As the rumpus over the appointment of committee chairmen rages, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan has begun moves to pacify aggrieved lawmakers, most of whom are of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).Part of the peace initiative initiated Wednesday evening by Lawan was to visit the Abuja homes of the displeased legislators.
Huhuonline.com learnt that when Lawan got to the residence of a ranking senator from the Southwest to offer his olive branch, he stressed that all actions taken by the APC leadership in constituting the committees were in good faith.
The Southwest Senator reportedly assured Lawan that he would not take his non-appointment as a Senate committee chair personal. Senate spokesman, Adedayo Adeyeye, told reporters yesterday that the overture was to douse the controversy over the committee chairmanship issue, which had become a smoldering inferno that threatened to consume and distract the ruling party from moving forward with its agenda.
He equally promised that the matter would be reviewed before the end of the four years’ tenure of the ninth Senate.“ I would plead with those who may have one complaint or the other to sheath their swords. They should see their chairmanship or membership of the various committees as a call to service. They should let us continue to work harmoniously,” he pleaded.
Adeyeye continued: “These committees, as I have learnt, are also subject to review before the end of the four-year term. If you have 69 committees, there is no way in which about seven people who want to be chairman of a particular committee could get it. Only one person would be appointed.”
“Therefore, if you don’t have that opportunity, please in whatever committee you have been placed as chairman, see it as a service to the nation so that Nigeria can benefit immensely from your experience and commitment.” He further noted: “ The senate president has done everything possible to keep the chamber together. There won’t be any form of rancor either now or when we resume on the issue.”
