Third Term Agenda, How did your senator voted?

Culled from vanguard Online
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/headline/f112032006.html

Third Term: How senators’ll vote
Emmanuel Aziken,
Posted to the Web: Sunday, March 12, 2006




*Supporters, opposition woo undecided 15
*71 in support, 22 against
Supporters of elongated tenure for President Olusegun Obasanjo and their antagonists are in a race against time for the votes of about sixteen wavering senators in the bid to actualise or scupper the proposed constitutional amendment for a third term tenure for the president and governors.

Sunday Vanguard tracking of senators based on comments, antecedents and political circumstances showed that not less than seventy-one of them are inclined to vote for the amendment and twenty two determined against it. There are sixteen senators, mainly from the North, who, at press time, were yet undecided and their likely voting intentions remained unknown.

Seventy three senators representing two-third of the 109 senators are required to pass the constitutional amendment in the Senate.

Only last Thursday, the Constitution Review Committee of the National Assembly had endorsed the proposal to amend the Constitution to provide three terms of four years each for the president and governors.


Some senators who confirmed their voting intentions as projected by Sunday Vanguard nevertheless said that the possibility of decisions being altered were very likely in the face of what they alleged were mouth watering offers.


One senator from the South-South already projected to vote yes, however, pleaded to be cast as undecided, jokingly noting that he wanted to be lobbied! All three senators from Kwara State are believed to be yet undecided in the face of alleged intensive lobby on Dr. Olusola Saraki, the pre-eminent factor in the political affairs of the state. Saraki’s group, the Northern Union, has been mounting a campaign against the third term proposal which the group believes will deny the return of the presidency to a Northerner.

Opposition to the third term agenda amongst southern senators is limited to a few senators in the South-East with only Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, known to oppose it, reportedly on principle.
Support for the third term amendment in the North is surprisingly in the affirmative with many senators from the area kowtowing to their governors. Senators from Jigawa, Borno and Yobe States, even though in the heart of the core North, are almost all in support and were not, opposing it owing to their own gubernatorial ambitions.

The race to win the support of the undecided sixteen senators is generating much interest with repeated allegations of financial inducements being offered to members. Last week, as members of the Senator Ibrahim Mantu-led Constitution Review Committee arrived for the compilation of the reports of the public hearings at the just concluded retreat in Port-Harcourt, there were allegations of each member getting an allowance of $37,000.
As the week dragged to an end, the figure for inducement was allegedly raised to N20 million per Committee member. Sunday Vanguard analysis of the voting intentions of the lawmakers is as follows:

SENATOR LIKELY VOTE COMMENT

ABIA
Uche Chukwumerije No Implacable leader of the anti-third
term agenda in Senate
Adolphus Wabara Yes Will continue to appease Aso Rock
Villa, perhaps it may yield a reprieve
from the woes of the Wabara family.
Chris Adighije U Close associate of Governor Kalu,
but could spring a surprise as
Obasanjo is said to admire him for
his honesty.

ADAMAWA
Iya Abubakar No Inspirational leader of the Northern
establishment and will not rock the
boat.
Jubril Aminu Yes If not, but to spite Vice President
Atiku Abubakar
Silas Zwingina Yes Will vote yes despite his
gubernatorial ambition as he could
bank on Gov. Boni Haruna going
down with Atiku

AKWA IBOM
Effiong Bob Yes Will not mind Governor Attah
getting another term in office
Bob Ekarika No He has his eyes on replacing Attah
and would not vote to sustain him.
Udoma Udo Udoma No Will on principle and family honour
vote no.

ANAMBRA
Ben Obi No Together with Chukwumerije lead
the anti-third term crusade in the
Senate.
Ugochukwu Uba Yes It is a family project.
Joy Emodi U Strong woman of principle who got
her Senate seat fighting the Ubas and
Governor Ngige but with PDP
structure firmly under the Ubas, she
is believably under strong pressure of
supporters to vote yes.

BAUCHI
Abubakar Maikafi U
Baba Tela Yes Bauchi State position
Bala Adamu Yes Will align his gubernatorial
aspiration with State position of
four more years for Goveror Muazu.

