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Tag: Saraki

  • Assets declaration: Supreme Court rules on Saraki’s case Friday

    The Supreme Court will on Friday deliver judgment on the appeal filed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki and a cross-appeal by the Federal Government.

    The main appeal and cross-appeal are on the false assets declaration trial involving the Senate President.

    The CCT headed by Danladi Umar had in June last year upheld Saraki’s no-case submission and dismissed the 18-count charge for which he was being tried.

    The prosecution led by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal, which partially upheld the appeal in the December 12, 2017 judgment.

    The Court of Appeal restored three out of the 18 charges and ordered Saraki to enter defence on the matter.

    Saraki appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and prayed the apex court to among others, restore the decision of the CCT and dismiss the charge in its entirety.

     

  • Saraki, Dogara, Kwankwaso, Baraje, others form R-APC

    Aggrieved members of the newPeoples Democratic Party in the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday made good their threat to factionalise the party, with the emergence of the Reformed-All Progressives Congress (R-APC).

    The group, at a press conference at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja, announced Alhaji Buba Galadima as its National Chairman, Dr. Fatai Atanda (Oyo State) as National Secretary and Kazeem Afegbua (Edo State) as National Publicity Secretary.

    Galadima told reporters that the decision to form the R-APC was a fallout of the APC  congress, which he described as null and void due to the violations of the party’s constitution.

    Describing the APC under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari as “rudderless” and “incompetent”,  Galadima said the president’s highhandedness showed in his various attempts to shut out members of the nPDP even after they had table their grievances, giving him the latitude to discuss with them the best way forward.

    He said the R-APC remained the authentic party and does not need to approach the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registration, adding that anyone who feels uncomfortable with the arrangement can go to court.

    He also said Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker Yakubu Dogara are key members of the R-APC.

    Galadima described the change promised by the APC as a “fake change”, adding that the RAPC would bring real change in the 2019 elections under his authentic leadership.

    “We are saying that we are the authentic leaders if the APC, if anybody disputes that, let him go to court, we will meet him there. Do the  Senate President and the Speaker belong to any party? If they were members of any of the four parties (that formed the APC) you mentioned, it means they are part of this.

    Speaking on Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s membership, Alhaji Kawu Baraje said: “Rabiu Kwankwoso is very much with this group. We were together when the national officers’ names were being put together and we held final meetings on the address of today. So there is no cause for alarm.”

    Galadima noted that the incident in Kwara State where three leaders of the senatorial zones denounced the APC yesterday was just a tip of the iceberg as more people would soon join the R-APC.

    His words: “You will recall that in the build-up to the 2015 general elections, some political parties and groups came together, and formed a brand new political party, the  APC. This merger was based on the strong belief that Nigeria had come of age, but was severely underperforming and unable to meet its potentials for good governance. The Nigerian people entrusted power to the APC based on its promises and potentials.

    “We are sad to report that after more than three years of governance, our hopes have been betrayed, our expectations completely dashed. The APC has run a rudderless, inept and incompetent government that has failed to deliver good governance to the Nigerian people. It has rather imposed dictatorship, impunity, abuse of power, complete abdication of constitutional and statutory responsibilities, infidelity to the rule of law and constitutionalism. It has failed to ensure the security and welfare of our people and elevated nepotism to unacceptable height. The APC has failed to deliver on its key promises to the nation. There is no evidence of any  political will to reverse the decline of our party while leaders who have created these circumstances continue to behave as if Nigerians owe our party votes as a matter of right.

    “The APC government has been a monumental disaster, even worse than the government it replaced. The political party that was a vehicle for enthroning the government was rendered powerless by manipulations and complete lack of due process in its operations.

    “The last straw was the Congresses and Convention of the APC held recently. The Congresses were intensely disputed as it was conducted with impunity, total disregard for due process, disregard for the party Constitution and naked display of power and practices that have no place in a party we all worked very hard to put in place.

