By Charles Segun Adegbite
(Leadership. July 19, 2024)
The campaign of calumny being peddled in social media against the person and office of the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has been described as misinterpretation of the statutory role of the Majority Leader in a democracy or willful distortion of established legislative rules by those behind it.
In a release from the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, titled: "Setting the record straight" it's disclosed that those behind the campaign are some reactionaries or agents of regressive forces.
The media release reads :
"We have, with grave concerns, noticed campaigns of calumny against the person and office of the Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, CON on social media.
Behind the campaigns are some individuals, who either misconstrued the statutory role of the Majority Leader in a democracy or willfully distorted established legislative rules that charged the Majority Leader with the duty of leading the business of the Parliament, including government bills.
For the records, Senator Bamidele is never a power manipulator, enemy of the people and an obstacle to national peace, as some reactionaries or agents of regressive forces have been peddling in the social media.
As a political actor who enjoys vast public trust, he will never or can never act against the core and strategic interests of Nigeria and Nigerians at any level.
Under Rule 23, the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended) specifically provides for the Office of the Leader of the Senate, who shall be a Senator duly nominated from the political party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.
This is the global best practice, which is not peculiar to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but also to all democracies worldwide.
The rule further establishes that the Leader of the Senate shall (a) lead all government bills; (b) lead the business of the Senate; (c) manage the legislative schedule of the Senate; (d) liaise with Committee Chairmen and other functionaries of the Senate and (e) perform such duties as the President may assign to him.
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Consistent with the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended), therefore, Senator Bamidele is under obligation to lead all government bills, a role he has been playing creditably. By implication, he is responsible for sponsoring and promoting government bills originating from the Executive Arm or its ministries, departments and agencies.
In this light, Senator Bamidele has been able to manage the floor debate on government bills successfully; build consensus across political divides; mobilise support for government bills within the Senate and lead negotiations to gain broader support.
Since his assumption of office on July 4, 2023, Senator Bamidele has equally deployed strategies in navigating the complex legislative procedures to advance government bills and coordinated closely with the Executive Arm to ensure that government bills reflect the administration’s policies and priorities.
Like other principal officers of the Senate, the role of the Leader of the Senate is provided for in the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended).
In Nigeria, particularly, this role has been pivotal in advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR through the National Assembly. And he has played the role well through a combination of strategic planning, negotiation and leadership skills.
Directorate of Media and Public Affairs,
Office of the Senate Leader,
The Senate (The Red Chamber),
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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