Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday said that Nigerians are eagerly awaiting how President Muhammadu Buhari will handle the serious allegations of bribery leveled against the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, over the conduct of the just concluded primary elections in the party.
Tag: Abubakar Bukola Saraki
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Minimum wage: FG, Labour should find middle ground, says Saraki
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday appealed to the Federal Government and the organized labour to take steps to find a middle ground to avert the looming industrial action by members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over new minimum wage.
Saraki also urged Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) to work together in order to avert the proposed workers’ strike in the interest of the country.
The Senate President in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, asked the two sides to demonstrate sensitivity and concern for the plight of ordinary Nigerians who are already battling with the harsh economic conditions in the country.
He expressed appreciation for the patience displayed by the labour leaders as he noted that the issue of the new minimum wage could have been resolved long before now.
Saraki said, “My Appeal is for the two sides to immediately move fast, shift from their extreme positions and create a new middle ground in the negotiations for the new minimum wage. The shift in positions can be done even before the period of the commencement of the proposed strike action so that we do not further create tension within the economy.
“At this point, the interest of the people should be paramount in our minds. Any labour strike will cause inconvenience and discomfort to our people. While the government and labour are representing the interest of the people, it is important to also ensure we avoid any action that will not show sensitivity and sensibility to the plight of the people”, Saraki stated.
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Akpabio to Saraki: Senate must be restructured, reconstituted
The Senate resolution to sheath the sword may have broken down as the former Senate minority leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Wednesday openly canvassed the immediate reconstitution of the upper chamber because there is need for.
Akpabio said that the Senate should immediately be restructured and reconstituted to reflect the numerical strength of parties in the upper chamber.
He said that there was need for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to assume leadership of the Senate.
Akpabio stated this at a press briefing after altercation in the Senate chamber.
Senator Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West) vowed not make any further contributions in plenary as long as Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) continued to preside over the affairs of the Senate.
The former Akwa Ibom State Governor asked Saraki to take a cue from his example and step down as Senate President.
He said that it is on record that he tendered his resignation letter as minority leader when he defected from the PDP to APC.
He noted that in all sphere of endeavours as well as in democratic setting, “the majority must always preside over the minority.”
He added that while the minority should have its say, the majority should have its way for the peace to prevail.
The Senate, he insisted, must be properly constituted while Senators must sit according to political parties in the chamber.
According to him, “You cannot have 10 senators presiding over the affairs of 80 senators and expect peace to reign.”
Akpabio said, “On the other side, having me move from the PDP to the APC, I think it is a jolly good movement and I am excited that I have a much greater opportunity to relate directly with the government and not my voice to be heard from a partisan point of view.
“Being part of the ruling party now, whatever advice or contributions I will make will not be looked at with suspicion. They will now know that I am saying it from a patriotic point of view and for the fact that I want things to work better.
“I moved in national interest. I saw a kind of slight towards disorder, where many of my colleagues saw defection as a weapon against the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“I don’t believe that we should bring a government into being without supporting that government to succeed. If the administration slides and Nigeria slides into anarchy, it is our children that will suffer. I moved to stabilise the polity.
“I moved from PDP to APC, to make sure that this government works before election. It should not be all about election; it should be first about Nigeria. Let others also move in national interest.
“I did not just move like that, I was a (Minority) Leader in the Senate. I resigned my position in order to show that, yes, I meant business. Let others who also have positions in the Senate who wish to also cross carpet from one political party to another also resign their positions and take a cue from what Godswill Akpabio did.
“There is the need for us to restructure the Senate. Behind where I sat today, my very good friend, distinguished Senator Shittu; it was after the little noise in the Senate that he told me that he was now in the PDP and I said ‘why are you sitting here?’
“Don’t you think there is the need for us to restructure the Senate? PDP will sit on a side, APGA will sit where they are supposed to, and the ruling party which still forms the majority will still sit where they are supposed to sit.
“The leadership should be restructured in a way that the majority can have their way and the minority will have their say. That is the practice all over modern democracies.
“You cannot have a political party with 10 members, another with 80 members, and the 10 members will now produce the leadership.
“Does it happen anywhere in the world? Nigeria is not different. We are running a democracy. That is what I meant when I said I would speak when the Senate is well restructured and reconstituted.”