    “There are countless cases in courts all over the country challenging the legality of congresses and even the National Convention itself. It is very likely that the judicial decisions on these cases will result in massive chaos, confusion and uncertainties. The fate of a party in this state with a few months to the elections is best left to the imagination, but it is not a fate we believe our millions of members should be abandoned to. There were parallel congresses in 24 states, namely: Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara.

    ”These congresses in wards, local government areas and states all over the federation produced different sets of delegates. We therefore had an unfortunate situation where the party has been seriously factionalised and divided in not just 24 states but the 36 states and Abuja FCT.”

    To Galadima, the National Convention, which was hailed by many as successful, was “even worse”. He said it was full of what he described as “constitutional infirmities”, adding that these were “so glaring and obvious that no fair minded person can claim that a legitimate and lawful executive emerged from that process”.

    He said the nominees should not have been declared elected as that violated the Constitution of the APC.

    ”Indeed, Article 20 of the APC Constitution is very clear and explicit. It envisages a situation where if at the close of nomination, only one person is nominated, the Convention must vote “Yes” or “No”, for each candidate before he is declared duly elected,” he said.

    ”We all witnessed on live television and at the venue, Eagles Square Abuja, that the Convention Chairman, only put the “Yes” question to all the delegates, using words to the effect: Do you affirm? Do you agree? There was no opportunity whatsoever given to the delegates to say whether they are voting “No” for any candidate as the “No” question was never put to them,” Galadima said.

    ”It may well be that it the convention Chairman put the “No” Question, the voice vote for the “Noes”, may have been more. We will never know, since it was never done, contrary to the express provisions of the APC Constitution. It is therefore unquestionably clear that the 18 officers of APC that was “Elected” through this process could not have been duly elected.”

    He spoke of “widespread disenchantment with the manner the party has been run, and the conduct and performance of our governments”, adding that the nPDP “made strenuous efforts to invite attention to inequities, injustice and poor management  in our party without any success”.  He said the group’s “good faith” was rewarded with “indifference and even contempt”.

    With scenario painted above, Galadima said the original founders of the party resolved to

    “take control and give legitimacy to APC to be now known as and called REFORMED-APC (R-APC).”

    He noted that: “The R-APC as constituted have officers in all the wards, 774 Local Governments, and all the 36 States of the Federation, including the FCT. The R-APC also have National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee and other organs of the Party are properly constituted and functional. Some of the National Officers of the R-APC  include:  Yobe State – Buba Galadima (National Chairman),  Kano State – Bala Muhd Gwagwarwa (National Deputy Chairman, North),  Abia State – Chief Theo Nkire (National Deputy Chairman, South East), Ondo State – Hon. Eko Olakunle (National Vice Chairman South West),  Kaduna State – Hon. Hussaini Dambo (National Vice Chairman North West), Kogi State – Mahmud Mohammed Abubakar – (National Vice Chairman, North Central), Benue State – Hon. Godwin Akaan (Deputy National Secretary),  Oyo State -Dr Fatai Atanda (National Secretary), Edo State – Kazeem Afegbua (National Publicity Secretary) and Adamawa State – Daniel Bwala (Financial Secretary).

    Others are:  Jigawa State – Abba Malami Taura (Deputy National Auditor),  Kwara  State – Hon. Kayode Omotosho (National Treasurer),  Anambra State -Barr. Nicholas Asuzu (National Youth Leader), Rivers State – Barr. Baride A. Gwezia (Legal Adviser), Katsina State – Haj Aisha Kaita (National Woman Leader), Bauchi State – Mrs. Fatima Adamu (National Welfare Secretary),  Ogun State -Alh. Isiak Akinwumi (Deputy Financial Secretary),  Zamfara State – Alh. Bashir Mai Mashi (Deputy National Treasurer),  Abuja – Hauwa Adam Mamuda (Deputy Welfare Secretary), Sokoto State – Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir (Deputy National Publicity Secretary),  Katsina State – M. T. Liman (National Organising Secretary) and  Niger State – Dr Theo Sheshi ( Deputy National Organising Secretary)