BAYELSA
John Kojo Brambaifa Yes
Initami Rufus Spiff Yes
David Brigidi Yes

BENUE
Daniel Saror No Will vote no on principle.
David Mark Yes Espirite de corps. When duty calls,
Brig-Gen. Mark could take
instructions from Obasanjo, his
former C-in-C.
Ati Yes Even if it will hurt Atiku, but could
benefit his immediate godfather,
GovernorGeorge Akume.
BORNO
Omar Hambagda Yes A strong yes from the alleged author
of the third term and himself from a
rabid pro-third term State
Mohammed Aba Aji Yes Recent statements on stability of
polity indicate his support.
Mohammed Daggash Yes Would have done anything up to
voting No to spite Governor Sheriff,
but with his Senate seat still dicey,
will not want to create more enemies
in Villa to join SAS. Will also be
prompted to vote yes in for the sake
of his friend, billionaire Aliko Dangote.

CROSS RIVER
Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN)Yes A close associate of Governor Duke
plays according to the rules in Cross
River politics which is that
continuity is good.
Bassey Ewa-Henshaw Yes Businessman, would want ongoing
reforms to continue
Greg Ngaji Yes Even though allegedly with a
gubernatorial ambition, will give heed
to the Cross River State political
establishment.

DELTA
James Manager Yes Close associate of Governor Ibori
and would cave in to Ibori’’s strong
support for a third term. A third
term could preserve the Governor in
office and probably keep him away
from Obasanjo’’s trouble.
Patrick Osakwe Yes System man.
Felix Ibru Yes

EBONYI
Chris Nshi Yes State position
Emmanuel Agboti Yes Will bury gubernatorial ambition to
maintain State position and maintain
Senate seat in 2007
Julius Ucha Yes State position.

EDO
Daisy Danjuma Yes Hubby’s (Gen. Theophilus
Danjuma) wish, Chief Tony
Anenih’s instruction, State desire.
Osherienmen Osunbor Yes
Kassim Isa Oyofo Yes To preserve the system

EKITI
James Kolawole Yes State position
Clement Awoyelu Yes State position
Bode Olowoporoku Yes Could have voted no to spite
Governor Fayose, but would
support in order not to give his
enemies a strong reason to hang him.

ENUGU
Ike Ekweremadu Yes To preserve the system
Fidelis Okoro Yes If available will vote yes.
Ken Nnamani --- Will likely not vote unless there is a
tie and may not vote in support of
the majority.

GOMBE
As‘ad Mohammed Yes Will vote along State’s official
position.
Haruna Garba ` No
Tawar Wada Yes Will vote along State’s official position

IMO
Ifeanyi Ararume Yes Acclaimed linkman for the third term
project,. allegedly used the influence
of the Southern Senators Forum
which he leads for that purpose.
Reward could be Imo governorship
in the face of Governor Udenwa’s
alleged bad record in Aso Rock Villa.
Eze Ajoku Yes Candidate of the Abuja politicians
expected not to rock the boat.
Arthur Nzeribe Yes Will vote yes for political survival,
though he is unusually sidelined in
such a controversial project as the
third term campaign.

JIGAWA
Muhammad Ibrahim Yes State’s (or rather Governor
Turaki’s) position
Bello Maitama Yusuf Yes -do-
Dalha Ahmed Danzomo Yes -do-

KADUNA
Ahmed Aruwa No Thrown out of JCRC for his alleged stubborn opposition to third term project.
Isaiah Balat Yes Though with gubernatorial ambition, Balat could under the circumstances vote yes.
Dalhatu Tafida Yes Allegedly a point man of the third term project in the North

KANO
U. K. Umar U Umar had been thought to be a
passionate anti-third term activist,
but some colleagues say he is playing
to the gallery of the Talakawas.
Bello Gwarzo Yes A system man, friend of El-Rufai,
Rabiu Kwankwanso, would vote yes..
Rufai Hanga No Kano sentiment

KATSINA
Umar Tsauri Yes Would vote yes under pressure from
the Yar‘Adua family.
Kanti Bello No One of the trusted anti-third term
activists in the Senate.
Abu Ibrahim No With some political links to Atiku,
Ibrahim also has his own
gubernatorial ambition which the
third term amendment could hinder.