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Senate in rowdy session over sitting arrangement
…APC, PDP Senators square up for a fight
For over 30 minutes Wednesday common sense took flight in the Senate.
Tempers rose. Political party affiliation rather than national interest took better part of senators.
It all started with a Point of Order raised by the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North East, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.
Akpan (PDP) specifically raised Order 43 which deals with personal explanation under which a senator is allowed to speak about himself and his constituents.
The Akwa Ibom North East lawmaker informed his colleagues about alleged looming crisis in Akwa Ibom State.
He claimed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state was allegedly plotting to unleash mayhem in the state that would possibly lead to the cancellation of the governorship election in 2019.
He further alleged that the aim of APC in the state was to instigate the cancellation of the governorship election in the state in order to deploy federal might to cause challenge of leadership in the state.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, ruled that the information given by Akpan was “well noted.”
Senator Godswill Akpabio (APC Akwa Ibom North West) who appeared to be agitated by Akpan’s information was angling where he sat to respond to what Akpan said.
Saraki asked Akpabio to go to his seat before he could be recognised to speak.
The Senate President said that Akpabio cannot speak from a seat that is not his.
Saraki added that there was no microphone were Akpabio sat.
Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan reminded Saraki that there was no formal sitting arrangement in the chamber.
He said that Akpabio has the right to speak from where he was since the leadership of the chamber has failed to ensure formal sitting arrangement.
Lawan noted that he has raised the issue of a formal sitting arrangement with the Senate President without the expected result.
The Senate Leader who insisted that the chamber must be guided by its rules added that “we must have sitting arrangement.”
Lawan said that there had been movement across party lines with the possibility that more people would still move as they deem fit.
Saraki said that the Clerk to the Senate, Nelson Ayewo, was directed to allocate seats to senator.
The Senate President said that he believed that the new sitting arrangement would be completed next week.
As the exchange of words between Saraki and Lawan continued, Akpabio was visibly boiling where he sat.
He insisted on being allowed to speak. Saraki stood his ground that Akpabio should go to his seat before he could be allowed to speak.
Senator Dino Melaye came into the picture.
The Kogi West Senator attempted to shout Akpabio down.
Akpabio got irritated and was also shouting on top of his voice.
Confusion descended in the chamber as other senators joined the fray.
Chamber decorum momentarily became casualty.
Attempt to restore decorum was made by Senator Emmanuel Paulker who reminded his colleagues that Akpan raised Order 43 (personal explanation) which did not give room for contribution or discussion by other senators.
The Bayelsa State senator added that by relying on Order 43, Akpabio was not entitled to respond to what Akpan said.
Attempts to calm frayed nerves failed.
Lawan moved to confer with Saraki apparently about the way forward.
Saraki explained that his position was that Akpabio should go to a seat where there is a microphone.
He said that Lawan was not fair to him by insinuating that he did not want Akpabio to speak.
Lawan said that APC must not be discriminated against on the floor of the Senate.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, raised Order 11(1)(2).
Ekweremadu said that every senator has the right to speak for himself and the people he represents.
Senates Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC) and Kabiru Marafa (APC) began to shout on top of their voices.
Ekweremadu was forced to sit down. He later explained that the rules of the chamber made provision for sitting arrangement.
Akpabio took the floor and said that the seat he sat was allocated to him by the Senate Clerk.
He added that the embarrassment he received was uncalled for.
Saraki disagreed and asked the Clerk to confirm if he allocated the seat to Akpabio.
The Clerk said that when Akpabio requested to sit on the seat, he informed him that there was no microphone on the seat.
Ayewo said that Akpabio insisted on sitting on the seat.
He said that he had no choice than to allow Akpabio to sit where he wanted.
After Ayewo’s explanation, Saraki gave Akpabio the floor to speak.
The former governor of Akwa Ibom State promptly demanded for an apology “for the unwarranted embarrassment I received today.”
He added that even the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) apologized to Nigerians.
He concluded that “until the Senate sitting arrangement is properly constituted I rest my case.”
That appeared to be the end of the matter until Ndume revived it by tendering apology for preventing Ekweremadu from speaking.
Ndume said that he has nothing against anybody.
Lawan also apologized for the altercation on the floor.
He said that his position should not be misinterpreted as if he took side with APC senators on the issue.
