By Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu (Bauchi State Correspondent)
Arewa Youths for the Sustenance of Democracy and Good Governance (AYSDGG) has explained that the senator-elect representing Imo West, Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso, is the best man to lead the 10th National Assembly as Senate President.
The group advised and pleaded with the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima and the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, to look for a technocrat who has no case or allegations of corruption against him, a true democrat who can unified the National Assembly in Izunaso.
National President of the group, Alhaji Alhaji Salihu Magaji, stated this when he addressed reporters at Hazibal Conference room, on Sunday, in Bauchi.
He said “We have very great respect for the president-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his vice Senator Kashim Shettima, and we know as people of integrity, they need a Senate and National Assembly leadership that will assist them to give optimum performance to the nation in order to leave a lasting legacy in nation building.
Magaji said after examining the credentials of all the senators-elect eying the Senate Presidency, they concluded that Izunaso ranked top. He said, "Our position is not based on partisanship; we cut across all the political parties that fielded people for the Senate. But our own based on the respect we have for Tinubu and Shettima, we want their success as president and Vice President, it is of utmost importance to us.
"I believe they need the goodwill of the ordinary masses that elected them into office; they should bring new people on board. This man, Izunaso, has been everywhere around the executive and the National Assembly. He has made his mark in both chambers. He is brilliant, capable, experienced, level-headed, intelligent and a person that understands our socio-religious intricacies.
"He has no baggage of controversy and he is not a person that will be at loggerheads with those in power in other arms. We have to be well guided this time around. He is not a corrupt leader. As our leaders, President elect, Vice President elect ,the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), we want them to consider fairness, competence and experience in the selection of the Senate President in the10th National Assembly.
Magaji said" it's now time to douse the tension generated by the controversial zoning formula already fouling the political atmosphere of the country by coming up with a zoning arrangement that would guarantee unity and national cohesion, a new zoning arrangement that would not only produce the best among the senators and House of Representatives Members-elect as their presiding officers, but a formula that will be seen by Nigerians and the world at large meeting the best practices in legislative norms and satisfying the political exigencies of the present Nigeria."
He explained that what the country needed now was a brand new National Assembly chaired by a competent, capable and experienced man of proven integrity, without any blemish whatsoever.
Magaji further explained that Izunaso was the highest ranking Senator from the South-South and South-East with a robust and outstanding legislative and National Assembly experience spanning from 1992 when he served as the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of House of Representatives to 1999 when he was appointed as the Chief Press Secretary to the President of the Senate. NNL.