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Tag: Saraki

  • Saraki, Dogara report IG to Buhari

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara yesterday reported the Inspector-General Ibrahim Idris to President Muhammadu Buhari over the police boss’ refusal to appear before the upper chamber.

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

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

    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 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 added that himself and the Speaker came to the Villa at the invitation of the President, who briefed them on his trip to the United States (U.S.) 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.”

    On how soon the budget will be passed,  he said: “Well, hopefully it should 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.”

    Asked if he would 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 metted out to Melaye, Dogara said the police 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 important that all institutions of democracy operate within the ambit of the rule of law.

    “There is nowhere,  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.”

    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 offence 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.”

  • How Buhari’s men plan to checkmate Saraki, Dogara, others

    Strategists of President Muhammadu Buhari are leaving nothing to chance in the event that some bigwigs of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dump the party in the build up to next year’s elections.

    The Buhari camp has in place a Plan B to mitigate the effects of the possible defection of the likes of Senate President  Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, Senator  Rabiu Kwankwaso, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Senator  Aliyu Wammako, and  Senator  Ahmed Yerima, among others.

    Also tipped to defect are Senators Shehu Sani, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Magnus Abe, Dino Melaye, and some other Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    The Buhari strategists, The Nation gathered authoritatively yesterday, have come to the conclusion that some political heavyweights of the APC are on their way out of the party.

    Citing some recent political developments, the strategists at a meeting in Abuja said the bigwigs might abandon Buhari by shifting base from APC to PDP.

    One of the likely defectors is said to have taken a secret trip to  Port Harcourt last weekend to see Governor Nyesom Wike, escaping a near mishap when the chartered jet convening his delegation ran into a storm mid-air.

    The trip was made under the cover of an official engagement.

    Highly placed political sources said Thursday’s inauguration of the Liyel Imoke Committee by the PDP to work out modalities for receiving the APC bigwigs and alliances to ease out Buhari in 2019 was not co-incidental.

    The committee has its origin in what the sources called a secret agreement in Port Harcourt to hasten up the gale of defections.

    The committee was inaugurated by the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.

    Responding to the PDP threat, the Buhari strategists decided  to be a step ahead of the defectors, not wanting to be caught napping like ex-President Goodluck Jonathan when high profile PDP members left him in the lurch in 2014.

    It was gathered that the strategists have devised a “state-by-state” response and what one of the more reliable strategists called a “local content” solution.

    Giving an insight into the Plan B and why Buhari supporters are prepared for ‘aftershock’, one of the sources said: “With the exit of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the pattern is predictable for Buhari strategists. Some chieftains have shown by their conduct that they are no longer with APC in spirit. Some steps taken by these leaders are pointing to likely defection. We cannot be caught unawares again.

    “We know some of those who may defect because intelligence has indicated that some of them are already negotiating the terms of their defection with a few opposition parties.

    “We will give a peculiar local response or local content to each of the defectors. It is going to be high-wire politics.”

    Kano State

    “For instance in Kano State, it is obvious that Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso will leave APC because of his presidential ambition and irreconcilable crisis of confidence with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje.

    “He wants to prove a point by stopping Ganduje from earning a second term ticket. Since he is extremely popular in Kano, his candidate can become the next governor of the state in 2019 on a 50-50 per cent basis.

    “We also do not rule out the possibility of a repeat of the election of Senator Aliyu Sabo Bakin Zuwo (of the defunct PRP) in 1983 as governor of Kano State against the highly favoured Abubakar Rimi of the defunct Nigerian Peoples Party (NPP). Kwankwaso can spring a surprise like Bakin Zuwo

    “But Kwankwaso may not go far against Buhari in the presidential race because of some hurdles. His challenge is the platform to use because he has to face a stiff competition for the presidential ticket with his local rival, ex-Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, ex-VP Atiku, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo, ex-Governor Sule Lamido, ex-Governor Attahiru  Bafarawa, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and others.

    “The permutation of Buhari strategists is that if Kwankwaso gets the ticket of PDP, it will be easier to work with Shekarau’s camp to get substantial votes from Kano.

    “Certainly, there will be split votes in Kano in 2019 but the strategists are working hard on how Buhari, who has a solid support base in Kano, can secure at least 60 to 70 per cent of the presidential votes in the state.”

    Kwara State

    The source said some PDP leaders are in subterranean alliance with Buhari’s camp in case Senate President Saraki moves to PDP.

    The Buhari camp plans to  work with PDP leaders (mostly from Kwara Central) who may ditch the opposition party in protest against the possible  return of Saraki and his anointed candidates for the governorship and other election levels.

    His words: “With the alliance, Buhari may get  between  45%  and  47% of the votes from Kwara State and the  Kwara South Senatorial seat for APC which the incumbent governor from Ifelodun Local Government Area is interested in against Saraki’s long time ally, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, the current Senator.