    Some of the State Chairmen include: Adamawa  – Dimas Ezra, Anambra – Sir Toby Chukwudi Okwuaya,  Bauchi – Sani Shehu,  Benue – Noah Mark Dickson, Jigawa – Hon. Nasiru Garba Dantiye, Kaduna – Col. Gora (Rtd),  Kano – Umar Haruna Doguwa,  Katsina – Sada Ilu,  Kogi – Alh. Hadi Ametuo,  Ogun – Alhaji Adeleke Adewale Taofeek,  Ondo –  Hon. Otetubi Idowu,  Oyo – Alh. Ali Alimi Isiaka Adisa, Yobe – Mohammed Burgo Dalah, Zamfara – Alh. Nasiru Yakubu, Niger – Hon. Samaila Yusuf Kontagora and FCT – Adaji Usman.

  • Security agencies not doing enough, says Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said yesterday that the National Assembly foresaw the current spate of killings in parts of the country, hence its recent invitation of security chiefs with a view to nipping the problem in the bud.

    He said some of the killings could have been prevented had the necessary action been taken by the appropriate agencies.

    He regretted that some of the security chiefs misconstrued the intention of the federal lawmakers and chose to ignore the invitation.

    “We are beginning to see the wisdom in some of the things we were saying. We have always stood for what we believe is good for this country. We always politicise everything in this country,” Saraki told reporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    But he vowed that the National Assembly under his leadership would not shirk its responsibility.

    His words: “The National Assembly under my leadership, many months ago, had seen the danger. We had called for security summit to address the issue of security architecture.

    “We had seen the need for us to review the security structure. We had invited service chiefs on the matter. You are all very aware that some service chiefs decided in their own wisdom that there is no need for them to work with the NASS to address these issues.”

    Saraki said the security challenge requires a drastic action immediately.

    “There is no society experiencing incessant killings as it is and then we think it is business as usual,” he said.

    “It requires drastic action. It requires collective collaboration of all agencies and all arms of government for us to be serious. We on our part at the NASS, we will not get frustrated but we have been sounding this alarm.

    “A society where gunmen could go in, shoot for seven hours and nobody is caught, that is not a normal society.”

    He said that the National Assembly will, on resumption from recess, continue to “ensure that those who have the responsibility of protecting lives and property are accountable to the people.”

    “It cannot continue. It is not something to be politicized. If somebody is not capable he should give way for others that are competent. We have heard that security personnel are working at cross purposes. A is not talking to B and B is not talking to C. They don’t attend meetings jointly. Things need to be done.

    “Let us forget about party, these are people’s lives. It is not about the Speaker of House of Representatives or the Senate President, it is about Nigeria.

    “The sooner we see that and address this, the better. Some of these could have been prevented since we have been shouting about this.

    “Until we sit down – the presidency and legislature – to thrash out the issues…We must discuss the issues. Something needs to be done. Something is wrong. This cannot continue.”

  • NASS will release details of N139.5b budget – Saraki

    Details of the National Assembly’s N139.5 billion allocations in the 2018 national budget will not be kept secret from the public, Senate President, Senator Olusola Saraki has pledged.

    However, this will only be done after the National Assembly resumes from recess and receives details from officials of the NASS management.

    Responding to enquiries from The Nation, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to the Senate President, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu said  the Senate President is keen on  releasing  details of this year’s NASS budget, stressing that the move would be a further confirmation of  his  pledge to ensure a ‘new order’.

    “It did not take anybody’s prompting for the 2017 details to be released and that was the first to be done in a decade,” Olaniyonu said.

    The NASS will resume from their short recess on Tuesday.

    He added: “The bureaucracy that is working on the details will submit it for final approval before it is released.

    “The release of details of 2017 NASS budget was not happenstance; it was a deliberate effort to create a new order and sustain it.

    “So, if you care to wait, the details will be released in due course and not because anybody asked for it.”