KEBBI
Farouk Bello U
Usman Sani No Third term project could scupper the
presidential ambition of his close
associate, Gen Ibrahim Babangida
Sani Kamba U Kamba could vote either way depending on the lobby effort of the yea and nay campaigns.

KOGI
Tunde Ogbeha Yes Espirite de corps. Gen. Ogbeha
would vote yes only if he believes
his former C-in-C., Obasanjo, really
wants a third term
Mohammed Ohaire Yes A former MMRD activist, he is
being through carrot and stick wooed
back to the mainstream.

Nicholas Ugbane Yes Though sitting on the ANPP bench,
he is alleged to be the points-man of
the PDP chairman, Dr. Ahmadu Ali,
in the Senate.

KWARA
Ahmed Mohammed U There are allegations that pro-third
term activists are bringing undue
pressure including blackmail on
Oloye to get the votes of the Kwara
legislators all of who will do as he
instructs. But son, Governor Bukola,
seems not to be forging along with
Oloye’s anti-third term chorus
Simon Ajibola U --do--
Gbemi Saraki U As daddy pleases.

LAGOS
Olurunnimbe Mamora No Frontline anti-third term activist.
Tokunbo Afikuyomi No
Musiliu Obanikoro Yes Frontline pro-third term activist

NASARAWA
Emmanuel Okpede Yes Even though with his own
gubernatorial ambition, pressures
from Governor Adamu would swing
his vote to the yeas.
Abubakar Sodangi Yes Trusted ally of Governor Adamu
John Danboyi Yes Would succumb to Governor
Adamu’s injunction.

NIGER
Idris Kuta No Long term desire is power shift to
North
Isa Mohammed U Between state’s crave for IBB and
personal loyalty to Obasanjo and PDP
Nuhu Aliyu No Seeks power shift to North

OGUN
Iyabo Anisulowo Yes Home turf for third term. Life cannot
be better for Ogun State with
another term.
Tokunbo Ogunbanjo Yes Third term activist
Ibikunle Amosun Yes Obasanjo’s Senator

ONDO
Gbenga Ogunniya Yes Gives inspiration to the third term
campaign
Titus Olupitan U AD Senator, unapproachable, does
not speak in the Senate, views
unknown
Hosea Ehinlawo Yes Will support PDP direction.

OSUN
Iyiola Omisore Yes Third term strategist
Felix Ogunwale Yes Enforcer for the third term project
Akinlabi Olasunkanmi Yes

OYO
Abiola Ajimobi U Ajimobi has gubernatorial ambition
of his own and would be hard
stretched to support it.
Robert Kolesho Yes
Teslim Folarin Yes Strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu’s right hand man in the Senate.

PLATEAU
Ibrahim Mantu YES
For him nothing better has happened to Nigeria than Obasanjo
Timothy Adudu U Could have voted yes, but at 40 years, he has his future bright and thus remains undecided.
Cosmas Niagwan Yes A retired military officer, takes instructions from Gen. Obasanjo

RIVERS
Azuta Mbata Yes
Lee Maeba Yes Would do anything to please Governor Odili
Ibiapuye Martyns Yellowe Yes

SOKOTO
Mohammed Maccido No On the basis of principle
Umar Dahiru No Desires power shift to North
Sule Yari Gandi U Watching the situation

TARABA
Abdulazeez Ibrahim Yes System’s man, a yes vote could
soften the zeal of the alleged bribery
case against him.
Saleh Danboyi Yes The only temptation to vote no
would be to spite Governor Nyame,
but lacks the capacity to fight
Nyame and Abuja at the same time.
Ambuno Zik Sunday Yes

YOBE
Usman Albashir U Has gubernatorial ambition to
succeed Bukar Ibrahim. But with
Governor Bukar now a fervent third
term or life term enthusiast, Albashir
is undecided.
Mamman Ali No Has gubernatorial ambition but
Bukar is now a stumbling block.
Jisalo Darani Yes

ZAMFARA
Saidu Dansadau No One of the committed anti-third term
activists in the Senate.
Lawali Shuaibu No ANPP leader
Mohammed Anka No

FCT
Isa Maina Yes Retired army intelligence officer and
one of the Senate’s most reticent
members. Obasanjo’s returning
officer will vote in support of his C-
in-C.