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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • PDP to Buhari, APC: ignore our request at your own risk

    Says We can’t be Intimidated

     

    The Kawu Baraje led new PDP that merged with other parties to form the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday told President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the party to ignore the letter containing their ultimatum for talks on the way forward at their own peril.

    The group said they were yet to receive any information from either the Presidency of the party in response to their letter, pointing out that they will be meeting in the next few days to decide on their next line of action which it said will be in the best interest of Nigeria and democracy in the country.

    The seven day ultimatum given by the group the party and President Muhammadu Buhari to invite them to a meeting elapsed on Tuesday without any positive response from the party as at the time of compiling this report.

    Spokesman of the group, Comrade Timi Frank who spoke with newsmen in Abuja while reacting to Monday’s counter letter to the leadership of the party by another group of ex-PDP leaders however however dismissed the Senator Abdullahi Adamu led Buhari Supporters in the group saying Nigerians should not take them serious as they were mere noise makers.

    Read Also: I won’t allow anybody to cheat Nigerians – Buhari

    Frank said they were not surprised at the decision of Senator Abdullahi Adamu and his group in opposing their letter to the party, saying the Senator was is known t9 have supported Abacha’s bid to succeed himself and former President Obasanjo’s third term bid.

    He dismissed the existence of a faction within the group saying over 95 percent of members of the group have given their leader, Alhaji Kawu Baraje the right to speak on their behalf, adding that Senator Abdullahi Adamu only joined them in the new PDP when it became obvious to him that they were meeting with the APC.

    He reminded the party that the same steps being taken to mend fences were taken by them while in the PDP, but were ignored, stressing that the singular mistake of ignoring them was responsible for the exit of the Jonathan government f and the coming into power of the APC.

    Frank said: “I want to use this opportunity to remind my party that this is same way we were trying to correct the wrongs of the Jonathan’s government while in the PDP, but they never listened to us. We told them why we were aggrieved. Our leaders moved round the states to talk to party members, to ask the government at that time to listen to our views, but at the end of the day, they refused, they ignored us, that is how we left.

    “When we left, we join the APC and that was how today, we are enjoying this so called change agenda we are talking about. So, if today, 95 per cent of us, who came from the new PDP are aggrieved and they felt they are going to undermine us, or they are going to ignore our group, so be it.

    “But at the end of the day, we believe we are going to take a decision that will benefit the Nigerian people because we believe that democracy should be all inclusive. Democracy should not be a situation where when you speak the truth, you will be harassed, you will be intimidated and so on.

    “Today, everyone that is being harassed within the APC, came from the new PDP. We have not seen anybody from the ACN or the CPC or the ANPP or the section of APGA that join us that is being intimidated or harassed. It is clear. So, we are not going to be intimidated.

    “We believe we are going to be doing the right thing. We believe we are going to do everything possible to rescue Nigeria the same way we rescued Nigeria from the PDP. So, if today, we decided to lay our complaints to the party and they feel it is not important for them to attend to our issues, we will leave them to God. God will someday judge.”

    While insisting that there was no faction within the group, Frank who is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC said: “I am here to clarify issues and debunk some of the lies from some of our members led by Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, who were in my party secretariat yesterday to oppose the view of the majority, to oppose what our leaders have said. The chairman of our group, Alhaji Kawu Baraje was at the secretariat to submit a letter informing the party of our grievances as the new PDP that joined the merger that brought the APC into power.

    “In all of these, I want to make it very clear that we have no faction in our group. I saw in some of the papers that there is cracked in the new PDP. There is no crack as far as we are concerned. We only have one group, we have only one leader and that leader remains only Alh. Kawu Baraje and I can tell you clearly that without fear or favour.

    “I want to make it known to all of you that Alhaji Kawu Baraje is not alone in that letter. He has the mandate of over 95% of some of us that joined the new PDP into the APC that make new victories successful in 2015.”

    He emphasis that the participation of the new PDP in the affairs of the APC was responsible for the victory of the party in the 2015 general election saying “everybody knows that it was because of our participation to join the APC that practically brought the victory we are all enjoying today.

    “So, when people like Sen. Abdullahi Adamu who used to be one of us came up with some of his positions yesterday, he must have forgotten history and I want to make it known to you that whatever they’ve said to counter our move, are total lies.

    “Nigerians are there to testify. They said the new PDP group has benefitted massively from this government. That is one of their claims which is not true. But, I want to make it very clear that we are not here to respond to individuals, we are here to make it known that our letter is to the party. So, it is left for the party to either take it seriously or not. But I believe any serious party will take whatever position or decision we have brought them to look into.

    “Today makes it seven days from the day our group brought this letter to the party. But as it stands, we’ve not gotten any response yet from them. As we’ve said, whatever we must have said in that letter, it is not an empty threat. If they decide to ignore us, so, be it.

