By Jubril Bada

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Former member of the Senate from Ondo State, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere, has described the amended standing orders to stop first time senators from contesting the position of either the Senate President or the Deputy Senate President as unconstitutional rules.

The former lawmaker, who said this in an interview with The Hope further referred to the amended standing orders as draconian and obnoxious rule for the selfish interest of  senators who have spent a minimum of one term in the Senate.

According to him, the senators who have spent a minimum of one term in the Senate amended the rules and regulations of the upper chamber for them to continue enjoying the juicy committees and the principal offices of the Senate.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the amendment of the Senate standing orders after majority of the senators supported it through voice vote at plenary.

Kunlere explained that it was ridiculous for Senate to have debarred freshers (Senators) from becoming Senate President or Deputy Senate President provided military and somebody that has never become governor can become president.

Kunlere, opined that the first- time Senator would succeed in becoming the Senate President on the day they are allowed to out number the senators who have spent a minimum of one term to amend the Senate standing orders.

As far as the Senate is still having the support of the presidency, he said senator of a minimum of one term will continue to survive in producing Senate president and the deputy president.

“But the day the presidency will be opposing such a rule that will be the end of such Senate leadership.

“It is a matter of time because it has happened in one of the State Houses of Assembly where first-time lawmaker became speaker. It will happen on the day 1freshers get their hearts together to vote them out and make one of them Senate president.

“There are some people from parliament , House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and even councilor as first-time senators that are well rooted in the rules of the parliament to become senate president or deputy senate,” he stated

Kunlere, who pointed out that the rules of the Senate cannot override the constitution of the country said the constitution states that one of them shall be elected to become senate president.