamidele said that he never made such a statement, which he said, was an attempt to pitch him against the Yoruba and other ethnic nationalities in the federation.

    He added that he did not make any statement about the regional government in line with the 1960 and 1963 Constitution at the Sept. 27 to 28 Senate Retreat on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

    “The claim is far from the truth. I never spoke about the return to the regional government at any forum; neither did I make a claim that ‘If we allow the regional system in Nigeria, we would have automatically given the easterners Biafra’.

    “It is a sheer case of misinformation and deliberate fake news which do not in any way represent my worldview about federal governance structure,” Bamidele said.

    Bamidele, however, warned that he would not hesitate to legally challenge any individual or establishment fabricating and circulating fake news against his person and office.

    Currently, according to the senate leader, there is no proposal for the return to the regional government before the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

    He further said: “How then can I oppose the proposal that is not currently before the Constitution Review Committee? I believe this statement is politically motivated to discredit me before Nigeria as a whole.

    “Already, the 10th Senate Constitution Review Committee has received 37 fresh constitution alteration bills.

    “The Committee is also considering 16 constitution alteration bills inherited from the 9th National Assembly, making 53 alteration bills altogether.

    “None of these alteration bills proposed the return to the regional federal governance structure as practised in the First Republic.

    “Linking me to an anti-regional government is a deliberate attempt to tarnish my image. I am not working against the interest of the Yoruba. I will never do so for any reason,” he said.(

  • Nigeria@64: Senate Leader, Bamidele asks leaders to stop challenges undermining collective prosperity

    Nigeria@64: Senate Leader, Bamidele asks leaders to stop challenges undermining collective prosperity

    The Senate Majority Leader, Mike Bamidele has tasked Nigerian leaders to avoid challenges undermining collective prosperity of our motherland as Nigerians roll out drums to mark 64th Independence Day celebrations today.

    The leader have this advice in a congratulatory message to Nigerians stating that:

    “October 1 obviously signifies the day of national significance in our history as a federation of 36 states and Federal Capital Territory. For us all, it is a day of double celebrations when Nigeria will mark her 64th anniversary of political independence and celebrate her 110-year existence as a single political formation.

    “With these milestones, Nigeria has indeed come a long way despite challenging and turbulent times she has gone through within these periods. Yet, we are a nation undergoing socio-economic and political transformation, which I believe, will soon bring forth desired outcomes.

    “After 64 years of political independence and 110 years of corporate existence, onus now rests upon us all to focus our energy and intellect on what majorly unites us as a federation rather than what will further divide us along our ethno-political and religious faultlines.

    “At this trying time, we must be deliberate to decisively address what easily divide us and heat up our polity in order to build a resilient federation that works for all. It is important for all leaders, political or socio-cultural, religious or traditional, community or professional, to close ranks and come up with consensus on how to end heinous challenges undermining our collective prosperity, national harmony and political stability.

    “Such a united front has now become imperative at this auspicious time when the review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) is underway at the National Assembly. There is no better time to review our federal governance structure than now with a view to creating a federation that is more efficient, functional and responsive.

    “We have already received 37 fresh memoranda from different interests nationwide. We are also revisiting 16 constitution alteration bills inherited from the Ninth National Assembly. Before public hearings on the constitution review take off January 2025, we are open to more memoranda from all interests.

    “Among others, we have received memoranda on the need to establish state police; adopt diaspora voting; entrench financial autonomy for local government councils; deepen independence of the judiciary; provide special seats for women in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly and create the National Council of Traditional Rulers. More memoranda are welcome.

    “The process for the review of the 1999 Constitution is unambiguous as enshrined in Section 9(2)(3). It is a collective approach that requires the input of not all the federal and state legislature, but also the contributions of all interests across the federation. As we proceed with the review, we promise not to leave any interest behind in the task of forging a new path for our beloved fatherland. And Nigeria shall be better for it.

    Happy 64th Independence Anniversary

  • IWD: Women hold 3.4 per cent of federal legislative seats – Senate Leader

    IWD: Women hold 3.4 per cent of federal legislative seats – Senate Leader

    The Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele has raised on concern over weak investment in capacity of women in Nigeria which according to him has hindered possibility of achieving the fifth agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Bamidele made this known in a statement in Abuja in a message to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day.

    “Inspite of the fact that we are six years away to achieve bridging the gap between men and women, Nigeria is still confronted with under-representation both in the corporate and public sectors,” he said.

    He further lamented about how women are victims of armed attacks in different parts of the country.

    “Women hold only 3.4 per cent of federal legislative seats – four are 109 senators and 14 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives.

    “Across all sectors, women inclusion is largely low in Nigeria whether in the corporate world or public sector.

    “All these figures attest weak investment in women and eclipse the possibility of achieving the fifth agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals.

    “The fifth agenda mandates the world leaders to invest in initiatives and programmes that bring about gender equality by 2030.

    “2030 is just six years away, and we are still confronted with ugly indices that remind us of the widening gap between men and women.”

    The Senate Leader therefore admitted that the National Assembly recognised that women inclusion in governance was pivotal to achieving sustainable development in Nigeria.

    He added that gender inclusiveness was at the core of the Revised Legislative Agenda of the 10th Senate.

  • Alleged defection to PDP: I can’t leave my home to bush – Senate Leader reacts

    Alleged defection to PDP: I can’t leave my home to bush – Senate Leader reacts

    Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (APC Sokoto-East) says he is staying put in APC contrary to speculations that he is defecting to PDP before the 2023 general elections.