    Until last year when broad aspects of its 2017 allocation were made public, the legislative arm’s multi-billion annual budgetary allocations had always been shrouded in secret.

    The secrecy surrounding its budget has always given rise to speculations and allegations of waste.

    However, in spite of several federal legislators’ reservations last year, Senate President released a broad outline of NASS’ budgetary allocations.

  • Saraki, Lalong: let’s change Nigeria’s security structure

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and Plateau State Goveror Simon Lalong yesterday spoke of the need to change the nation’s security structure to stem killings.

    They spoke during Saraki’s visit to the governor to condole with him over last weekend’s killings of villagers and farmers by suspectd herdsmen.

    The Plateau attacks are the latest by the herdsmen, whose deadly activities have led to mass deaths, mainly in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and Kogi states.

    “Something is wrong; unless we want to deceive ourselves. It might not have started today but let us sit down at a table and find a solution to it.

    “Definitely something is not working right and it is upon us and we must collaborate to correct it,” Saraki said.

    He praised the governor’s efforts to stop the killings.

    Saraki, however, advised  Lalong to be fair and just in governing the people, saying that God would be on his side to guide him if he does what is right.

    Saraki said the National Assembly would, through its oversight function, ensure that whatever was required to stem the killings was done.

    Lalong said: “I agree with you that we need new security architecture because if we allow people to be killed before we look for the reasons that they were killed, it is unfortunate.

    “It is better that they must be proactive, know what is coming and take action before it happens.”

    The governor added that he was taken aback at what happened because it happened in a very short time.

    According to him, before he left for the APC national convention, he interacted with security chiefs and community leaders and there was no tension or cause to worry.

    He said shortly after they began to announce results, he was informed that his state was on fire and he immediately left the convention to rush back home.

    “We are doing our best to ensure that the crisis doesn’t spread to other parts of state,” Lalong assured.

  • UPDATED: We’ll try our best to stop killings – Saraki

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Wednesday the National Assembly would play its roles in the efforts to end killings in the country.

    Saraki gave the assurance in a chat with State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also attended the meeting convened by the President following last weekend’s attacks in Plateau State where about 90 people were killed by suspected herdsmen.

    He said: “We met with the President to first of all commiserated with him and get a briefing from him. During the briefing, he explained how steps are being taken to forestall reoccurrence and restore sanity because this is a great concern to him and to us also.

    “To see what can be done with NEMA and security agencies, we will all work towards it. Nobody is happy with the situation and we will all come together to ensure that we restore sanity.

    “We commiserate with all families, it is our own intention to also go and pay our own condolence visit to the people of Plateau State.

    “Our general appeal at the end of the day is that we all live together in peace and harmony and we will continue to do our best to see that this kind of thing does not happen again.”

    Dogara expressed condolence to Mr. President, the government and people of Plateau State over the killings in the state.

    The Speaker said the President has briefed them on what he saw during his visit to Plateau on Tuesday and measures he is putting in place to prevent reoccurrence.

    He said: “These are very sober moments for all of us in a situation where people in hundreds are continued to be killed and we can no longer tolerate this kind of situation as a government.

    “Whatever it is we must not lose the fight against violence because we can’t lose that fight and still keep our civilization.

    “If you go to the North East you can see the level of devastation caused by Boko Haram. Everything resembling progress from schools to hospitals to government institutions had been pulled down. And we don’t want a replication of this all over the country.

     

  • Court picks September 25 for ruling in IGP’s suit against Senate

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed September for judgement on a suit filed by the Inspector -General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, against the Senate and its President, Bukola Saraki.

    Justice John Tsoho chose the date after listening to IGP’s lawyer, Alex Izinyon (SAN), argued on behalf of his client and urged the court to grant the plaintiff’s prayers.

    Idris is challenging the propriety of the May 9 resolution of the Senate, describing him as ” enemy of democracy and unfit to hold any public office within and outside Nigeria.”

    He is praying the court to, among others, quash the resolution of the Senate because it lacks the powers to declare him unfit to hold public office in Nigeria or elsewhere.