    “But at the appropriate time, we are going to respond and make our position known to Nigerians based on what we’ve said. It is not just a mere threat; it is not just a mere ultimatum. But I will tell you clearly that we are meeting with our leaders and we are going to come up with clear positions on our next step if finally they don’t attend to us.

    On the claim by the Senator Adamu led group that they have benefitted from the government, he said “I want go back to some of the benefits that they said our group has benefitted. The Senator and Jibrin said yesterday that we benefited by getting the office of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Some senators,  governors and so on.  For God’s sake, these are elected positions.

    “Nigerians are aware of how we succeed in getting the Senate President and the Speaker from the new PDP. They were not supported by our party, neither were they supported by the executive arm of government. We managed to get these two positions by the grace of God and by the support of Nigerian people.

    “We also got those positions through the support of senators and members of the House of Representatives that believed and had confidence in the leadership of Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon. Yakubu Dogara and chose to stand by these two people because they believe these two people will take the party and Nigerians to the promise land.

    “So far so good, we are very happy with them, they’ve done very well despite challenges and the circumstances and hurdles they passed and they are still passing through till today.

    “So, nobody should give credit to neither the party nor anybody to say that they gave us anything from the new PDP. We fought to get these two positions and the senators, governors and others they talk about were elected from their various states.

    “They never got there based on the fact that the new PDP. They should be able to benefit from the APC because of their Labour because they contributed in bringing the change and government of today. Therefore, let’s reward them with these positions. So, this is not true.

    “The only two beneficiaries in our group is Rotimi Ameachi who finally became Minister of Transportation and Sen. Aisha Alhassan who is the minister for women affairs. These are the two people we can remember. So, I want to make it very clear that we are not going to be intimidated by anybody as long as the Nigerian people are happy with us.”

  • Mubi bomb blast: Senate urges security agencies to beef up security

    The Senate on Wednesday urged security agencies to beef up security in Mubi, Adamawa North Senatorial District, following bomb blast attack in the area.

    The upper chamber also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected areas.

    The resolutions were sequel to a motion on “The Twin Bomb Blast in Mubi and the need for Immediate Action to Prevent Recurrence” by Sen. Binta Garba (APC-Adamawa) at plenary.

    Binta noted that on May 1, “two suspected suicide bombers shattered the relative peace in Mubi and environs through a twin bomb explosion in a mosque.”

    The lawmaker said the recent attacks had seriously brought back fears, not only in Mubi but also the entire Adamawa North Senatorial District.

    “This will definitely affect businesses of the aream, especially Mubi, being a centre of the state.

    Contributing, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa (APC-Lagos), called for the restructuring of the security apparatus to check the killings across the country.

    After a Voice Vote by the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, the prayers of the motion were unanimously adopted by the senators.

  • PDP to Baraje group: Come back to PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) called on the disgruntled group in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to the PDP from where members of the group defected to the APC in 2014.

    Reacting to the seven-day ultimatum the group gave President Muhammadu Buhari to address their grievances, the spokesman of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, told journalists in Abuja on Wednesday that the APC has nothing to offer members of the disgruntled group.

    The group, which is being led by a former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje. Baraje is a long standing political associate of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    Ologbondiyan said, “They should return home; APC has nothing to offer them and the democratic setting that they left in PDP they can never find in APC.

    “APC is an amalgam, ‎it is moving without its soul. It is demonstrated in three years that it can only kill our democracy, it cannot give it life. The democrats who left the Peoples Democratic Party and went to sojourn in APC should return back to their home.

    “PDP is going to lead a coalition of every Nigerian who is sick and tired of hunger and the drift towards totalitariasm and autocracy

  • Reps break 2018 Budget laying promise

    The expectation that the 2018 budget would be lad this week dissipated Tuesday as there was no indication that such would happen.

    Last week, the House of Representatives promised that the budget would be laid this week Tuesday and passed before the end of the week, but the Order paper of the House Carried no such item. Journalists who were on the watch out for the laying of the budget were disappointed.

    The National Assembly had assured that 2018 Budget will be passed this week,

    While briefing reporters at the National Assembly on Thursday last week, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Abdulrasak Namdas had said that the 2018 Appropriation bill will be passed into law this week.

    He said: “By the Grace of God, we will lay the budget on Tuesday and then try to pass it that same week.

    “But where laying it on Tuesday and I can assure you that within that same week, we’re going to pass it.

    “We tried to do that, but you know, the budget is a voluminous document.. Actually, we’ve been working hard so that we can beat the deadline, and hopefully this time around, I can assure you that by next week, everything about the budget will be concluded and passed..”

