The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • PDP raises concerns over safety of Saraki, others

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised concerns over the safety of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki and other chieftains of the party.

    A statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged a renewed harassment of the main opposition chieftains by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government.

    According to the PDP, the government has been using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hound the Saraki and others in what it described as a clear case of political witch-hunt.

    The party said the alleged siege against Saraki is part of a larger plot for a renewed clamp-down on key opposition figures and perceived political opponents of the APC administration, particularly, to frustrate the opposition’s determination to retrieve its “stolen” presidential mandate at the tribunal.

    It added that nothing else can explain the Federal Government’s “obnoxious and distasteful” resort to intimidation and evidence-fishing, just to nail Saraki at all costs, “even when nothing incriminating has been found in his stewardship as Governor of Kwara state, after several investigations”

    The statement alleged: “The Federal Government is hounding Senator Saraki even after he has been prosecuted but discharged and acquitted by the Supreme Court, after the government failed to substantiate claims of false asset declaration against him.

    “The PDP holds that this renewed witch-hunt tailored against Senator Saraki and perceived opposition leaders further confirm that the Buhari Presidency and the APC have become frenetic over the overwhelming evidence that our party will present at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

    “Moreover, our party already has information on how certain elements in the APC have plotted to cash in on the new siege to harm key leaders of our party, under certain guise.

    “The APC is called upon to note that Nigerians are already aware of the truth in all issues leading to this renewed harassment of the Senate President.

    “We insist that no harm must come to Senator Saraki or any member of his family.

    “The PDP therefore cautions the Federal Government to retrace its steps on this new plot against opposition leaders in our polity”.

  • EFCC: No going back on probe of Saraki

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday said it will not go back on its ongoing probe of the tenure of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki when he was the governor of Kwara State from 2003 to 2011.

    It said it has a sacred mandate to rid the country of corruption no matter whose ox is gored.

    It said Saraki has no need to fret as long as he has no skeletons in his cupboard.

    The EFCC, which made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja by its Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Tony Orilade, said it will conduct a legitimate forensic inquiry into Saraki’s tenure as a governor.

    The anti-graft commission in a letter of April 26, 2019 wrote the Kwara State Government demanding some information on Saraki’s earnings as the state governor.

    But Saraki alleged the EFCC’s inquest was a plot to intimidate and frame him up.

    The EFCC however said it is only investigating Saraki in line with its mandate.

    The statement said: “The EFCC has taken note of the reactions of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to the commission’s inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor as well as on the quality of his financial stewardship in the Senate.

    “While it is his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deems fit, the commission takes great exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution.

    “Furthermore, the agency finds the attempt by the Senate President to tie our inquest to his International Human Rights Commission, IHRC appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading, knowing too well that the background to our current inquiries reaches several years back.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.

    “It is in the interest of the public and for Saraki’s personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so.”

    The EFCC said its probe of Saraki was always guided by the overriding public interest.

    It asked Saraki not to fret if he has nothing to hide.

    It added: “Indeed, all the instances in which the EFCC have had cause to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or President of the Senate were driven by overarching public interest and due process of the law.

    “Against the background of the possession of indicting petitions and other evidence available to the EFCC, even Saraki will agree with the commission that putting him through a legitimate forensic inquiry is the legitimate route to establish his integrity as a public servant.

    “The distinguished Senate President has no need to fret so long as he has no skeletons in his cupboard.

    “The Commission has a sacred mandate to rid the country of corruption and corrupt elements and restates its unflinching resolve to achieve these, no matter whose ox is gored.”

  • Again, Buhari declines assent to two more bills

    President Muhammadu Buhari has once again declined assent to two more bills passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to him for his signature.

    The latest casualties in the string of rejected bills are the Nigeria Tourism Development Authority Bill and the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority Bill.

    The rejection of the two bills has brought to 40 the number of bills the President rejected for one reason or the other in the Eighth Senate.

    Buhari conveyed his withdrawal of assent on the two bills vide two separate letters addressed to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and which the latter read at Wednesday’s plenary session.

    On the Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, the President said Section 14(d) and Section 30(2d) contradicted Section 4(1-3) and Paragraph 60(d) of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

    Section 30 (2d) of the bill had proposed a tourism fee on all in-bound international travelers, a tourism levy on all out-bound travelers and a tourism departure contribution fee of one percent per hotel room rate.

    The President’s letter stated inter alia, “Such flat fee has been fixed by the authority and a corporate tourism development levy of one percent to be charged on the revenue of banks, telecommunications and other corporate entities.