  • Plateau killings: Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara in Aso Rock

    *We’ll try our best to stop killings,  Says Saraki 

    *Nigeria can’t afford to lose fight against violence  –  Dogara 

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Wednesday assured that the National Assembly will play its roles to urgently end the spate of killings in the country.
    He gave the assurance when himself and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Saraki said “We met with the president to first of all commiserated with him and get a briefing from him. Part of the briefing he explained how steps are being taken to forestall reoccurrence and restore sanity because this is a great concern to him and to us also.
    “To see what can be done with NEMA and security agencies, we will all work towards it, nobody is happy with it and we will all come together to ensure that we restore sanity.
    “We commiserate with all families, it is our own intention to also go and pay our own condolence visit to the people of Plateau.
    “Our general appeal at the end of the day is that we all live together in peace and harmony and we will continue to do our best to see that this kind of thing does not happen again.” he said
    Dogara expressed condolence to Mr. President, the government and people of Plateau state over the killings in the state.
    According to him, the President has briefed them on what he saw first hand when he visited Plateau Tuesday and measures he is putting in place to prevent reoccurence.
    He said “These are very sober moments for all of us in a situation where people in hundreds are continued to be killed and we can no longer tolerate this kind of situation as a government.
    “Whatever it is we must not  loose the fight against violence because we can’t loose that fight and still keep our civilization.
    “If you go to the north east you can see the level of devastation caused by Boko Haram everything resembling progress from schools to hospitals to government institutions, everything has been pulled down. And we don’t want a replication of this all over the country.
    “The President has taken enough steps, these are security issues, they are not matters that you can discuss but he has told us what he is doing, the reorganization that he plans to put in place to ensure that this don’t happen.
    “My advise to our people not just Plateau State, Benue, Zamfara, Taraba virtually some communities faced with this situation especially in the north, I think the issue of securing our communities, living in peace must be taken as a project, is something each and everyone of us must invest in whether as traditional rulers, as community leaders, councilors, chairmen, all strata of society must invest in peace building.
    That is is the only way we can live in a secure community and ensure that we progress as a country.” he said

  • ‘Time will tell’ on my position in APC, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday declared that time will determine his position in the affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Saraki noted that although he does not want to dwell on the issue of whether he is still wanted in APC or not, “time will tell” what happens.

    The Senate President made the declaration at a farewell dinner for delegates of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress which he hosted in Abuja.

    The Senate President was responding to a comment by the Chairman, Daily Trust Newspapers, Kabiru Yusuf, who praised him for going to Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj, went to Russia where he addressed the Russian parliament and returned home to attend the APC convention “a party to which he belongs but which increasingly does not belong to him.”

    Saraki appeared to have been taken aback by the remark that he “belongs to APC but increasingly the party does not belong to him.”

    He said, “Kabiru made a comment and said that he welcomes me as a member of the party and further said he is not sure if the party welcomes me as much as I welcome them.

    “I am not going to comment on that because I will be here all night commenting on that. I won’t like to be the front page story but time will tell on that.

    “Already, based on this comment, I know most newspapers headline would be time will tell. So I won’t be surprised if I check This Day newspapers and I see: The Senate President says time will tell.”

    On the IPI World Congress in Africa, Saraki expressed hope that in the near future Africa receives nod to host it again.

    He also expressed pleasure that the world’s best journalists, editors and media executives converged in Nigeria to explore the theme – ‘Why Good Journalism Matters: Quality Media For Strong Societies’.

    Saraki noted that he had no doubt, from the engaging sessions and enriching discussions over the last couple of days, many strategies should have been formulated that will take the practice of journalism to new heights around the world.

    He welcomed IPI officials to Nigeria and called for more regular visits, and indeed annual congresses, in Africa.

    “This, I believe, will make for better understanding of Nigerians and Africans in the eyes of the international media. When international journalists themselves come in our midst and get the right position about Africa, the image of our continent will start to improve in the eyes of the world out there,” Saraki said.