Lawan noted that they should always see themselves as one body working for the good of the country.
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2019: ‘PDP North Central leaders to field consensus aspirant’
Leaders of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the North-Central zone have resolved to present a consensus candidate for the forthcoming 2019 Presidential Elections, Director General, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Campaign Organization, Hon. Wakil Mohammed, has said.
Mohammed said in a statement that the leaders also insisted that the time was ripe for the zone to produce the next president of Nigeria since it has competent, capable and experienced aspirants that can improve the fortune of the country and her people.
It said that the resolution was taken at a meeting held Wednesday evening at Grand Ibro Hotel, Abuja, attended by party leaders from the region, which consisted of former governors, former and serving legislators, members of the business community and the academia, where they were briefed by Saraki, on his intention to seek the Office of the President.
It noted that however, the choice of who the consensus aspirant from the zone will be is yet to be decided.
It said that the PDP leaders from the region also emphasized that it is the turn of the North Central region to produce the President of Nigeria, while also mandating the leaders to engage their counterparts in other geo-political zones with a view to convincing them to support the consensus aspirants that will be produced by from the North-central.
It said that speaking to the leaders from the region, Saraki, stated that the North Central region has been a stabilising factor in Nigeria, and from previous experience, it is clear that its leaders have the capacity and will power to unite and develop Nigeria.
It quoted Saraki to have added: “Our zone has been the stabilizing factor in Nigeria for many years, and it is clear that we need to continue to fight for the soul of our nation. The 2019 polls is not just an election, it is about winning the soul of Nigeria. Right now, to me, and I’m sure to all the other contestants under the umbrella of our great party, nothing is more important than for us than to rescue our people from the clutch of poverty, insecurity and ensure that we bring development to all Nigerians.
Read Also: PDP extends sale of nomination forms
“As we move forward, we all need to be courageous. We must provide compassionate leadership for our people. We must protect our people. We must give them live and hope. Our people are asking: “What did we do wrong?” Therefore, right now, we need to be courageous. We must provide competent and compassionate leadership for this country.”
It said that Saraki also emphasised that leaders from the North Central have demonstrated great capacity to lead, saying that they have always performed well on national assignments.
“In the last three years, we have struggled and worked to keep the legislature working for the Nigerian people. We need to now lead the country in the right direction. We must create a country that gives opportunity for people to thrive. We need good leadership. This is because, many of the problems that this country is facing is as a result of low performance capacity. We need people who can search for and find the solutions to our problems. We need somebody who can make the country grow, and I believe, that I am this person,” the former Kwara State Governor said.
The Senate President was said to have called for the leaders to rally around individuals who have a track record of providing competent and united leadership, stating that a candidate from the North Central would help to bridge the divides across the nation.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this country will only change when those who know what to do are put in charge and when we have the good leadership who know what needs to be done to make the right change. Nigerians need a unifier – somebody who can unite the country and grow the country. At this time, I believe that it is a Presidential candidate from the North Central that can do this for Nigeria.
“Leaders from the North Central need to work together to ensure that a PDP candidate emerges from the zone. It is clear that the only way to achieve unity in the country is when you have a leader who can manage the differences and galvanise our energy towards achieving development.
It is not about where you come from, but it is about what you can do for our country. If there is anybody who can do better than those of us in the North Central Zone, let them stand up. It is important that in October, our delegates from the North Central should work to ensure that a North Central candidate emerges – and they should work together with delegates from across the country to ensure that a North Central candidate emerges.We request your support,” he said.
It said that in his opening remarks, the zonal vice chairman of the North-Central, Mr. Theophilus Dakah Shan, agreed that it was true that the North Central serves as a cardinal point for where Nigeria will go.
“Although we are called a conglomerate of minority groups, we are a powerful conglomerate that believes in the unity and stability of Nigeria. We have seen how David Mark held the Senate together for eight years, in the same way that Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has shown courage, leadership and competence in stabilising the 8th Senate over the past three years — which has helped it to record significant achievements. Saraki is representing the North Central region very well”, he stated.
In his closing remarks, former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, said that the North Central region had to unite, because the insecurity in the country is felt most in the zone.
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No date for National Assembly resumption, says Saraki, Dogara
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Tuesday said that no date has been fixed to reconvene the two chambers of the National Assembly to consider the budget for the 2019 elections.
