Some governors have indicated interest in the 2019 senatorial election after their tenure. Currently, there are 15 ex-governors in the Senate, and political pundits are of the opinion that some of the governors only go to the upper legislative chamber to “rest,” describing it as a situation which has gross implications for the future of the country, JESUSEGUN ALAGBE writes
While he is rounding off his eight-year two-term tenure as the governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has declared his ambition to run for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2019 general elections.
The governor made known his intention last month, even though he had earlier stated that he would not run for any elective position in 2019, but would only be interested in who would succeed him after leaving office.
On why he changed his mind so quickly, Okorocha — widely regarded as one of the controversial governors in the country — had said it would be a “disservice” to the nation if he failed to contest for the senatorial position, considering the “wealth of experience” he had garnered as a governor for eight years.
“I have decided to run for the Imo West Senatorial District because if I don’t, bad people will take the position. If my name appears on the ballot paper as contesting for the Senate, it will boost the All Progressives Congress’ chances in the state. And many from my zone have said they will not contest if I am interested,” the 55-year-old governor said.
Okorocha, who is deeply rooting for his son-in-law and chief of staff, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him as the governor of Imo State, also told his deputy, Mr. Eze Madumere, to contest in next year’s senatorial election.
Madumere had, however, said he was only interested in running for the governorship of the state, vowing to pursue his ambition to a logical conclusion.
Okorocha isn’t the only governor nursing the ambition of contesting in the 2019 general elections as a senator; his counterpart in Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, who is also rounding off his eight-year tenure next year, had stated that he would contest for the Oyo South Senatorial District in 2019 after completing his tenure as governor.
Ajimobi had earlier represented his senatorial district between 2003 and 2007 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy, and just like Okorocha, the Oyo State governor had also previously stated that he would not contest in any political position after his governorship tenure.
But last month, he said he had changed his mind because he was being encouraged to return to the Red Chamber by his party stakeholders.
When his eight-year two-term tenure ends in November 2018, there are insinuations that the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, might also contest for the Lagos West Senatorial District in the 2019 general elections.
Although they have the fundamental rights to contest for any elective position in the country, political pundits and social commentators, however, frowned at a situation whereby governors, upon the completion of their tenure, turn the Senate into a “retirement home.”
“This phenomenon is not good for our democracy. Some of the governors already spent eight years in their states, so what’s the point of going to the National Assembly again?” asked the Executive Director of Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre, Prof. (Mrs.) Patricia Donli.Click to continue reading.