    Read Also: Buhari seeks help to end Boko Haram

    “This will be inimical to the growth of the tourism and hospitality industry in Nigeria and constitute additional burden on the tourism business”.

    On the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority Bill, the President cited issues of funding and overlap of functions for rejecting it.

    His letter reads: “The comprehensive definition of the Nigeria Inland Waterways covers virtually all rivers, lakes and lagoons irrespective of the location of the body.

    “The bill contradicts provisions of the constitution which limits the power of the National Assembly to make laws in relation to water from sources affecting more than one state of inland waterway which has been declared to be an international waterway or inter-state waterway.

    “The bill, as currently drafted, subjects the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Nigeria Ports Authority to the supervision of the Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority.

    “The funding provision of the bill, which seeks to appropriate 25 percent of the ports development levy annually, 15 per cent of the ecological fund annually and one percent of the funds accruable to the federal government for oil and gas within the cleared waterways and the right of way; and 2.5 percent fees annually paid by companies operating power plants within waterways, are grossly excessive and will negatively affect the revenues of the federal government”.

     

  • Is Senator Bukola Saraki truly a UN envoy now?

    The receding week featured a widely publicised news that our outgoing Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki has landed a plum job as United Nations ambassador on human rights.

    Good news it could be for our country, and especially “Sarakites”. But I’m smelling a rat that a conman is at work to extract some “dough” from the pocket of the ‘gentle giant’, who badly needs a good climb down from his number three ephemeral throne.

    The wordings of the letter are suspect. If an international body that decides the fate of billions of people across the globe can refer to itself in a letter as “United Nation” and not United Nations that the Organisation truly is, then something is amiss.

    Or, could the scammer be from within the privileged corridor?

    To know that, can we get to know from where the news item got despatched to the newsrooms of the media that featured the story?

    The answer to that poser will be illuminating to the dark corners of our immorality in this country and our huge capacity for mischief.

     

    Yekini Mustapha, Modupe Sasore exit in blaze of glory 

    I, along with many others, should be in mourning mood now; as death crept in to take away two of our political associates in our Ilupeju Estate Ward L of Odiolowo Local Council Development Area of Mushin, Lagos, within one week.

    Mourning their passing is not on the cards for me, neither should it be, for those who are knowledgeable in the ways of the Lord.

    Of the two, Yekinni Mustapha, “Baba Alfa” or “Ire o, Ire Gbangba” or “Ao-ni-ka-gongo-s’odun”, as he was variously known, was my closest ally. I blended with him since the ‘80s because he was of the progressives mould and because his love of party was total and unpretentious that he deployed all his huge stature to the service of his party, whether the UPN or SDP or UNCP to AD and AC, and ACN and now APC.

    He was of very little or no education but his native intelligence was gargantuan, such that for more than 30 years that he was ward chairman in this hugely elitist ward, he led the party to huge successes without a dent. Although he did not fully reap the rewards of his labour before ill-health slowed him down till he passed on early this week at 90+, two of his children won people’s confidence to represent the ward in the local council in his life time. He surely deserves Aljanat.

    The other person, Modupe Sasore, lawyer-politico, I had known for a long time, but first through her husband, Gabby, who won fame because of his involvement in the celebrated treasonable felony trial of which Chief Obafemi Awolowo was Accused Number One; and later when she came fully into politics on her own, on the conservative platform of PDP, culminating in her appointment as one of the special advisers to President Olusegun Obasanjo at the time, before she quit and joined the APC about one year ago.

    In the short time, Mrs Sasore, 71, proved to be a committed and caring party person whose leadership was distinct. She wasn’t ill to my knowledge until we heard of her passing last week. But I feel all of us who know her should be satisfied that she died in the course of her seeking more knowledge of God. As learnt from the Holy Book, Sasore, the good woman, was taken away by her Creator before the advent of evil.

    The two political allies and leaders will be missed because they meant much to us in the progressives’ camp. But they will be of greater service in the heavenly realm. May the Heavenly Father comfort the families and large army of friends they left behind.

  • Court restrains Saraki, others from considering report on 2018 Senate’s invasion

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari has restrained the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and eight others from considering the report of the Senate’s ad-hoc committee set up to probe the April 18, 2018 invasion of the Senate by some unidentified hoodlums.

    Justice Othman Musa, in a ruling on Monday, said the restraining order shall remain pending the determination of a suit filed by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, in which he challenged the legitimacy of the ad-hoc committee constituted by the Senate’s leadership on April 25, 2018 in the wake of the invasion, during which the Senate’s mace was also stolen.