    The visiting journalists, he said, will agree with him that “negative stereotypes of the so-called ‘dark continent’ have been bandied about for too long.

    “This has had an unfortunate effect on the development of Africa, as well as the sense of pride and dignity of young Africans down the ages.”

    The Senate President said that they know that “these negative notions of Africa are largely misconceptions.”

    According to him, “in those cases where there may have been some truth in them, what we also know is that culture is not static. Some things that may have been true of Nigeria in the 1930s are no longer the case in the Nigeria of today. We can say much the same about America in many respects, or indeed of any place else.

    “Culture is dynamic and refreshes itself; it evolves. It would therefore be appropriate for the larger world’s view of Africa to move apace, in line with the changing times.  The media is key to achieving this.”

    He added that “how we begin to redress the balance goes to the heart of responsible journalism itself.

    “It starts with quality, accurate and objective reporting – the hallmarks of good journalism. Objectivity and impartiality, those time-honoured principles of responsible journalism, cannot be over-emphasised,” he said.

    Saraki noted that “as Nigeria heads into the 2019 election year, we plead with the press – national and international – to maintain objectivity at all times in their reporting.”

    “I say this because there can be no democracy without credible elections. If we get the election right, then we have a better chance of making a stronger society.

    “We are living in times that call on the press to strive, more than ever, to defend freedoms. Events all over the world attest to the urgency of this.

    “The media must be a defender of values; it must stand for rights, for openness – for the remaking of a world where the powerful will not oppress the weak.”

    The Senate President I noted that “in the era of Fake News, especially with the fragmentation of the social contract as we are witnessing all over the world today, it is clear to me that the media cannot afford to be complacent.”

    The media, he insisted, “cannot allow itself to be complicit” saying “when false claims are made, which could heat up the polity – or set different groups off against one another – it behoves the media to expose these by countering with verifiable facts.”

    He recognised that the media is facing its own challenges, due in part to the internet and the rise of social media.

    “So also, are the modes of relaying the news to an audience whose preference for receiving mass communication is also changing with each passing day.

    “The media must adapt for this rapidly changing environment, in order that the journalist may fulfill his or her role, in the Lincolnian tradition, as a defender of democracy.”

    Saraki who said that more than ever, the media must be proactive in defending the people’s right to know added that “in spite of the obstacles, the press must press on, because it is its responsibility to help society know itself better.”

    He said that the media is a galvanising artery that holds the world together, a collective mirror to global conscience.

    “We salute you, and thank you for your steadfastness and courage, despite the privations suffered in the journalist’s pursuit of the people’s right to know,” he said.

    He assured of the continued support of the Senate, and indeed the entire 8th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to ensuring a free and vibrant press capable of playing its part in strengthening democratic norms.

    “We stand committed to upholding press freedom, and to come to the aid of journalists whenever the need arises.

    “Our doors are open and will remain open to ideas, strategies and policies for improving the practice of journalism in Nigeria  and the condition of the journalists themselves – in line with global standards,” he said.

  • Time will tell on my position in APC, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Saturday declared that time will determine his position in the affairs of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Saraki noted that although he does not want to dwell on the issue of whether he is still wanted in APC or not, he said “time will tell what happens.”

    The Senate President made the declaration at a farewell dinner for delegates of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress which he hosted in Abuja.

    The Senate President was responding to a comment by the Chairman, Daily TrustNewspapers, Kabiru Yusuf, who praised him for going to Saudi Arabia to perform the Lesser Hajj, went to Russia where he addressed the Russian parliament and returned home to attend the APC convention “a party to which he belongs but which increasingly does not belong to him.”

    Saraki appeared to have been taken aback by the remark that he “belongs to APC but increasingly the party does not belong to him.”

    He said, “Kabiru made a comment and said that he welcomes me as a member of the party and further said he is not sure if the party welcomes me as much as I welcome them.

    “I am not going to comment on that because I will be here all night commenting on that. I won’t like to be the front page story but time will tell on that.

