Within a week of protesting the re-ordering the sequence of elections and walking out on the Senate to register their position with journalists, recriminations re flying fast as Senator Abdulahi Adamu has lost his headship of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF) over alleged financial mismanagement.
Defiant Adamu told Channels Television: “I was removed as chairman of the Northern Senators Forum and had those baseless allegations leveled against me because I rejected the decision of the Senate to reorder the sequence of general elections in the country.
“But, I will stand by my decision. I will resist being swayed by any decision the Senate takes regarding my position.”
With the prospect of a suspension hanging over his head, another of the “renegade Senators”, Ovie Omo-Agege, who told journalists that the re-ordering of elections was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari, bit the humble pie on Wednesday and apologised to his colleagues.
His allegations against the Senate was Tuesday referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges, Public Petitions following complaints by Senator Dino Melaye. Omo-Agege may enjoy reprieve for his courage at apologising going by comments from presiding officer, Deputy Senate President Ole Ekweremadu.
The political machinations was not without drama as Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) gave his own account of why Senator Adamu was removed as NSF Chairman.
Adamu’s removal was announced in a letter read Ike Ekweremadu. Senator Melaye as NSF spokesman signed the letter.
Without mentioning names, Wednesday, Senator Sami told journalists: “There are some things some of my colleagues will not say but I’m not used to holding back. When we assumed office, Senator Ahmed Lawan tendered the sum of N70 million to the 8th Senate.
“That N70 million was money gathered from the 7th Senate. It was handed over to northern senators of 8th Senate. The rumours going round, which I don’t know whether it’s true but I believe other senators know, is the fact that there were allegations that some monkeys raided the farm house of some of the executives of the northern senators forum and carted away some of these money.
“I think, this country is becoming a huge joke. First of all, it was the rodents that drove away the president and then we now have snakes consuming about N36 million and now we have monkeys raiding farm house. So, they don’t want this to be said but I believe that we should be very clear.”