    Gobir, who is the Senate Majority Leader and Chairman, APC Senate Caucus, made the clarification while speaking to newsmen in Sokoto on Sunday.

    The lawmaker, who was a former governorship aspirant in the 2023 primary election said the APC was the only home he has and nothing can send him out of it.

    “The assertion that Sen. Gobir is defecting to PDP is misleading, to leave my own home to the bush or what, I don’t move from one political party to another.

    “Moreover, getting a mandate to contest or not cannot take me to another place while I am comfortable in my own home.

    “Therefore, I am a member of APC and will continue to support our candidates to ensure the party wins in the 2023 general elections for the best of our people and democracy,” he said.

    Gobir added that the Nigerian political atmosphere had since pointed out APC as the party to lead the country following its acceptance by the greatest majority.

    “With the caliber of people defecting to our party I can boldly say that all our candidates are waiting for swearing-in on May 29, 2023.

    “Our party is truly accepted by Nigerians, which is an indication that In  sha Allah, 2023 elections will only be an endorsement of all APC candidates,” he added.

    On the new Naira notes, the Senate leader called on Nigerians to remain calm, saying the lawmakers are doing their best toward addressing the situation.

    “The Naira notes redesign policy has nothing to do with politics, so Nigerians should remain calm as we are all there to protect them,” Gobir added.

  • Gobir emerges new Senate Leader, APC caucus Chairman

    Gobir emerges new Senate Leader, APC caucus Chairman

    The National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has nominated Sen.Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East) as the new Senate Leader and Chairman of the APC caucus in the Senate.

    The Party’s decision is contained in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, and signed by the National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu.

    The letter was read by President of the Senate, Lawan, at plenary on Wednesday.

    Gobir replaces the former Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North), who defected from the ruling party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    In the letter, Adamu referenced Lawan’s request with reference No: NASS9thS/SP/D/12/ dated June 26, in which the President of the Senate “informed the party of the vacancy of the office of the Senate Leader of our party”.

    “Accept herewith, the party’s nomination of Sen. Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto East Senatorial District) as replacement for the Senate Leader and Chairman of the APC Caucus,” it said.

  • Why I left APC for PDP – Senate Leader

    The Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, said that he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) due to “injustice” in the Kebbi State chapter of the party.

    Abdullahi, representing Kebbi North, had on Wednesday joined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    The lawmaker told NAN in Abuja on Friday that “it was a case of serial denial of rights”.

    He said: “Yes, I have left the APC due to injustice by the Kebbi State Governor.

    “It is not just injustice; it’s a serial denial of rights and undemocratic rights which we reported to the party for more than 11 months.

    “Nobody did anything about the manner the governor handles the party affairs in the state; imposing candidates and doing whatever he wants.

    “The national headquarters of the party failed to bring order. We cannot just sit down and mortgage our own political career to the whims and caprices of one man.

    “We thought the best thing is to leave the party,” Abdullahi said.

    It was gathered that Abdullahi’s defection may not be unconnected to his loss of the APC governorship ticket on May 26.

    Abdullahi failed to get a single vote while the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Dr Nasiru Idris, emerged the party’s governorship candidate with 1, 055 votes out of the 1, 090 votes cast.

    Alhaji Abubakar Gari-Malam, who came second, polled 35 votes.

    In his reaction, Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Kebbi State Governor, said the allegations by the Senate Leader were not true.

    “The governor is a loyal party member that has worked assiduously to unite the party since he came into power in 2015.

    “In fact, he has suceeded in wooing many important politicians into the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” Sarki stated.

    He added that notable politicians had joined the APC because of the purposeful leadership of the governor.

    “On the issue of alleged imposition of candidates, the governor has never meddled in the affairs of the party. It is entirely a party and electorate affair to elect candidates.

    “In order to carry every one along, whatever decision has to come from the party’s stakeholders which the petitioner or complainant is part and parcel.

    “Numerous stakeholders’ meetings were convened to reach a decision on matters affecting the party.

    “The governor never believes in one man affair to run the party. All stakeholders are involved in decision making.

    “Any time an event, meetimg or any occasion of the party is organised, invitations are extended to all in writing or physically including the complainant.

    “So it is just that he may have lost out on the state politics as well as grassroots politics that is why he left the party,” he said.

    The Senate resumes plenary session on Tuesday after parties’ primaries, it will be expected of the Senate Leader to “vacate his seat” as the majority leader in the Senate.

  • BREAKING NEWS: Senate leader dumps APC, joins PDP

    Leader of Nigerian Senate, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi has defected from the APC and has joined the opposition, PDP.

    Senator Abdullahi’s special adviser on media and publicity, Muhammad Jamil Gulma confirmed the defection.

    He said, the “Senate Leader Dr Yahaya Abdullahi will on Wednesday by 9 am left Abuja for Kebbi and proceeded to Kamba Local Government Area to formally declare for the PDP and to possibly indicate his interest to contest his present seat.”

    ALSO READ: Gov. Bagudu wins APC ticket for Kebbi Central

    The Senator participated in the APC’s Kebbi governorship primaries and was reported to have scored Zero vote, an outcome which he had since rejected and described as shambolic and a child’s play.

    Political watchers told TheNewsGuru.com that his defection may not be unconnected with the governorship primaries and several failed truces by the national leadership of the APC.

    TheNewsGuru.com can also report that indications are rife that the Senate Leader may come out on top as his support base has remained solid over the years and he is likely to maintain his position if he contests under his new party.