Stressing that he is not going anywhere, the DSP stated that he is presently more preoccupied with fixing the nation’s biting economic and security situations and other challenges than saving his job as the position he occupies at the upper legislative chamber.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Assistant (Political Matters) to the Deputy President of the Senate on Political Affairs, Hon. Okey Ozoani, which described the lawmaker’s purported plans for defection as “a fantasy of those peddling it”.
When called upon during Tuesday’s plenary to move a motion for the adoption of last week’s votes and proceedings, Senator Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara Central) said it was high time that the Deputy Senate President crossed over to the ruling party.
While seconding the motion, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC, Nasarawa West) re-echoed the position of Marafa and harped on the need for Ekweremadu to defect to the APC.
But in a swift reaction, Senator Sunny Ogbuoji (PDP, Ebonyi South) said such a joke was uncalled for, insisting that the Deputy Senate President was not yet done with the PDP.
Ozoani, in the statement, however assured Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faithful and Nigerians that his principal is not planning to ditch the main opposition party.
The statement reads, “The Office of the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has dismissed as false, insinuations and reports that the Senator could be on his way to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to save his job.
“Senator Ekweremadu is not contemplating leaving PDP. He is more concerned about fixing the country’s biting economic and security conditions and other challenges than saving his job as the Deputy President of the Senate.
“It is his view that Nigeria has to first exist for us to have political parties to belong to or political offices to occupy. Studies have shown a direct relationship between economic conditions and survival of democracy.
“The primary responsibility our Constitution places on our government is to cater to the wellbeing of the citizens as well as security of their lives and property. When such are threatened, everyone should necessarily get serious and preoccupied with contributing his or her quota to salvaging the country.
“Besides, he is most grateful to his colleagues for the confidence they continue to repose in him and the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki. He is grateful for the solidarity that the Senators have continued to accord them”.
Ozoani, while appreciating Ekweremadu’s supporters and well-meaning Nigerians who have continued to contact the Office over recent media reports, assured them that there was no cause for alarm.
He however urged them to continue praying for the Senate leadership, the Senate, the National Assembly, and indeed the government and the entire country, pointing out that, “By strength alone shall no man prevail”.
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