The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Saraki congratulates Fayemi

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday congratulated the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on his victory in the just-concluded Ekiti gubernatorial election.
    Saraki, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the Governor-elect of Ekiti State should use his second-coming to continue the people-centered policies and programmes of his first term, while urging him to also work to grow the State’s economy in order to leave behind a sustainable legacy.
    He said the victory was a sign that the people of Ekiti State still have confidence in the former minister’s ability to provide good governance and render efficient service to the state and its people. He also advised the Governor-elect to maintain his focus on how to bring more development to the State and improve the standard of living of the people.
    The Senate President also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the law enforcement and security agencies, the government and entire electorate to learn some lessons from the Ekiti State gubernatorial election, which has served as a fore-runner to the 2019 General Elections and ensure that all areas of complaints and inadequacies are corrected before a similar election in Osun State and the 2019 general elections.
    “To ensure that the Nigeria people have continued trust and faith in our electoral system, we must continue to work to improve our electoral policies and practices. We must look into the issues that have been identified in this last election to ensure that they are not repeated in the upcoming Osun Gubernatorial election, and during the 2019 elections. Definitely, the 2019 elections must be better in all ramifications than the 2015 polls”, he said.
    Saraki prayed that God will bless and guide the Governor-elect as he prepares to assume Office, and called for a smooth transition between the outgoing government and the incoming one.

  • Kwara spends N6.5b on water project

    The Kwara state government said it has, between 2009 and 2018 expended over N6.5 billion on water reticulation scheme in the state.

    The efforts are aimed at tackling perennial water scarcity in Ilorin and its environs.

    Addressing reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, Commissioner for Water Resources Alhaji Abdulkadir Yusuf said that a sum of N1.9 billion was also captured in the 2018 budget to be spent on tertiary water reticulation in some parts of the state to ensure regular supply of potable water.

    The commissioner was accompanied by some other aides of the governor, a consultant to the state government on the water rehabilitation project, Prof Sulaiman Adeyemi

    Prof Adeyemi said that water challenge had lingered for so long in the metropolis because of the need to provide adequate water production, renewal of water distribution network, increase storage capacity, restoration of old pipes, and provision of adequate water treatment plant.

    The water expert, who said that the state government, since 2003, had been able to double water treatment capacity in the metropolis, added that water connection to communities, particularly in the Ilorin metropolis, would be commissioned in September.

    Prof Adeyemi explained that water provision project, is in primary,  secondary and tertiary stages.

    Read Also: Kwara keeps N200m for health scheme

    He added that homes would have opportunity to connect to state water corporation pipes after completion of the tertiary water reticulation scheme.

    He, however, said that the state government would still need to carry out a lot of investment in water project in the near future with daily expansion of the Ilorin metropolis and other parts of the state with attendant increased population.

    The commissioner, who urged residents of the state to be prepared to pay a token to get regular provision of potable water in their homes, said that dirty water may be cheap, adding that potable water cannot be free and cheaper than that got from water vendor.

    The commissioner said that administration of Dr.  Bukola Saraki expended about N3.7 billion on water scheme in the state, adding that the present government had spent over N2.4 billion on the scheme while about N858million was spent through infrastructural fund programme of the state government.

  • MAN, DIBAN, others kick against 500 percent excise tariff increase

    Stakeholders in the manufacturing industry in the country Monday kicked against the proposed 500 per cent increase on excise tariff by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

    The stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), Association of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employers of Nigeria ( AFBTEN) and others opposed the proposed excise tariff’ hike in their separate submissions at a function of the Senate Committee on Finance.

    The Finance committee in line with resolution of the Senate organised a public hearing on “urgent need to review the excise tariff increment in order to save local distillers of beverages from looming extinction”.

    Read Also:NLC rejects 500 percent tariff on local alchohol

    The stakeholders at the hearing noted that the proposed policy recommended by the Tariff Technical Committee (TTC), would if allowed to be implemented, “affect manufacturers, producers, businesses and render millions of Nigerians jobless.”

    Chairman of DIBAN, Patrick Anegbe in his submission, lamented that if the policy was allowed to stand, N420billion worth of investments would be ruined aside over 250,000 workers who will be laid off.

    Comrade Mike Olanrewaju who represented the labour unions at the session, said the proposed 500% increase on excise tariff is suicidal and must not be allowed to be implemented.

    Olanrewaju noted that the proposed policy was dead on arrival since organized labour and other critical stakeholders were not consulted.

