The recent vote of confidence declared by Senate president, Bukola Saraki, on his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, was instructive.
Saraki had, while attending a thanksgiving of his deputy, showered encomiums on Ekweremadu, describing him as a perfect example for Nigerian politicians, stressing that he tremendously enjoys working with him.
Speaking at Ekweremadu’s village, in Mpu, Enugu State, shortly after a special thanksgiving service, Saraki said “For we politicians, it is always better to get close to know somebody because in our meetings in the 7th Senate, myself and him were far apart, but in this current Senate, I am the first person to tell a few people that Senator Ekweremadu is a perfect gentleman. You are a perfect gentleman and I repeat that many times and you are a good example for we politicians.”
Saraki added “He is the type of Nigerians that we will want to continue to serve because he only sees things for the good of Nigeria. I am grateful to be working with you and I will continue to assure you that we will continue to work closely for the interest of this great country.”
The declaration sought to establish a formidable working relationship beyond party, ethnic and religious lines. Still it was instructive politically. Saraki, it would seem, sent a clear message to the political firmament that his bond with Ekweremadu, having evolved through some rough times, has become inseparable as it were.
The emergence of Ekweremadu as deputy Senate president, in the present Senate was more like an aberration. Beyond setting a precedence in this democratic era, it exposed the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to some form of ridicule.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- Ekweremadu’s party- feeling bloodied and humiliated by its loss in the last general elections, prided over its ability to influence the outcome of the Senate leadership, jeering at the APC for being defeated at a game they claimed to have mastered.
Saraki had dared his party’s leadership, and contested the position of Senate president and won against the party’s choice, Sen Ahmed Lawan. He further gave the PDP a foothold in the leadership of the Senate, a hitherto exclusive reserve of the party in majority.
As such, when the perceived backlash from the APC leadership came, it was hard. Many analysts believe that the travails of Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal was connected his actions.
Before then, some APC senators, aggrieved by the actions of Saraki, had contested the rule book that saw to his election into office, alleging that the document was illegally alter without due process.
The rejection of Ekweremadu by the APC senators was further made bare when they staged a walkout in protest of his presiding in the stead of his immediate boss. Although they have since beaten a retreat on that move for fear that the PDP could pull a fast one on them through passing motions or Bills that could put the government in a tight spot, they nonetheless are bidding their time to strike back.
But Saraki had despite the protests refused to abandon Ekweremadu, daring his party as a means of announcing he is a man of himself. But analysts believe that Saraki, being neck deep in the tussle against his party, cannot afford to toy with the bond he shares with Ekweremadu vis-a-vis the PDP, his former party.
Saraki had served two terms as governor of Kwara State, rising to head the governors forum and after his tenure, contested for PDP’s presidential ticket in 2011 against former President Goodluck Jonathan.
He only left PDP for APC in 2013 as part of the great exodus of PDP members who protested against Jonathan and the leadership style of former PDP chairman, Bamanga Tukur.
Having emerged stakeholders in the APC that eventually won the presidential election, the PDP bloc of the party were however seemingly left out when position where being shared at the inception of this administration.
Uncomfortable with trend, Saraki, backed by some APC senators and other like-minds in the APC, refused to back down for the candidate of his party Sen. Lawan, who was a member of defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a core part of the original merger of the APC.
With a strong showing in the Senate, Saraki, who seemingly still has the PDP DNA, relied on the support of the PDP to defy his party.
So, with APC having 60 senators and PDP 49 senators, (dousing the simple majority potential of the APC) it was expedient for Saraki to strike a working relationship with the PDP, which Ekweremadu represents.
Confirming reports of how the PDP plotted their way into the heart of the Senate’s leadership, Ekweremadu during his thanksgiving service said:“About two years ago, nobody would have believed that we will be here talking about Ike Ekweremadu being a Senator again, let alone being the deputy president of the Senate.
“But, by the grace of God, I am today not only the senator representing Enugu-west, but also the deputy president of the Senate.
“We went through very tumultuous primaries that almost divided our state along the line, but we thank God that today Enugu is united and peaceful.
“After the elections, PDP lost control of the National Assembly and many people thought we were finished, but we went into political engineering and I want to thank my colleagues for that long night.
“We decided that when we got to the chamber in the morning, we were going to perform wonders and when the time came for the inauguration of the Senate, I was re-elected deputy president of the Senate. It was the will of God.”
Ekweremadu as Saraki’s deputy, has since emerged the poster boy of the PDP, becoming the arrow head in the onslaught against the APC. Ekweremadu has since been thrust into the heart of the party’s activities, particularly the reform process of the party.
Still, some analysts believe that Ekweremadu’s emergence as Saraki’s deputy perhaps go beyond giving the PDP a foothold in the Senate’s leadership. Some believe that Ekweremadu having acquired robust experience in the politics of the Senate and its leadership would be an asset to Saraki.
Ekweremadu has proven himself to be a worthy ally as seen in his eight year smooth relationship with the former Senate president, David Mark, now embattled as he faces a re-run election to retain his seat, which could make or mar his political credentials.
While the case against Saraki at the CCT continues, it appears the declaration of the Senate president has sealed his relationship with Ekweremadu, further underscoring his resolve to ride out any political storm that would arise in the coming year.
More so, with the national budget at the table of the National Assembly, it is interesting to see whether the declaration by Saraki would re-ignite or spark off a fresh opposition to the existing bond between the Senate president and his deputy.
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