    Justice Musa said “Leave is granted to the Applicant to serve the 1st – 10th respondents by substituted means, by serving the originating motion and other processes in the suit on any responsible clerk or staff at the office of the Clerk of the National Assembly, at the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja or publishing same processes on any national daily with national circulation.

    “Reliefs iii, iv, v, vi are not granted as prayed, in its place, the 1st – 10th respondents are ordered and admonished not to obstruct the cause of justice and abide by the authority in the Supreme Court decision in UBA Plc vs. Ajabule 2011 LPELR 8239 SC and Military Governor, Lagos State vs. Ojukwu.

    “To this end, the respondents, their servants, agents, officers, privies, sergeants at arms or whosoever are restrained from taking any further action on this subject matter, and to maintain the status quo as of today, pending the hearing of the originating motion.

    “Originating motion and all pending applications are fixed to the 13th day of May, 2019 for definite hearing. Case is adjourned to the 13th day of May 2019 for definite hearing. “

    Listed as 1st to 10th defendants include: The President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Deputy Senate President, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Senator Ahmed Lawan (Senate Leader), Senator Bala Na’Allah (Chairman, joint ad-hoc committee investigating the Invasion of the National Assembly on the 18th of April 2018 and the theft thereof of the mace) for himself and on behalf of all other members of the committee.

    Read also: Saraki nominated as global rights body’s ambassador

    Others are: Hon. Betty Apiafi (Co-Chairman Chairman, joint ad-hoc committee investigating the Invasion of the National Assembly on the 18th of April 2018 and the theft thereof of the mace), the Clerk of the National assembly, the Clerk of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Reps.

    Omo-Agege stated, in the suit marked: BW/M/204/2019, that Saraki had, before setting up the ad-hoc committee, told the press that he (Omo-Agege) was responsible for the invasion.

    He argued that by so acting, the Senate President has prejudged the outcome of the investigation by the committee.

    The Senator wants the court to, among others, declare that, by virtue of Section 14(2) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017 it is ultra vires of the power of the respondents and unlawful for them to reprimand or suspend him from service of the legislative house to the end of legislative session which date is on or about Thursday. the 6th day of June. 2019.

    He also seeks a declaration that the attempt to try, indict. suspend, humiliate and destroy the political career of the applicant by the respondents and their agents without any verifiable proof of the applicant committing any known offence and without justifiable legal reasons whatsoever is not in accordance with the procedure permitted by law and ipso facto iIlegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

    Omo-Agege is praying the court for an order of perpetual injunction  restraining the Senate President, the House of Reps’ Speaker, the Deputy Senate President, The Deputy Speaker, the Clerks of the National Assembly, the Senate and House of Reps (listed as 1st, 2nd, 3rd. 4th, 8th, 9th and 10th respondents)  and their  agents “from further inquiring into, investigating, hearing or determining any issue whatsoever arising from, or pertaining to the invasion of the National Assembly by some unknown thugs and hooligans on the 18th April, 2018 and the theft thereof of the Senate mace or recommending the imposition of any sanction or penalty on the applicant in connection with the said invasion”

    Continue in page 2

  • Saraki nominated as global rights body’s ambassador

    The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has nominated Senate President Bukola Saraki as an “Ambassador-at-Large”.

    A letter, dated March 16, by Ambassador Friday Sani, the Diplomatic Head of the Commission to Nigeria and other African Countries, stated that following the approval of the World Secretary General of the IHRC, Saraki was nominated as one of the revered Ambassadors-at-Large of the multinational body.

    Read also: Base your criticism on facts, Saraki tells Tinubu

    “While our role as a regional body is to promote and encourage institutions and persons to uphold human dignity across the world, we must not fail to mention the commendation of our Nigerian team over your resolute efforts in the stability of your country and your firm leadership of the Nigerian Senate, which is adjudged to be among the most proactive parliaments across the world.

    “Besides, the commission is not unmindful of the maturity that you recently displayed in the face of an obvious provocation in your constituency during the last presidential and National Assembly elections,” Ambassador Sani said in the letter.

  • Saraki nominated IHRC Ambassador

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has been nominated as an “Ambassador-at-Large” of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC)

    A statement by the Office of the Senate President, in Abuja said that this is contained in a nomination letter dated March 16, 2019, signed by the Diplomatic Head of the Commission to Nigeria and other African Countries, Ambassador Friday Sani.

    It said that the letter stated that sequel to the approval of the World Secretary General of the IHRC, Dr. Saraki has been appointed as one of the revered Ambassadors-at-Large of the multinational body.