    He said, “One of the strategies expected  from  any responsible and responsive government in preventing crime and fighting poverty is job creation and not job losses through outrageous and outlandish tariff hike that would collapse industries and by extension  render millions of Nigerians jobless.

    “To us in the labour sector, we say capital no! to such tariff increase and if any increase is to be made at all, it should not be above one digit.

    “The proposed increase is counterproductive and would be resisted by all stakeholders because after Dunlop, Micheline and others, we don’t want any industry to collapse or relocate out of the country again.”

    Though the Director General of MAN, M. Segun Ajayi Kadiri in his own submission admitted that the Ministry of Finance and TTC consulted them before the proposed tariff hike, he noted that the rate agreed on the basis of revenue generation by government was not what the ministry eventually arrived at.

    Directed of Legal Services who represented the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the 500% excise tariff hike was agreed by all stakeholders before the ministry issued circular to that effect in February this year.

    “Protests and petitions trailing the circular since then from concerned stakeholders are to us, unfortunate,” she said.

    The committee told the stakeholders it looking into the policy by collaborating with the executive on the need to review the tariff downward.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who represented the Senate President, Bukola Saraki noted that “the major source of concern is the non-inclusion of primary stakeholders in the industry such as MAN, DIBAN in the consultation process that prompted the decision of the executive arm of government to increase the tariff rate of the affected products”.

  • APC faction in Kwara seeks national headquarter recognition

    The factional chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Kwara, Hon Bashir Bolarinwa has called on the national leadership of the party to recognize his faction as the authentic one the state.

    Bolarinwa made the call on Monday in a press statement issued in Ilorin, copy of which was made available to News men

    He also called on the national leadership of the party to stop dealing with Ishola Balogun Fulani led executive.

    Bolarinwa said his faction has been vindicated as the real APC in Kwara following exist of the Fulani group from the party.

    According to Bolarinwa, the Balogun Fulani faction’s allegiance was to Dr Saraki and sponsor of what he called ‘the contraption called RAPC, saying, “This is injurious to the party”.

    He said that the crisis in the party was precipitated by Dr Bukola Saraki and his cohorts when he defiled the party position on zoning of the senate presidency.

    Sen Saraki, Bolarinwa said went against the position of the party and did everything untoward to clinch the office.

    “While the president and the party remain democratic, Saraki was busy sowing seeds of discord and seeking means of destroying the party. His latest antic was the formation a splinter group,” Bolarinwa added.

    He lamented that since Dr Saraki emerged as the Senate President, he has been attracting odium to the institution of the Senate and Kwara State.

    Read Also: Kwara APC hails Buhari on Saraki’s acquittal

    Bolarinwa added that Sen Saraki has consistently made lives difficult for Nigerians through budget padding and delay in passage of budget.

    “These are practices created by him to slow down government and confer undue benefits on him,” he said.

    Bolarinwa accused the Senate President of pauperizing the people through deliberate under development of Kwara State.

    He challenged Saraki to point to a project or program he initiated that geared towards truly empowering the people for economic sustainability.

    Bolarinwa declared that Sen Saraki and his lackeys were bent on destroying the party and make it unsellable to electorate.

    According to him, the only grouse of the Saraki group was that the Senate President was not given a political waiver in his alleged criminal trials in courts and even those under investigation.

    He added that there was nothing wrong for the Police to carry out their constitutional duty as it related to Offa bank robbery.

    “Any move to turn this dutiful service of Nigeria Police to persecution is not only hypocritical but diversionary aimed at perverting the course of justice,” he said.

    Bolarinwa therefore appealed to the people of the State to keep faith with the party, promising to return the state to the path of prosperity through a functional political party.

  • Atiku hails Saraki, Ugwuanyi on victories at Supreme Court

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has hailed the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on their victories at the Supreme Court on Friday.

    Abubakar in a statement issued by his media office on Friday, in Abuja, said the judgments had further affirmed the judiciary as last hope for the citizens.

    He commended the Supreme Court jurists for the unanimity in their judgment, saying that the development had further affirmed that the judiciary was the real bastion of equity and good governance in any society.

    “I believe this judgment has given hope to Nigerians, that the judiciary will always be fair and firm on issues relating to individuals seeking redress in law courts.

    “I am a firm believer in the rule of law and I will never forget the role the judiciary played in emboldening me to continue with my efforts to provide good and quality leadership for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “The multiple suits on corruption which I won in my days of trial as Vice President will never be forgotten in a hurry. It was an independent, firm and fair judiciary that made it all possible,’’ Abubakar said.