Saraki and Dogara in a joint statement informed Senators, House members and Nigerians that no date has been set for the reconvening of the Senate and the House of Representatives to consider the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2019 elections budget request forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 17, 2018.
Read Also:INEC Budget: NASS cannot reconvene now -Saraki, Dogara
The statement by the media aides of Saraki and Dogara, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Turaki Hassan respectively, said that “the leadership of the two chambers had met and agreed to reconvene to consider the proposal this week before which a meeting between the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Electoral Matters and officials of the INEC must have held on or before Monday August 13, 2018.”
The joint committees, it said, were also expected to meet with the joint Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Loans and Debts on the Eurobond loan request after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers.”
“However, no such meeting had taken place yet as a result of which both Senate and House of Representatives cannot reconvene as there is no report to consider.
“Until the Committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj,” the statement said.
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Why we must continue to defend democracy, says Saraki
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday reiterated the resolve of the members of the National Assembly to continue to protect and defend the country’s democracy.
Saraki stated this in Abuja while addressing the Chairmen and leaders of 45 registered political parties who paid him a solidarity visit at the National Assembly.
Read Also:Saraki should resign as a matter of honour, says Sagay
The Senate President told the party leaders led by the National Chairman of the Democratic United Party (DUP), Chief Perry Okpara, that as representatives of the people, lawmakers will continue to play their role to ensure the rule of law.
He said that it’s also the duty of lawmakers to ensure that human rights are respected in the country at all times.
Okpara had earlier told the President of the Senate that the visit was to show their solidarity with the leadership of the National Assembly for standing up in defence of democracy in the face of the recent siege in the complex by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Saraki said: “I thank you for taking out time to be with us here today. Thank you for the solidarity message and we truly appreciate it as it encourages us to further do what we are doing to defend democracy in our great country.
“The big thank you goes to all Nigerians that stood with us and have come to support us here in the National Assembly because in supporting us, you are supporting our democracy.
“We will continue to defend it. We will continue to ensure that there is respect for the rule of law and that due process is followed across the country.”
Saraki further expressed optimism that the perpetrators of the siege to the National Assembly have learnt their lesson from the wide condemnation that continued to trail the anti-democratic action.
He said: “It is our hope that those anti-democratic forces have leant their lesson in the last few days, to listen to the voice of Nigerians – men, women, boys and girls – all across the country, who stood firmly to reject their unconstitutional and anti-democratic action.
“Their voice is loud and clear. I believe we must respect it. We must respect those that have made sacrifices for us to be here.
“Some have paid the ultimate price and we must respect that and ensure that Nigeria, as a country, is a shining example for other democratic nations to emulate. We must not allow anything that will tarnish the image of this country and the democracy we have worked so hard to birth and sustain,” he stated.
The leader of delegation, Chief Okpara, condemned the DSS siege to the National Assembly.
He noted that as national leaders of political parties in the country, “we cannot sit by and watch our country slide into the Hobbesian state of anarchy, where life has become short, brutish and lawless.”
Okpara added, “We unequivocally condemn the use of agencies of state – Nigeria Police, DSS, EFCC – to clampdown on the opposition and stifle democracy as demonstrated in the siege on the residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, the siege on the National Assembly, and the siege on the Benue State House of Assembly.”
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Plot to reconvene Senate tale by moonlight, says Melaye
The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye on Sunday described alleged attempts to reconvene the Senate before the adjourned date as “tale by the moonlight.”
Melaye also said that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole, should be told there was no crown in the National Assembly for anybody to wear.
Indications that the Senate might be reconvened before the October 25thadjourned date are growing by the day.
The “reconvene Senate” proponents call attention to the need to approve the pending Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) budget for the fast approaching 2019 elections.
Those opposed to the idea fear that it might be a ploy to unseat the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Melaye told reporters in Abuja that “the talk to reconvene the Senate amounts to tale by the moonlight, a serious joke.”
He noted that Senate’s rule 12 is very clear that only presiding officers can reconvene the Senate.
He said, “We adjourned properly to a date and time. In their myopic thinking they forgot the rules.
“The rules and proceedings of the last sitting were also approved. By our rules only the Senate President or the Deputy Senate President can reconvene the Senate outside the adjourned date.