    Read Also: Saraki calls for sacrifices in national interest

    “While our role as a regional body is to promote and encourage institutions and persons to uphold human dignity across the world, we must not fail to mention the commendation of our Nigerian team over your resolute efforts in the stability of your country and your firm leadership of the Nigerian Senate which is adjudged to be among the most proactive parliaments across the world.

    “Besides, the Commission is not unmindful of the maturity that you recently displayed in the face of an obvious provocation in your constituency during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections,” Ambassador Sani said in the letter.

    It said that in the new capacity, Dr. Saraki is expected to lead the diplomatic team of the IHRC in various diplomatic missions across the world.

    The Senate President, on April 10th 2019, accepted the nomination of the Commission, while also expressing his appreciation to the IHRC for his nomination.

     

  • Base your criticism on facts, Saraki tells Tinubu

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to dwell on facts in his criticism of the leadership of the Senate.

    In a statement on Sunday, the former Lagos State governor defended his role in aligning with the party’s preferred candidates for the leadership of the two chambers of the incoming Ninth National Assembly.

    The APC stalwart also knocked the leadership of the Senate for working at cross purposes with President Muhammadu Buhari on key government policies, particularly the processing of the annual budget.

    But Saraki, in a statement yesterday by his Media Adviser, Yusuph Oloniyonu, decried what he called Asiwaju Tinubu’s “quarterly attacks” on the Senate President.

    The statement said: “First, he alleged that national budgets were delayed, distorted, padded, new projects introduced, funds for projects reduced ‘to halt progress of government’.

    “It is unfortunate that a man like Asiwaju Tinubu, who had been in the Senate (though for 22 months and under a military regime), should not have a better understanding of how the legislature works.

    “The passage of budgets is definitely not the exclusive responsibility of the leadership of the Senate. Most of the work is done by various committees. The committees are headed by senators representing different parties.

    “It is the level of co-operation between the committees and the MDAs (Ministries, Departments and Agencies) in the timely defence of the budget proposals and the ability of the two chambers of the National Assembly to reconcile their figures that usually determine how soon the budget is passed.

    Read also: Tinubu defends his role in Assembly leadership battle

    “To put the blame of budget delay on the Senate President or Speaker (House of Representatives) can only be playing to the gallery.

    “It is also a known fact that any so-called delay in the passage of budgets under the Eighth National Assembly is traceable to the refusal of heads of MDAs to defend the budget proposals for their agencies on time.

    “Last year, the President himself had to direct the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) to compel heads of MDAs to appear before the National Assembly committees following the report made to him by Dr. Saraki and (House of Representatives) Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    “To further make the points here clear, we invite Asiwaju Tinubu to look at the records of the time of submission of budgets and their passage since 2010 and he will see that with the exception of the 2013 budget, which was passed on December 20, 2012, all the budgets have been passed between March and May of the same fiscal year.

    “This should give him a better understanding of the fact that the date the Appropriations Bill is submitted to parliament and the readiness of the MDAs to defend the proposals submitted, as well as timely agreement on the figures by both chambers of the National Assembly, are the main determining factors on when the budget is eventually passed.”

    Saraki challenged the APC stalwart to cite specific instances where the Senate President and the leadership of the legislature sought to pad the budget with pet projects, as he alleged.

    Taking the frontline politician to task about the allegation, Saraki urged him to substantiate his allegation.

    He added: “A good example is the decision by the National Assembly to include in the 2018 Budget the one per cent of the total budget, amounting to N33 billion, as allocation for Universal Health Coverage, as provided for by an extant law, which had been hitherto observed in the breach.

    “Asiwaju Tinubu also claimed that the Senate leadership stymied APC legislative initiatives while attempting to hoist noxious reactionary and self-interested legislation on the nation.

    “We wonder what these ‘legislative initiatives’ are because in the four years of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, it has only forwarded 11 bills to the Senate, apart from the routine annual appropriations and supplementary budget proposals.

    “Two of these bills, the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill and the National Minimum Wage Bill, have been passed. One of the bills, the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act (amendment) Bill, was withdrawn by the executive following the disagreement between the Attorney-General and the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Saraki said as a leader of the Eighth National Assembly, he is proud that under his watch, the Senate surpassed the records of previous Senate in the number of bills passed, the significance of the bills to the revival of the economy, the fight against insecurity and corruption, improvement in the provision of health service and the education sector, as well as better social service delivery to the generality of the people.

    He said: “The bills passed, motions moved, intervention made and frequent engagements with the people were all directed towards addressing the day-to-day issues that affect the lives of the ordinary Nigerians.

