Fresh details on the agitation against Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, emerged over the weekend revealing that the disaffection on committee appointments was only diversionary.
The real angst of the group of aggrieved senators may be suspicion about the incapacity of the Senate President to checkmate what some northern senators have called the ‘Yorubanisation’ of the country’s financial system and economy.
Another contention was said to be Akpabio’s alleged refusal to deal with powerful interest groups, particularly, some petrol importers and electricity distribution companies, bordering on 40 per cent electricity tariff hike and payment of outstanding money to fuel importers.
Newspaper publications had, last weekend, alleged a plot by some senators against Akpabio alleging lopsided distribution of ‘Grade A’ committees mainly in favour of his supporters and to the discrimination of those who opposed him during the leadership contest.
While it was gathered that the allegation may have some substance, it emerged that some rivals of the Senate President may have regrouped using as a reason his apparent failure to check the lopsided appointments by Tinubu in favour of the Yoruba, especially in the financial sector.
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Some of the aggrieved senators are said to be former governors from the North and, at least, one from the South-South.
The group has formally presented Senator Elisha Abbo (APC, Adamawa North) as the face of the agitation.
Senator Abbo in newspaper interviews at the weekend accused Akpabio of marginalising his rivals in the leadership contest and their supporters in the distribution of the committee positions.
However, sources within the Abbo group at the weekend said: “The main issue is our fear that Akpabio cannot check this Yorubanisation of the financial system that is going on now.”
The source, who craved anonymity, alluded to appointments at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and Customs, among others that have recently been infused with Yoruba leadership.
This is besides the appointment of Yoruba ministers in the financial sector and blue economy.
“Yes, the reason why you can see that Northerners are mostly involved is that most of those being removed and replaced with Yoruba are northerners,” the source added.
It was further gathered that the aim of the senators is to enthrone a Senate President the group believes can checkmate President Bola Tinubu.
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