A coalition of 109 civil society organizations, CSOs, in Nigeria has thrown its weight behind the candidacy of Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan for the President of the 8th Senate, saying the government of General Muhammadu Buhari deserves a credible leader in the upper chamber.
The group in a statement signed jointly by presidents of International Youth Development Initiative, IYDI, and African Youth International Development Foundation, AFYIDEF, Mr Peter Ayim and Dr. Tunji Asaolu respectively, and made available to the press in Abuja, said: “The expectations of Nigerians from this emerging atmosphere of change are that General Buhari should be allowed to work only with people who Nigerians can see and perceive to be people of character, content and capacity across board.
“The President-elect's arguable posture of zero-tolerance for corruption and impunity will be reduced to rubbish if people with questionable character and outstanding pending cases of corruption at different levels are allowed to hold responsible position of authority as prominent and important as the office of the Senate President under this administration.”
As stated by the group, of all the contenders for the position, Senator Lawan is the most qualified, adding that all his years in the National Assembly, he has not been exposed to executive political recklessness and impunity and has been consistent.