There is pending Crisis within the opposition in the senate, as moves are in top gear to remove the Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume, representing Benue North West under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the move by the opposition to remove Senator Akume stems from their dissatisfaction with the way he carries himself in the senate, which according to them does not augur well for the opposition.
Sen Akume was former governor of Benue state under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 1999 to 2007 and proceeded to the senate under the same platform. He however returned to the senate under the platform of ACN in the 2011 election.
Some of the opposition senators had complained that he often trivializes issues when he makes contributions on the floor of the senate thereby portraying them in poor light.
It was also alleged that Senator Akume is usually inebriated during plenary.
A senator who spoke anonymously said “we have been uncomfortable with the way he behaves especially during plenary and this does not reflect well on us as opposition trying to ensure robust debates as well as make Nigerians see what we in the opposition can do in the senate.
” At this time that we want to show a new direction for the country we cannot afford to be taken unseriously”
While Senator Akume and the Senate President, David Mark, who also hails from Benue state have had a frosty relationship, but it would seem that Akume has played into the hands of Sen. Mark, who has so far tolerated the misdemeanor of Akume on the floor, another source said.
Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, is poised to take over from Sen. Akume if the move to topple him follows through.
But reacting to the plot, Senator Akume (ACN) told newsmen at the weekend that some treacherous elements were targeting to destabilize and weaken the minority leadership in the Senate, which he currently heads.
He stressed that the forces sponsoring the unfounded political issues to pave way for his removal will not succeed because the minority groups are united and would resists such attempts.
He further stated that one of those behind the plot called him recently and wished him a happy recess, which he saw as a height of treachery.
“There are certain people who are sponsoring this thing. Somebody is going round mobilising malicious fabrications against me. This is politics and we have a situation of anomy where norms and values appear to have broken down. I have said that human history is replete with people with inordinate ambitions,” he said.
He further denied having problems with members of his party or the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, adding that there was no crack in the ranks of the minority in the Senate.
“Our party is a highly disciplined party. We are united. I don’t have any problem with the leader of my party. I have no problem with Asiwaju. We have no problem whatsoever. This thing has nothing to do with Asiwaju.
Asiwaju is at home with virtually every Nigerian,” he said.