An apparent terrified Presidency and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) moved Wednesday to swiftly douse the growing tension in the National Assembly by striking a deal with the aggrieved Senators. Senators for the second day running abridged sitting as it adjourned without considering any government business. The lawmakers had on Tuesday embarked on protest sitting and vowed to continue so until the Presidency curb the autocratic powers of state governors. During the protest sitting, the lawmakers vowed to keep government business at bay, while only opening sittings and adjourning without considering issues listed on the Order Paper. However, sources in the Presidency and the leadership of the PDP revealed that the party was rattled with the news of protests in the Senate. The leaders according to the source considered the development as a bad omen, especially as the Senate had remained the stabilising factor in the polity since 2011. Thereafter, President Goodluck Jonathan had immediately summoned a meeting with the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, where the Senate President, Senator David Mark, and some leaders of the Senate were also present. Sources confirmed that the meeting resolved to immediately make concessions to the Senators, many of who had been schemed out by the Governors in the states. The meeting resolved to call a large meeting with the Senate caucus of the PDP, where the entire concession would be unveiled. It was however gathered that the President had mandated the National Chairman of the party to enter into talks with PDP Governors to ensure that at least two senators from their states returned to the senate in 2015. When filing this report, the meeting involving the President, party leaders and the Senate PDP caucus, which commenced at 10pm on Wednesday, was still ongoing. Sources however said that the Senators have been asked to accept the return of two of their colleagues per state, while the governors who intend to contest election into the senate should also be allowed to get the ticket. - See more at: abujavoice/senate-crisis-president-jonathan-strikes-a-deal-with-aggrieved-senators/#sthash.UY4f61dU.dpuf
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 01:53:16 +0000
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