The history of the 8th Senate is never complete without the mention of the intrigues that happened in the name of the famous anointed man of the party, a second-term Senator representing Yobe North constituency, Senator Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and the incumbent Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the man of modernity and competency.
The most interesting aspect, which will ever remain a spectacular reference point however, is how Senator Lawan who was the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress for the Senate President seat, lost in a catch-them-unaware scenario, on 9th of June, to Senator Bukola Saraki. The battle between Senators of the Unity Forum and that of the Like-minds under the aegis of same party (APC) is so far the greatest politics ever played in the history of Nigerian Senate.
By and large, the first four months of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President was a hot period of tensions, rivalries and continuation of political outsmarting within the walls of the upper chamber. Perhaps it’s not over until it is, but the latest switch-off of flames of antagonism descending from the Lawan-led Unity Forum on Senate President Bukola Saraki has been widely translated for admission of defeat by Lawan and his team.
Although there were assertions that Lawan was just a handpicked candidate who was not really driven by his own conviction to throw his hat in the ring, but it is at least expected that such a frontier man would remain dogged and fight till the last moment. This is really needed to admit absolute disagreement with those assumptions that all the fuss in the 8th Senate was just a handiwork of certain individuals in the party (APC).
In my opinion, I would rather say that Lawan is such a great politician who has displayed core progressive traits. It is not untrue that aside the contest for the Senate Presidency, the choice of becoming the majority leader of the Senate, which also ended unachieved nonetheless, has also been made by him. In this regard, one would expect this Senator to remain on the rivalry lane with the Senate leadership, but hearing that Lawan was eventually inaugurated by Senate President Bukola Saraki as Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence, is indeed a surprise that doesn’t only indicate that the rival has eventually eaten a humble pie but equally shows that Saraki has shown magnanimity.
With this and other cheerful moments regarding the Senate President’s relationship with the Senators of the Unity Forum, particularly Senator Remi Tinubu, we can assume that the storm is getting over.