     “Already, based on this comment, I know most newspapers headline would be time will tell. So I won’t be surprised if I check This Day newspapers and I see: The Senate President says time will tell.”

    On the IPI World Congress in Africa, Saraki expressed hope that in the near future Africa will receive nod to host it again.

    He also expressed pleasure that the world’s best journalists, editors and media executives converged in Nigeria to explore the theme – ‘Why Good Journalism Matters: Quality Media For Strong Societies’.

    Saraki noted that he had no doubt, from the engaging sessions and enriching discussions over the last couple of days, many strategies should have been formulated that will take the practice of journalism to new heights around the world.

    He welcomed IPI officials to Nigeria and called for more regular visits, and indeed annual congresses, in Africa.

     “This, I believe, will make for better understanding of Nigerians and Africans in the eyes of the international media. When international journalists themselves come in our midst and get the right position about Africa, the image of our continent will start to improve in the eyes of the world out there,” Saraki said.

    The visiting journalists, he said, will agree with him that “negative stereotypes of the so-called ‘dark continent’ have been bandied about for too long.

    “This has had an unfortunate effect on the development of Africa, as well as the sense of pride and dignity of young Africans down the ages.”

    The Senate President said that they know that “these negative notions of Africa are largely misconceptions.”

    According to him, “in those cases where there may have been some truth in them, what we also know is that culture is not static. Some things that may have been true of Nigeria in the 1930s are no longer the case in the Nigeria of today. We can say much the same about America in many respects, or indeed of any place else.

    “Culture is dynamic and refreshes itself; it evolves. It would therefore be appropriate for the larger world’s view of Africa to move apace, in line with the changing times.  The media is key to achieving this.”

    He added that “how we begin to redress the balance goes to the heart of responsible journalism itself.

    “It starts with quality, accurate and objective reporting – the hallmarks of good journalism. Objectivity and impartiality, those time-honoured principles of responsible journalism, cannot be over-emphasised,” he said.

    Saraki noted that “as Nigeria heads into the 2019 election year, we plead with the press – national and international – to maintain objectivity at all times in their reporting.”

     “I say this because there can be no democracy without credible elections. If we get the election right, then we have a better chance of making a stronger society.

    “We are living in times that call on the press to strive, more than ever, to defend freedoms. Events all over the world attest to the urgency of this.

    “The media must be a defender of values; it must stand for rights, for openness – for the remaking of a world where the powerful will not oppress the weak.”

    The Senate President I noted that “in the era of Fake News, especially with the fragmentation of the social contract as we are witnessing all over the world today, it is clear to me that the media cannot afford to be complacent.”

     The media, he insisted, “cannot allow itself to be complicit” saying “when false claims are made, which could heat up the polity – or set different groups off against one another – it behoves the media to expose these by countering with verifiable facts.”

    He recognised that the media is facing its own challenges, due in part to the internet and the rise of social media.

    “So also, are the modes of relaying the news to an audience whose preference for receiving mass communication is also changing with each passing day.

    “The media must adapt for this rapidly changing environment, in order that the journalist may fulfill his or her role, in the Lincolnian tradition, as a defender of democracy.”

    Saraki who said that more than ever, the media must be proactive in defending the people’s right to know added that “in spite of the obstacles, the press must press on, because it is its responsibility to help society know itself better.”

    He said that the media is a galvanising artery that holds the world together, a collective mirror to global conscience.

    “We salute you, and thank you for your steadfastness and courage, despite the privations suffered in the journalist’s pursuit of the people’s right to know,” he said.

    He assured of the continued support of the Senate, and indeed the entire 8th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to ensuring a free and vibrant press capable of playing its part in strengthening democratic norms.

    “We stand committed to upholding press freedom, and to come to the aid of journalists whenever the need arises.

    “Our doors are open and will remain open to ideas, strategies and policies for improving the practice of journalism in Nigeria  and the condition of the journalists themselves – in line with global standards,” he said.