An aspirant for the senate presidency in the 10th Senate, Senator Abdulaziz Yari has urged his colleagues not to give in to religious, tribal and other primordial considerations when choosing the next senate president.
He said this in a statement released on Saturday.
Recall that Yari, a former two-term governor of Zamfara State, declared his ambition to lead the 10th Senate in March.
He has since met President Muhammadu Buhari over his ambition, saying the North should produce the senate president, although the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has nominated Godswill Akpabio from the South-South to fill the position.
In a personal appeal to the senators-elect, Yari said only them could decide who will be their senate president.
“I congratulate you all on your well-deserved victory at the polls. It is a testament to your popularity among your people and the confidence they have in you to deliver democracy dividends to them.
“You must therefore not disappoint them in any way because your actions, inactions, omissions, and commissions may affect them directly or indirectly.
“While in the senate, you should always be reminded that you are indebted to your constituencies and should work towards attracting development projects to your people.
“This, in the first instance, is the reason you are elected to serve, and this is why you need a senate president that is compassionate, honest, fair-minded, and result driven.
“This is the time to eschew religious, tribal, nepotic tendencies and ethnic sentiments in the choice of the president of the senate which is first among equals.
“As I continue to consult on my aspiration to serve you as your president of the senate, please accept the assurances of my highest esteem,” Yari said.
The Zamfara West senator-elect urged his colleagues in the forthcoming 10th Senate to see their see the journey they are embarking on as one for the unification of Nigeria and an opportunity to rebuild the country.
He further urged the incoming lawmakers to use the opportunity to partner President-elect Bola Tinubu in achieving the economic agenda of the country.
“The division among Nigerians resulting from religious, tribal and ethnic sentiments is a narrative we must all work together to change for the country to move forward.
“You must all think up ways to work towards building a better and united country to make it safe for all,” Yari said.