Nigerian senators have declared that there is no vacancy for the Senate president in the 11th National Assembly, expressing confidence that Godswill Akpabio will retain the position.
Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno, who represents the Borno North Senatorial District, made the declaration during plenary on Thursday. He was supported by other lawmakers.
Mr Monguno expressed optimism that most serving senators would return to the Senate after the 2027 general elections.
He was contributing to a discussion following Mr Akpabio’s caution on a debate concerning the criminalisation or decriminalisation of attempted suicide.
A bill seeking to decriminalise attempted suicide and strengthen support for survivors had, on Tuesday, passed second reading in the Senate.
The bill, sponsored by Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC-Cross River South), seeks to establish a legal and institutional framework for suicide prevention, treatment and support for people experiencing psychological distress.
Mr Monguno said, “Insha Allah, by the grace of God, the majority of us are going to make it back to the Senate, and this seat is hereby declared ‘There is no vacancy’.”
“Sir, including the seat of the deputy Senate president, there is no vacancy, including principal officers,” he added.
Supporting the declaration, Cyril Fasuyi (APC-Ekiti North) said Mr Akpabio had already secured the Senate presidency in the 11th assembly.
“I hereby support the motion ably moved by Sen. Monguno that the seat of the Senate President in the 11th Assembly is not open to any contest.
“It is already occupied by Sen. Godswill Obot Akpabio,” Mr Fasuyi said.
Mr Akpabio subsequently sought the opinion of other senators, asking those in support of the declaration to say “aye” and those against it to say “nay.”
The ayes rang out loudly in the chamber, while no audible opposition was recorded.
“I think that settles it,” Mr Akpabio said.
The Senate president, however, cautioned senators against statements that could be misinterpreted outside the chamber, urging commentators to consider the Senate’s final decisions rather than politicise legislative debates.
He said disagreements among lawmakers were part of the legislative process and should not be misrepresented in ways that could damage individuals’ reputations.
Mr Akpabio also rejected attempts to associate terrorism with any particular religion, insisting that terrorists should not be regarded as representatives of Islam or Christianity.
“Terrorists are not Muslims. Terrorists are not Christians. Terrorists are human beings who believe in taking their lives and the lives of others,” he said.
He maintained that Islam and Christianity both forbid suicide, adding that the misinterpretation of religious teachings should not be used to justify suicide bombings.
Mr Akpabio urged Nigerians to avoid politically motivated commentary on legislative debates, stressing that senators were committed to making laws in the national interest.
He also cited his record of supporting Muslims and Christians, saying he had sponsored thousands of adherents of both faiths on religious pilgrimages during his tenure as governor.
Mr Akpabio said his relationships with people of different religious backgrounds reflected his commitment to religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Also contributing, Babangida Hussaini (APC-Jigawa North-West) cited Surah An-Nisa, Chapter 4, Verse 29, of the Quran, saying the holy book prohibited taking one’s own life or killing another person.
“There is no question of anybody taking their own life or another person’s life under any pretext. Allah has completely forbidden that,” he said.
Mr Hussaini also commended Mr Akpabio for constructing a hostel accommodating more than 300 female students at the Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure, in 2010, when he was governor.
The lawmaker said suicide bombings and other acts of violence were not peculiar to any religion, noting that some perpetrators were influenced by psychological challenges and substance abuse.
He identified the influence of hard drugs and other harmful substances on young people as a major concern, calling for efforts to identify and block the sources of such substances entering the country.
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