“It is laughable that some people in their myopic and skewed thinking should contemplate that the Senate should be reconvened by just anybody. It will not happen. It is an exercise in futility to impress Mr. President.”
Melaye who is a frontline supporter of the Senate President added that “whatever is illegal will continue and remain illegal.”
He recalled that only a few days ago, the Court of Appeal ruled that the National Assembly has the power to set election sequence contrary to the thinking in some quarters.
On majority in the Senate, he said that the PDP has clear majority in the upper chamber.
Melaye who insisted that “APC senators are merely grandstanding” noted that APC Senators have visited the Presidential Villa four times in one week as if the Senate chamber has been moved to the Villa.”
He said that the issue of which party has majority would be settled on resumption of the Senate when seats would be allocated to members with their names and party attached.
On the call by Oshiomhole that Saraki should return APC’s crown, Melaye said the APC chairman forgot that crowns are wore in towns, villages, communities and kingdoms.
He said that “nobody wears crown at the National Assembly because the seat of the Senate President is not hereditary.”
He added that the seat of Senate President is the seat of the Senate President of Nigeria.
Nigerians, he said, should not forget that the PDP Senators gave the Senate President seat to Saraki and not APC Senators.
“Nigerians should not also forget that Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, won the seat through democratic means,” he said.
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APC’s query to Saraki after thought, says Senator
Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim, Wednesday described as an afterthought and an academic exercise, the query issued to Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ibrahim said that the APC leadership forgot too soon the announcement Saraki made on Tuesday to the entire world about his defection from the APC to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Read Also:Saraki, Senators, Reps’ defection immature – Cleric
Ibrahim said in a statement that Saraki does not need to answer a query that has become redundant and overtaken by events.
He said, “However, it is pertinent to state that the issues raised in the query were in conflict with and complete violation of our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of association. All Senators who have defected from APC did so on their own free will. As matured men and women, we took the decision to leave the APC by ourselves. We did so because we felt that the party no longer represents the ideals that we once fought for.
“The Senators are political leaders in their own rights and they represent their different senatorial districts. So, it is preposterous for the APC leadership to write that Saraki should be held responsible for the decision of my colleagues concerning their political careers.
“Is it Saraki that caused the antagonism between Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai which led the Senator to defect? Is it Saraki that caused the problem between Kogi Governor and Sen. Dino Melaye when the party appeared helpless in calling the governor to order as he moves to annihilate the Senator who contributed so much to his election? Is it Saraki that compelled a man of Sen. Abdullahi Danbaba of Sokoto’s standing to defect? Is it Saraki who forced Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu from Oyo State to defect? Can Saraki be blamed for Sen. Abdulazeez Murtala Nyako’s defection after the Senator had complained about the lack of equity and inclusiveness in the APC in Adamawa State? One can give so many examples to demonstrate how the non-committal leadership of the APC looked on, without taking action to stop the sorry state of affairs that made the gale of defections inevitable.
“With regard to allegations on the conduct of proceedings in the National Assembly in general, and the Senate in particular, it should be noted that the Senate is a body of equal members and the Senate President is only a primus inter pares, first among equals. The Senate President cannot impose any decision on the entire body.
“All decisions are that of the whole Senate and not just one man. It is for that reason that all motions and resolutions in the Assembly are taken through a voice vote and the majority always carries the day, including our decision to halt the screening of Presidential nominees whose positions are not clearly slated for confirmation by the Senate in the constitution. So, nobody can blame the Senate President for any decision taken by the whole house. It is a collective decision.
“Those who are raising issues on why the 2018 budget was delayed are behaving as if they were not in the country when heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) refused to defend their respective budgets promptly. After repeated complaints by the leadership of the National Assembly, the President himself had to direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to compel the heads of MDAs to come before National Assembly committees for the defence of their budget proposals.
“Change of party platform is not a new development in our democracy. It has always been part of our party politics and will continue to be a normal feature. Even, in advanced democracies, politicians move from one party to another. In fact, it is an exercise of the freedom of association as guaranteed in our constitution. President Muhammadu himself on July 24, 2018 while reacting to our defection from the APC agreed that it was a seasonal occurrence. So, I am surprised that the APC now saw it as an offence for people to exercise their political rights.”