A pan-Igbo group based in the United Kingdom, Concerned Diaspora Enugu
West, has urged the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, to
step down immediately.
The group said in a statement by its convener, Mr. Ignatius Ozoilo, that Ekweremadu had been the Deputy Senate President since 2007 but had failed to make a mark in the Senate.
The group also berated Ekweremadu for saying that his emergence as the Deputy Senate President despite being in the opposition would be beneficial to the people of the South-East.
The statement read, “We have been deeply worried about the outcome of the leadership contest in the Senate on June 9 in which Senator Ekweremadu, representing Enugu-West senatorial district, put himself forward for the post of the Deputy Senate President
“While we concede that the interest to become part of the leadership of the National Assembly is a legitimate aspiration, we are of the view that it is not a right political decision for Senator Ekweremadu to become and remain the Deputy Senate President of the 8th Assembly.
“Senator Ekweremadu held on as Deputy Senate President for eight years and did so as a member of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party. He had ample opportunity to use that position to improve the political, economic and social prospects of the country but regrettably he failed to demonstrate any particular sense of legislative acumen for the benefit of his constituency in particular and Nigeria in general.”
The group said Ekweremadu should not have run for Deputy Senate President but should have toed the path of honour like Mr. Leo Ogor who refused the position of Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives when he was offered the position.
The group said Ekweremadu’s emergence as the Deputy Senate President was a great disservice to Nigerians because the people of Nigeria wanted a change and Ekweremadu represents the old regime.
The group said there was nothing exciting about the South-East producing the Deputy Senate President because the zone was not given any special consideration from 1999 to 2007 when it produced five Senate Presidents.
The group said in a statement by its convener, Mr. Ignatius Ozoilo, that Ekweremadu had been the Deputy Senate President since 2007 but had failed to make a mark in the Senate.
The group also berated Ekweremadu for saying that his emergence as the Deputy Senate President despite being in the opposition would be beneficial to the people of the South-East.
The statement read, “We have been deeply worried about the outcome of the leadership contest in the Senate on June 9 in which Senator Ekweremadu, representing Enugu-West senatorial district, put himself forward for the post of the Deputy Senate President
“While we concede that the interest to become part of the leadership of the National Assembly is a legitimate aspiration, we are of the view that it is not a right political decision for Senator Ekweremadu to become and remain the Deputy Senate President of the 8th Assembly.
“Senator Ekweremadu held on as Deputy Senate President for eight years and did so as a member of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party. He had ample opportunity to use that position to improve the political, economic and social prospects of the country but regrettably he failed to demonstrate any particular sense of legislative acumen for the benefit of his constituency in particular and Nigeria in general.”
The group said Ekweremadu should not have run for Deputy Senate President but should have toed the path of honour like Mr. Leo Ogor who refused the position of Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives when he was offered the position.
The group said Ekweremadu’s emergence as the Deputy Senate President was a great disservice to Nigerians because the people of Nigeria wanted a change and Ekweremadu represents the old regime.
The group said there was nothing exciting about the South-East producing the Deputy Senate President because the zone was not given any special consideration from 1999 to 2007 when it produced five Senate Presidents.