    The former Vice President praised the Judiciary for standing up to the truth and not leaving justice to the whims and caprices of those in power.

    He maintained that by its courageous and principled stance, the judiciary had further enhanced it place, role and relevance in consolidating the nation’s democracy.

    Abubakar however, said the victory was not only for Saraki but for the entire Senate.

    “The victory is for the entire National Assembly which has been facing challenges of legitimacy and intimidation arising from a not too cordial relationship with the executive arm of government,’’ he said.

    In the case of Gov. Ugwuanyi, he said the Court’s affirmation of the legitimacy of his election, had shown that he was indeed the true choice of the people of Enugu state.

    Abubakar noted that although the case lasted in the courts, the governor was not distracted but continued to passionately execute people-oriented projects in the state which according to him had significantly improved the lives of the people.

    Abubakar urged Ugwuanyi to continue on the tradition of excellence for the good of the people of the state, and for the PDP, in whom the people had for many years invested their political future.

    He also urged both Saraki and Ugwuanyi to continue to serve the people of Nigeria honestly, as they had been doing in their various capacities.(NAN)

  • Supreme Court judgment on Saraki triumph of justice – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on has described as “triumph of justice’’, Friday’s Supreme Court judgment, dismissing the false asset declaration charges against Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, the party said that the verdict had reinforced Nigerians’ confidence in the judiciary.

    “The Court has further reinforced the confidence of Nigerian citizens in the courage of the institution of the judiciary as the temple of justice and the last hope of the common man, particularly under an oppressive regime.’’

    The apex court upheld earlier decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), which discharged and acquitted Saraki in all 18-count-charge against him.

    It added that the judgment had further supported its disposition that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s fight against corruption was mere shadow-chasing.

    It also said that the verdict shown that the war against corruption was a “clever attempt at blackmailing the opposition as well as anyone who held a divergent voice against the administration of the ruling party’’.

    The party advised that the judgment should serve as a spur for judicial officers at all levels to be bold in upholding the dispensation of justice in all cases without fear or politically-induced hindrances. (NAN)

  • Saraki’s acquittal by Supreme Court: Jubilation in Ilorin

    Scores of loyalists and supporters of Senate President Bukola Saraki marched through the major streets of Ilorin, Kwara state capital on Friday to celebrate the victory of Saraki at the Supreme Court.

    The Ilorin emirate community under the leadership of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari also offered special prayers to show their gratitude to God over the verdict.

    The special prayers which was led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheik Muhammad Bashir was offered immediately after Friday’s jummat service at the Ilorin central mosque.

    Bashir prayed Allah to continue to guide and protect Saraki and elevate him to Nigerians political office.

    Women and youths followers of the Senate President had biesiged the Emir’s palace soon after news of the verdict by the apex court filtered into town to celebrate the victory with the monarch.

    Read Also: I am happy that I have been vindicated – Saraki

    Speaking with reporters, a leader of the youth groups, Alhaji Abdulfatai  Solagberu said the youths were overwhelmed by the victory which has finally absolved Saraki of any wrongdoing regarding the declaration of his assets.

    He said the youths couldn’t have done less because of the passion the Senate President has for their growth and development.  He recalled how Saraki has consistently empowered many youths and gave jobs, both at federal and state levels to many of them.

    Solagberu thanked the judiciary for being an unbiased umpire saying the apex court’s verdict has shown that the judiciary is indeed the last hope of the common man.

    Also speaking, the leader of Kwara market women, Alhaja Nike Lambe thanked the Emir and men of goodwill whom she noted stood with Saraki all through his ordeal.

    She assured the Senate President of the continued support of Kwara women, saying that Saraki had empower many women through his numerous empowerment scheme since his first election as Kwara state governor in 2003.

    Responding, the Emir of Ilorin, Alh Ibrahim- Sulu- Gambari hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict.

    He thanked the jubilant for their show of love and affection for Saraki who he described as “my beloved son”.

    The monarch said he was proud of Saraki’s achievements as governor and Senate President.

    He prayed Allah to elevate him in his political career and grant him sound health and long life.

  • Ahmed hails Supreme Court verdict

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has hailed the Supreme Court verdict on Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki’s assets declaration and sundry charges instituted against him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba described the apex court as a bastion of democracy in the country.

    The statement said that “the apex court’s judgment has reinforced the belief that the judiciary remains the hope of the common man”.

