Senator Jarigbe Agom speaks on senate minority leadership ambition and Aminu Tambuwal
OpenLife Nigeria reports that Senator Agom Jarigbe, 53, representing Cross River North Senatorial District of Cross River State, has distanced himself from the 10th Senate Minority leader contest.
Senator Jarigbe spoke against the growing insinuations in the public space to the effect that he is being sponsored for the Senate Minority leader contest by former Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike and other governors in the G5 group in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Speaking on Arise TV Friday morning, Senator Jarigbe explained that, at the moment, he is neither in the race nor being sponsored by Wike and his PDP group.
According to the Ibil, Ogoja Local Government Area born Senator, “I am not interested in Senate minority leader contest. G5 governors are not pushing for me. I have not had any interaction with the governors. I have met and discussed with Wike but at no time has he mentioned that to me,” he disclosed.
However, Senator Jarigbe stressed that if afterwards he is persuaded to occupy the position by his colleagues and PDP stakeholders, he will not hesitate to do so in the interest of national service.
Further, Senator Jarigbe Agom disclosed that, at the moment, no one has been officially nominated by the PDP for the position, saying that “There was a stalemate in the minority caucus meeting we had recently. So, no one has been nominated. Anyone who wants to be minority leader should consult widely. The law says minority leader shall be nominated and not elected,” he said.
When reminded that former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt.Honourable Aminu Tambuwal is rumoured to have been endorsed by the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator Jarigbe said he is not aware of Tambuwal’s intention, adding that “ If Tambuwal comes to me, I will weigh options on the basis who is most qualified.”
Jarigbe, an experienced politician was a member of the House of Representatives in the 8th and 9th National Assembly representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency.
In 2020, he contested and won the Cross River North Senatorial bye election. However, it was given to another candidate. In 2021, the Supreme Court had judgement in his favour and upheld him as the senator-elect for Cross River North. He recontested the 2023 senatorial election and was reelected under the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP.
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