Senate Inauguration Fallout: Ashafa Urges Closed Ranks

As the 8^th National Assembly prepares to get down to the business of law making upon resumption from the recess currently embarked upon by the law makers, senators elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress have been urged to close ranks and settle down to work, having come to terms with the enormity of the task before them.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa of Lagos East Senatorial District made this call recently whilst urging members of the APC Senators Unity Forum, The Senators Of Like Minds and other such caucuses in the 8th senate to collapse their structures and form a united, progressive front that will work with the new leadership of the red chamber for the overall interest of the Nigerian people.

Ashafa, a second term senator and one always known to be a bridge-builder amongst his distinguished colleagues in the senate made this call on the heels of the fallout which trailed the stormy inauguration of the senate on June 9 where Senator Bukola Saraki emerged as the senate president instead of Senator Ahmed Lawan, the candidate put forward by the APC in the days leading to the inauguration.

"We have to realise that the hopes of Nigerians are high. The new government has amassed a lot of political capital - having been elected as a result of the massive build-up of goodwill for our various candidates in the elections and the stark disenchantment with the previous administration.

As a result, the goodwill of Nigerians must not be taken for granted. So I make this call for One Nigeria and it starts with us - One Senate, united for the progress of our various constituents and translating change into policies and laws that will, in turn, yield tangible and beneficial results for everyone."

Senator Ashafa urged all party members with various leanings to push aside their personal ambitions for now, noting that whilst the party's decision is binding on us all, we must see the bigger picture which is a progressive and united Nigeria. 

He pledged his devotion to pro-people policies and a re-invigorated approach to committee oversight functions upon resumption from the current recess embarked upon by the 8th senate.