By Abubakar Yunusa
Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged that Senate President Godswill Akpabio would lock him out of the National Assembly if he had the opportunity, deepening the growing rift between both lawmakers over recent developments in the Senate.
Oshiomhole made the remark during a yet-to-be-released edition of Mic On Podcast hosted by journalist Seun Okinbaloye, a preview of which surfaced on Thursday.
According to the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, leadership positions in public institutions are ultimately determined by God and not by individuals occupying high offices.
“He forgets that the leadership of any institution is in the hands of God, including the President of the Senate and even the President,” Oshiomhole said.
He added, “If Akpabio has his way, he will lock me out of the Senate. I am the devil he knows, but there are many agents he does not know.”
The comments come weeks after a heated confrontation within the Senate over amendments to the Standing Orders regulating the election of presiding and principal officers in the 11th National Assembly.
The revised rules introduced stricter eligibility requirements for senators seeking leadership positions in the upper chamber.
Last month, Oshiomhole openly called on Akpabio to resign, arguing that the amendments raised serious questions about fairness, morality and the integrity of the Senate’s leadership process.
Addressing journalists in Abuja at the time, the Edo North senator described the changes as a product of what he termed a “moral crisis” within the legislature.
He maintained that the Senate President no longer met the moral and procedural standards required to continue presiding over the chamber under the new rules being proposed.
“This rule has a serious moral crisis. The Senate President became Minority Leader in his first term. He is now the one presiding and asking us to change those rules, while those who have done only one term cannot even contest,” Oshiomhole had said.
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