DEPUTY Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has said he would not be intimidated by attempt to get him interrogated by the police over allegations of forgery.
Ekweremadu, who emerged deputy Senate president against the wishes of the ruling party, said he remained committed to the independence of the legislature, despite his ongoing ordeal.
In a statement he issued on Monday, he insisted that calls from distinguished Nigerians and elder statesmen had emboldened him to pursue the course of stabilising the legislature.
He insisted that no amount of intimidation by the authorities would deter him from performing the functions of his office.
The statement by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu, said he had been reassured by the concern of Nigerians on the matter.
“Ekweremadu has received numerous calls and messages from well meaning Nigerians, elder statesmen, governors, distinguished senators and Honourable members of the House of Representatives across party lines, concerned members of the international community, youth and women organisations, royal fathers and civil society organisatons, among others, who have continued to express utter dismay and concern over the unfolding drama in which his life and liberty are being threatened by desperate politicians.
“Senator Ekweremadu wishes to assure all Nigerians and concerned members of the international community that everything is under control and that all democratic steps are being taken to preserve the nation’s democracy and protect the independence of the legislature.
“The deputy president of the Senate further wishes to assure Nigerians that necessary steps are being taken by the security agencies to beef up security around him.
“He appreciates the nation’s security agencies for their professional handling of the situation so far and acknowledges with a deep sense of gratitude the numerous youth across the country who have volunteered to provide additional security around him,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, has told the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that it was wrong to think it could enforce party supremacy on the floor of the Senate.
Nnamani, who spoke at the public presentation of the book: Nigeria’s Fourth Republic National Assembly: Politics, Challenges and Media Perspectives, written by Dr Austin Uganwa, on Monday, said the events of June 9, which led to the failure of the APC to influence its choices as presiding officers of the National Assembly, occurred because the party misread the issue of party supremacy.
He stated that once senators are elected, they become senators of the Federal Republic, adding that once a Senate President emerged, “he becomes the Senate president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” dumping the partisan toga.
According to him, it was wrong for the APC to have called a meeting at the same time when the Senate was to convene, adding that the senators must hold their loyalty to the constitution at that moment.
The former Senate President added that “today, we are grappling with the issue of party supremacy. Party is ephemeral and the legislature should stand for democratic governance for Nigerians.”
He maintained that party supremacy could not be enforced on the Senate floor.
Ekweremadu, who emerged deputy Senate president against the wishes of the ruling party, said he remained committed to the independence of the legislature, despite his ongoing ordeal.
In a statement he issued on Monday, he insisted that calls from distinguished Nigerians and elder statesmen had emboldened him to pursue the course of stabilising the legislature.
He insisted that no amount of intimidation by the authorities would deter him from performing the functions of his office.
The statement by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu, said he had been reassured by the concern of Nigerians on the matter.
“Ekweremadu has received numerous calls and messages from well meaning Nigerians, elder statesmen, governors, distinguished senators and Honourable members of the House of Representatives across party lines, concerned members of the international community, youth and women organisations, royal fathers and civil society organisatons, among others, who have continued to express utter dismay and concern over the unfolding drama in which his life and liberty are being threatened by desperate politicians.
“Senator Ekweremadu wishes to assure all Nigerians and concerned members of the international community that everything is under control and that all democratic steps are being taken to preserve the nation’s democracy and protect the independence of the legislature.
“The deputy president of the Senate further wishes to assure Nigerians that necessary steps are being taken by the security agencies to beef up security around him.
“He appreciates the nation’s security agencies for their professional handling of the situation so far and acknowledges with a deep sense of gratitude the numerous youth across the country who have volunteered to provide additional security around him,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, has told the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) that it was wrong to think it could enforce party supremacy on the floor of the Senate.
Nnamani, who spoke at the public presentation of the book: Nigeria’s Fourth Republic National Assembly: Politics, Challenges and Media Perspectives, written by Dr Austin Uganwa, on Monday, said the events of June 9, which led to the failure of the APC to influence its choices as presiding officers of the National Assembly, occurred because the party misread the issue of party supremacy.
He stated that once senators are elected, they become senators of the Federal Republic, adding that once a Senate President emerged, “he becomes the Senate president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” dumping the partisan toga.
According to him, it was wrong for the APC to have called a meeting at the same time when the Senate was to convene, adding that the senators must hold their loyalty to the constitution at that moment.
The former Senate President added that “today, we are grappling with the issue of party supremacy. Party is ephemeral and the legislature should stand for democratic governance for Nigerians.”
He maintained that party supremacy could not be enforced on the Senate floor.
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