The Senator-elect for Osun East Senatorial District of Osun State, Prince Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, has called on the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow the elected lawmakers choose their principal officers.

Fadahunsi made this call in a press statement signed by his media assistant, Sam Segun-Progress, and made available to News Express.

The Senator-elect said the Executive must allow the Principle of Separation of Powers takes its root and operates in our democratic system. Any interference in the affairs of the legislative arm by members of the executive arm and or political party would negate the course of politics and democratic tenets.

He asked rhetorically: “What is the business of the executive with the election of principal officers of the National Assembly? Why should the election process of the National Assembly create the tension it is creating within the APC leadership? ”

According to the Senator-elect, “The way the party is going about it is exposing Senator Lawan. The action of the National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshipmole, is like that of a headmaster giving instructions to his pupils.

“The party ought to be discreet with its lobby, not grandstanding about imposing an anointed candidate on the Senators. This is because the party is exposing Sen. Lawan to the danger of being viewed and labelled as a stooge of the Executive.”

Chief Fadahunsi implored the Executive to rather deplore its energy and zeal towards revamping and regenerating the economic fortune of the country which has dwindled and requires special attention “than dissipating energy, time and resources on the issue of Principal Officers of the National Assembly.”

He added: “Majority of the elected Senators are mature people that have been trusted with leadership positions in the past. Some have been Governors of their various states before contesting and winning the Senate seat. Therefore, their judgements should be trusted on such an important decision as electing their principal officers. They are the representatives of their people as they are not representing parties but constituents.”

According to Fadahunsi, “Once a Senator is elected, he/ she becomes a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not APC/PDP Senator. The executive arm and the APC leadership should for the sake of our national interest outgrow various primordial and divisive interest in the legislative arm of Government because not doing so portends danger for our budding democracy.”

The former Customs boss accordingly charged the 9th Senate to strive hard and to be committed to initiating and passing bills that would improve the economy and fight poverty, the biggest problem confronting the country.

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