    “The Eighth Senate has done very well and will leave a good legacy. Despite all the underhand tactics to undermine the legislature by outsiders and the public posturing, members have always worked as a team on critical issues that have benefits for our people and our nation…”

  • Base your criticism on facts, Saraki replies Tinubu

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has charged the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to dwell on facts in his criticism of the leadership of the Senate.

    Tinubu had, in a statement on Monday, defended his role in aligning with the APC in the choice of preferred candidates for the leadership of the two chambers of the federal legislature in the emerging Ninth Assembly.

    The APC chieftain also knocked the leadership of the Senate for working at cross purposes with President Muhammadu Buhari on key government policies, particularly, the processing of the annual budget.

    But Saraki, in a statement Abuja by his media adviser, Yusuph Oloniyonu, decried what he described as Tinubu’s “quarterly attacks” on the President the Senate.

    Saraki said the APC leader’s statement contained untruth, fallacies and misrepresentations, adding that it was another effort to sell a concocted narrative about the Eighth National Assembly and its leadership.

    The statement said: “First, he alleged that national budgets were delayed, distorted, padded, new projects introduced, funds for projects reduced, “to halt progress of government”.

    “It is unfortunate that a man like Tinubu who had been in the Senate (though for 22 months and under a military regime) should not have a better understanding of how the legislature works.

    “The passage of budgets is definitely not the exclusive responsibility of the leadership of the Senate.

    “Most of the work is done by the various committees. These committees are headed by Senators representing different parties.

    “It is the level of co-operation between the committees and the MDAs in the timely defence of the budget proposals and the ability of the two chambers of the National Assembly to reconcile their figures that usually determine how soon the budget is passed.

    “To put the blame of budget delay on the Senate President or Speaker can only be mischief, or at best, playing to the gallery.

    Read Also: Why Saraki, Dogara are hell bent on installing successors

    “It is also a known fact that any so-called delay in the passage of budgets under the Eighth National Assembly is traceable to the refusal of heads of MDAs to defend the budget proposals for their agencies on time.

    “Last year, the President himself had to direct the Secretary to Federal Government to compel heads of MDAs to appear before the National Assembly committees following the report made to him by Dr. Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    So, if a man like Tinubu is spreading this falsehood about budget passage and delay being deliberately orchestrated by the National Assembly leadership, one wonders whether he tries to even understand what happens in the federal legislature at all or is that the only thing that is of interest to him is ‘jockeying and maneuvering for influence’, as he puts it.

    “To further make the points here clear, we invite Tinubu to look at the records of the time of submission of budgets and their passage since 2010 and he will see that with the exception of the 2013 budget which was passed on December 20, 2012, all the budgets have been passed between March and May of the same fiscal year.

    “This should give him a better understanding of the fact that the date the Appropriations Bill is submitted to parliament and the readiness of the MDAs to defend the proposals submitted, as well as timely agreement on the figures by both chambers of the National Assembly, are the main determining factors in when the budget is eventually passed. So, Tinubu should see that the facts cannot support his spins and fake narrative”.

    Saraki challenged Tinubu to cite specific instances where the Senate President and the leadership of the legislature sought to pad the budget with pet projects, as alleged.

    Taking the APC leader to task about the allegation, Saraki charged Tinubu to be graceful enough to substantiate this allegation, insisting it was careless, irresponsible and callous.

    Demanding that Tinubu withdraw the said statement, Saraki said it’s the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to review the proposals sent by the executive and where it deems necessary, it is within the power of the legislature to make changes.

  • Saraki calls for sacrifices in national interest

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki has urged Nigerians to imbibe the value of sacrificing in the interest of the country, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ, whose selfless service to humanity is being commemorated across the world this Easter period.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President congratulated Christians in Nigeria and across the world as they celebrate the Easter festivities.

    Read also: Court gives Saraki, Dogara, 52 others five days to respond to suit challenging defection

    Saraki said: “I believe that our country will become better if we all commit ourselves to selfless service and making sacrifices, both at the individual and collective levels. I also believe that Christians, like their counterparts in other faiths, have spent the Lenten season to stand in the gap for Nigeria in particular and humanity in general. The prayers and fasting of Nigerians have been the bulwark against all the centrifugal and centripetal forces threatening to pull our nation down. We must not relent but only need to add discipline, obedience to law and more intense patriotism to our attitude.

    “I congratulate Christians and all Nigerians for the demonstration of faith in our common heritage through fasting, prayer, sober reflection and sacrifices in the interest of the country for which we now commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ.”