    Similarly, the Senate gave the same assurance on the passage of the budget this week.

    But the leadership of the National Assembly on Monday at the Villa during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari gave the promise a little twist while speaking with journalists.

    While speaking with reporters, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki said the budget may be laid this week, but would be passed next week.

    This further compounds be conflicting dates given by the Legislature on when the Appropriation Bill would be passed.

    Before the Tuesday date given for the laying of the budget, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara had promised late April for the passage of the bill while the Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Mustapha Dawaki had promised this current month of May.

    Though the the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Abdulrasak Namdas was said to be in South Africa as at yesterday, repeated calls to his phone number were not answered.

    Repeated efforts to speak with him did not yield any fruit as at the time of filing this report.

  • Keyamo, six others appointed as NDIC board members

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday appointed SAN, and six others as members of the board of the NDIC board members

    Senate, Bukola Saraki, disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Saraki read the letter from Buhari at the plenary on Tuesday after which he sought legislative approval for the appointments.

     

    Details shortly…

     

  • Saraki reports IGP to Buhari

    Says IGP must obey constitution 

    Dogara: Police behaving like upgraded barbarians 

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Monday reported the refusal by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to appear before the Senate.

    The Senate had recently invited him twice over the arrest of Senator Dino Melaye. But Idris failed to show up before the Senate in plenary.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of meeting with President Buhari, Saraki said that there was need to ensure Idris respect constituted authority in line with the provisions of the 1999.

    He said “Just talking about the issue of the police, we also raised the issue of the non-appearance of the IG at the Senate and felt that they must continue to ensure that he continues to apply obedience to the issue of constituted authority.

    “We are of great concern that this is the first time this is happening and that that matter needs to be addressed considering the importance of the powers of the  constitution that gives investigative powers, also gives to us and that there is need for police to accept that they too are under constitution and they must obey that. We raised that concern.” he said

    He disclosed that himself and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara came to the Villa at the invitation of President Buhari who briefed them on his trip to the United States and on the issue of the 2018 Budget.

    “We also talked on the issue of concerns to us, the invasion of the National Assembly, which he showed great concern and said action will be taken to investigate that.” he added

    On how soon the budget will be passed,  he said “Well, hopefully it should be laid this week. If it can be laid this week and passed early next week but we are hoping it will be laid this week.”

    Asked what the President’s response was on the invasion of the Senate,  he said “Of course he sees it as an embarrassment to the country and that there will be a proper investigation because it is something that is not just about the National Assembly, it is about the country.

    On what he is doing to improve the strain relationship between the executive and the legislature, Saraki said “You see we are here today, it was the initiative of Mr. President to brief us on his visit to America and to engage on discussions and I think that is a good sign. We at the National Assembly have always been ready to give all our support to the executive and we will continue to work along those lines.

    “As I said, the presidential system that we operate, we sometimes have the responsibility to check the excesses of the executive, so there will always be times we will disagree but by and large, we will always work for the interest of Nigerians and always keep on moving on.” he said

    Asked if he will describe the meeting as peaceful, he said “Yes, of course. I think it is good that we touch on some of the important issues, as I said it is a continuous process.”

    On the treatment meted out to Melaye, Dogara said that the Police has behaved like upgraded barbarians.

    He said “The issue of Senator Dino, of course anything that happens to one of our members or any member of the National Assembly is of concern to us. And there is no way we can have this kind of meeting without raising that.

    “This is a civilian administration, it is democracy and it is imperative and very very important that all institutions of democracy operate within the ambit of the rule of law.

    “There is no where,  I have said it before that police will behave in a democracy like a clan of tribesmen, like an upgraded barbarians sort of. So there is need for us  to act with civility.

    “We are not saying  that anybody should be protected and defended. Once you have committed an offense, our law said you should answer it but you just have to utilize the provision of the constitution, the rule of law and this administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has over emphasized in order to bring people to book.

    “But a situation where people are wheeled to court, that doesn’t give good image of our democracy. I have not seen a democracy where people are wheeled to court, they are not in the proper frame of mind and they are forced to undergo trail.

    “Whatever it is, even if Dino is pretending as some have said it some section of the media, he cannot pretend forever. He is there, he will not run away, he is a senator and he can be tried any time he is in proper frame of mind.

    “As a lawyer, I can tell you, any judge that assesses an accused person not to be in a proper frame of mind, even if the accused person pleas guilty, he is duty bound by law to record a plea of guilty if he is not satisfied as to the soundness of the mind of the accused person.

    “So the emphasis is there and I believe the President being a listening President will definitely take steps and do something about it.” he said

    Asked if the issue on the planned impeachment process was raised, he said “Well, I don’t think we have the authority  to discuss issues of impeachment, impeachment is a political offense and I don’t think we are there yet.