    “What the Judgment has done is to re-energize the common man’s hope and belief in the judiciary. It is the only hope for a better and free Nigeria”, the governor said.

    Read Also: I am happy that I have been vindicated – Saraki

    Ahmed explained further that the judgement had vindicated the Senate President as a trustworthy and patriotic Nigerian that would do everything necessary to carry the country to an enviable height.

    He recalled that till the trial lasted, Dr Saraki was unperturbed, unshaken and remained committed to providing purposeful leadership as the Chairman of the National Assembly, praising him for weathering the storm of legal battle for the last three years.

    “The judgement is a watershed in political journey of the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria and will lay to rest his political persecution”.

  • Kwara APC hails judiciary on Saraki’s acquittal

    All Progressives Congress in Kwara state has hailed the Supreme Court for its acquittal of Senate President Bukola Saraki on false declaration of assets.

    In a statement spokesperson of the party in the state Alhaji Sulyman Buhari described the judgement as victory for democracy and landmark verdict on the incorruptible credentials of the Senate President.

    The statement reads: “We received with excitement the news that a five -man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Dattijo Muhammad unanimously dismissed the remnant three counts and declared the evidence led by the prosecution as hearsay.

    “Kwara APC wishes to declare that the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court is consistent with the belief and expectation of the Kwara State chapter of our party.

    Read Also: Supreme Court frees Saraki on false assets declaration charge

    “We recall that the torturous political persecution of our leader, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki began in 2015 because he dared to contest for the position of Senate President against the desires of some political leaders in the All Progressives Congress.

    “All manners of extra-judicial strategies and unconstitutional measures were deployed to humiliate and remove the Senate President from office. We thank Almighty Allah for his victory and we congratulate the Senate President for this hard-won victory.

    “Importantly, we will not forget to acknowledge the fact that the judiciary demonstrated its independence and capacity to exercise uprightness and forthrightness when politicians attempted to manipulate the Court to settle political scores.

    “During the course of the political persecution, Kwara APC once had reasons to declare that no political party ever survived war waged against self. Indeed, It is now clear that the bond of unity and cohesion in the APC has been weakened, damaged, fractured and severed. “

  • Non-assets declaration: S/Court discharges Saraki

    The Supreme Court on Friday discharged the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, from further trial on allegation of non-assets declaration brought against him by the Federal Government.

    Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Centus Nweze, held that the Dec.12, 2017 decision of the Court of Appeal against Saraki was based on hearsay.

    The judge said the prosecution failed to present material evidence in the trial, adding that the testimonies of all the four prosecution witnesses were based on secondary information.

    The judge said it was unthinkable that the lower court arrived at it decision even when it was clear that the testimonies of the witnesses were woven around the inadmissible evidence.

    “Such an approach speaks ill of our jurisprudence. The truth is that courts must arrive at their verdicts through a process of reasoning which is analytical.

    “The Court of Appeal was however right in its finding that all material evidence adduced by the prosecution was hearsay.

    “I make bold to hold that the Court of Appeal was in grave error when in face of absence of material evidence, held that the prosecution established prima facie case against the appellant

    “Against this background, I have the duty to vacate the judgment of the lower court.

    “In its place, I hold that from the testimonies of the four witnesses, the prosecution failed to enter a prima facie case against the appellant.

    Read Also: Supreme Court frees Saraki on false assets declaration charge

    “I, therefore, in command and in line with Section 302 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, enter an order discharging the appellant accordingly.

    “I restore the judgment of the trial tribunal forthwith. The cross appeal filed by the prosecution is hereby dismissed’’, the judge held.

    The judge also enjoined the prosecutorial authorities and the courts to ensure that a defendant in a criminal proceeding must be tried and convicted in accordance with due process of law.

    The News men recall that the appeal court upturned Saraki’s acquittal by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    The three-man panel, led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson unanimously ruled that the Senate President return to the CCT to face trial on three counts out of the 18 initially slammed on him.

    The court dismissed the remaining 15 counts and ordered the remittance of the three back to CCT for continuation of the trial.

    Dissatisfied with the decision, Saraki approached the apex court praying it to discharge him from the remaining 3-count charge.

    The CCT, chaired by Mr Danladi Umar, discharged and acquitted Saraki on 14 July, 2017 over allegations of false assets declaration.

    His ground was that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

    The tribunal had maintained that the evidence against the senate president was insufficient and wishy-washy.

    According to Danladi, Saraki was able to discredit all the evidence adduced by the prosecution.