Follow Us on Google
From Ighomuaye Lucky
Edo South Senator Neda Imasuen has appealed to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his district to emulate the Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts by granting him a return ticket to the Senate.
The senator made the appeal during a visit to the leadership of the senatorial district in Benin City, the Edo State capital, to declare his intention to return to the Senate.
Senator Imasuen stated that the Edo North and Edo Central Senatorial Districts have both agreed to give their tickets to their serving senators to ensure a seamless return to the National Assembly.
Imasuen noted that upon their return to the Senate, these representatives would automatically become ranking officers. He suggested that the Edo South Senatorial District should borrow a leaf from those two districts so that he, too, can become a ranking officer in the Senate.
The serving senator, while speaking on the importance of ranking status in the House, noted that there are approximately 10 former governors in the chamber. He observed that, despite their influence as former governors, they remain floor members—a situation he hopes to avoid by securing a return ticket.
“As I said before, the Senate is the highest body, the law-making body in the country. We are only 109 senators. And it’s a body that comprises who’s who in Nigeria. And so, it’s not a place for a starter. When a starter goes, he goes to learn.
“And the period of learning is over as far as I’m concerned because we’re in a period now that we have to have a ranking senator because each of the three local governments, whether they’re senatorial districts, whether we agree or not, competes against one another.
“And now we’re beginning to change ourselves when Edo North are sending their senator back to the rank. Edo Central are sending their senator back to the rank. And Edo South says they want to send a fresher? I mean, he’s just going to be on the sidelines and watch things happen, and he cannot influence it. And so, it is in our own interest.
Other News
“And like the scorecard I’ve given them, I haven’t gone there to warm the bench. I can agreeably say that you cannot go to the Senate and not know who is who.
“And I chair one of the most sensitive committees in the chambers, in the Senate. And with that, I have public national exposure, as it were. And thank God I’m also close to the leadership.
“So, going back to rank is an added advantage to this. I have a voice. And I speak my voice. And so, I appeal to them to put sentiments aside.
“Let us do things in accordance with what will benefit us as the Edo South Senatorial District because if we do that, the only conclusion we can come to is that Senator Neda Imasuen should go back to her rank to be able to represent Edo South properly,” Imasuen said.
He further stated that occupying a vital position at the National Assembly at the moment was possible because there were many first-timers in the House, stressing that such an opportunity might not present itself a second time. Consequently, he urged the leadership to do everything in their power to ensure his return as a ranking officer.
He listed his various achievements and promised to capitalise on them.
Orobosa Omo-Ojo stated that Senator Neda Imasuen is currently reaching out to other contestants, asking them to step down their ambitions to allow him to serve a second term.
Earlier, the senatorial leader and former deputy governor of the state, Pius Odubu, urged Senator Neda Imasuen to conduct his campaign peacefully and avoid the use of calumny.