    When asked if the President raised the issue, he said “No, never. It wasn’t part of the agenda.”

  • Breaking: Buhari, Saraki, Dogara meet in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met behind closed doors with the leadership of the National Assembly.

    The meeting started around 2.p.m when the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara arrived the President’s office.

    While the 2018 Budget proposal submitted to National Assembly last November is yet to be passed, other issues have also made the relationship between the two arms of government not too cordial.

    The latest was the threat by the National Assembly to invoke Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution towards starting impeachment process against the President for purchase military jets without lawmakers’ approval.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report

    Details later…

  • Buhari: Historical books, service to humanity

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has described authorship of historical books as an act of rendering service to humanity. President Buhari said this on Saturday in Katsina, during the public presentation and launching of biographies of Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar and his predecessors.

    The President, who was represented by the Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari, said that writing of historical books had the capacity to promote mutual understanding and unity.

    “The authorship of books on history is an act of rendering service to humanity. “The more we write books, the more we understand ourselves and the more we unite.

    “What is important is that those who disagree in the history should also write their books,” he said.

    He stressed the need for Nigerians to work hard to sustain the unity of the country.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, charged all Nigerians to embark on projects that would help strengthen the unity of the country.

    He described the attendance of different personalities at the event, irrespective of their religions and tribes as a sign of national unity.

    The Sultan, however, said, “I urge the books’ authors to adjust a few fallacies in the books as few chapter distorted history.’’

    The chief launcher of the books, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, also harped on unity of Nigeria.

    “What is dividing us is lack of understanding of history. Whether you are from West, South, North, nobody has control over what God has for our lives.

    “Whom I am, where I am coming from and where am going, my destiny, it is in the hands of God.

    “Our problem in Nigeria is not about poor economy, but lack of understanding of difficulties Nigerians are going through,’’ he said.

    Tinubu charged Nigerian leaders to preach peace and unity irrespective of their religions, tribes and geopolitical zones, saying: “There should be no tribal war; we must share boundaries, coexist and share economic issues with ourselves.’’

    Read Also: Buhari commends Adenuga for creating jobs in Nigerians

    The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who chaired the event, said that he attended the event because of the relationship between the people of his constituency and the Gwandu Emirate.

    He stressed that he would continue to support any cause that would promote peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Saraki commended late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, for initiating the writing of books to foster understanding and knowledge in the country.

    “The books will further brighten the future of Nigerian youths,’’ he said.

    The newsmen reports that the event was attended by dignitaries from the National Assembly, Emirs from the northern part of the country and state governors from neighbouring countries of Benin and Niger Republics.

    The newsmen also reports that over N100 million was realised from the launching of the books.

    NAN

  • Saraki, Tambuwal won’t decamp to PDP – Badaru

    Jigawa State Governor and All Progressives Congress (APC)  Convention Committee Chairman, Abubakar Badaru, on Monday assured that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, won’t leave the party.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, he was not aware of alleged moves and negotiation by some APC members to decamp to the opposition parties.

    On Saraki and Tambuwal, he said “It is not true that Tambuwal and Saraki are negotiating with the PDP, we have not heard of that. Some few weeks back there was rumour about the governor of Benue and he made it clear at our last NEC that he is not moving anywhere. Those are rumours flying around but they don’t have consequence.

    “We are united, governor Tambuwal is with us and the Distinguished Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President is also with APC and we have not had any reason to think that they are negotiating elsewhere, no.” he said

    On what Nigerians should expect from the APC convention, he said “We expect a peaceful and rancour free and good convention.

    Speaking on the move to unite the factions in the party, he said “They are all united and I am sure the convention will bring everybody together and in democracy if you are open and straight forward, things get done well, I don’t think there should be any problem.”

    He said that what happened during the APC rally in his state at the weekend was normal.

    He said “Political unrest, no it is not true. It is normal political shaunting. Shunting between groups that are contesting the same position. People passing by and some groups will shunt for their own and others will shunt for another person and that was what happened. That was a great rally.

    “It is normal in every gathering, you have different supporters supporting different people contesting the same position.” he stated

  • Attack on Senate: Saraki lauds colleagues, reps for defending democracy

    Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has commended the leadership and members of the Senate for standing  firmly in defence of democracy and the rule of law with their decision to defy those who attacked the Red Chambers of the National Assembly during which the mace was forcefully taken away.

    Saraki, speaking from Washington where he is attending the Spring Meeting of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF), also lauded the swift reaction by the leadership and members of the House of Representives in demonstrating their solidarity with the red chamber.

    “I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully taken away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties. I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.

    “My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism.

    “With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.

    “I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice”, Saraki stated in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yusuph  Olaniyonu