    “The results of the 2015 governorship election showed that the APC candidate, Governor Ahmed secured 295,832 votes to defeat the runner-up, Senator Simeon Ajibola, of the Peoples Democratic Party by 115,220 votes.

    “A major plan of Buhari’s strategists is to close the gap in 2019 by working with those who may leave PDP like former Minister of National Planning, Professor Abubakar Suleiman, Saraki’s ex-Adviser, Moshood Mustapha, ex-VC of UNILORIN, Prof. Shuaibu Oba, Yinka Aluko, ex-PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Ajibola and others.

    “If Saraki concedes the Kwara South Senatorial ticket to Offa, his camp can easily win the three senatorial districts in Kwara State. But if he allows the rivalry between the governor and Sen. Rafiu to fester, his camp might lose Kwara South because either of them can play a spoiler game.

    “Most of those against Saraki’s hegemony in Kwara State are from Kwara South where the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed comes from. Saraki is worried that Mohammed has not been forthcoming in checking the ‘rebels’ in APC.

    “Saraki has however taken his political destiny in his own hands to avoid any slip. He has been shuttling between Abuja and Kwara State in the past few weeks to fortify his base, and holding series of meetings and events in the state, sometimes without the knowledge of the governor who has allegedly created a political baggage for him.

    “His major headache is the choice of the governorship candidate for Kwara State in 2019 from either  Kwara Central or Kwara North which produced a governor last in 1992 (26 years ago) in the person of Senator Mohammed Sha’aba Lafiagi.

    “The Emirs and other traditional rulers in Lafiagi recently stormed Abuja to demand the governorship slot from Saraki who asked them to resolve the divisions in Kwara North first. These rulers have raised a three-man panel on how to resolve the rifts in Kwara North.

    “If Saraki crosses over to PDP, he will have the same problem of where to pick the next governor from between Kwara Central (the largest voting population area and where opposition to Saraki is unusually coming from) and Kwara North which has been deciding the fate of every elected governor in the state since 1979.

    “Those opposed to Saraki either in APC or PDP are waiting for a slip by him on the choice of party and governorship candidate before forming an alliance against him for Buhari’s camp to capitalize on.

    “As part of the Plan B, some APC chieftains are pushing for the choice of Saraki’s sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, as the national women leader of APC at the forthcoming national convention of the party.

    “APC leaders from Kwara South are already plotting against the current National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi by claiming that the slot was conceded to them by the party following the election of Alhaji Lai Mohammed before he became a minister.

    “Pro-Saraki leaders insisted that the office was only zoned to Kwara and not any senatorial district. But it is obvious that Sen. Gbemisola’s candidacy is meant to whittle down the influence of Bukola Saraki.

    “Kwara may end up with two national officers of APC if the proposal is approved.”

    Sokoto State

    The presidential ambition of Governor Aminu Tambuwal may  force the Buhari camp to negotiate with ex-Governor Aliyu Wammako, who is closer to a strategic member of  what is called the cabal.

    The source added: “Although Wammako shares a political bond with Saraki, those in Buhari’s camp believe his grievances can be addressed if they are given local touch.

    “There is a plan by Buhari’s strategists to return the party structure to the ex-governor in order to determine who will be the next governor of the state in 2019 and other elective posts. If the plan works out, Wammako may be able to install his governorship favourite in 2015, Farouk Malami Yabo (ex-Commissioner for Finance).

    “But if Wammako sticks to his new found political ally (Governor Tambuwal) and shifts base to PDP, the alternative for Buhari’s strategists is to strengthen a faction of APC  in Sokoto called APC Buhariyya which is propping up Dahiru Yusuf Yabo (a former Commissioner for Water Resources) as its gubernatorial hopeful. The Buhariyya group comprises those formerly in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

    “The target of the President’s men is Wammako who has proven to be unbeatable in Sokoto State.

    “The terrain is also slippery for Wammako because the governor has planted all his loyalists in the APC structures from ward to the State Executive Committee. He has been boxed into a corner in a manner that only Tambuwal-anointed candidate can emerge as APC governorship flag bearer even if he moves to PDP.

    “It will be in the interest of Wammako to remain in APC and allow Tambuwal to wander to PDP for the presidential ticket.”

    Benue State

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State is believed to be considering switching allegiance to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) because the PDP has shut its doors against him unless he wants to be an ordinary member of the party.

    His chances as APC governorship candidate are not brighter either because his godfather, Senator George Akume, is no longer favourably disposed to him.

    But SDP is willing to admit Ortom into its camp because of his grassroots connection and the political mileage which the killings in Benue State have earned him.

    “Benue appears a write-off but strategists are relying on a change of governorship candidate to win the sympathy of the people of the state or, at worse, secure the mandatory 25 per cent of the total votes cast for Buhari,” another source said.

    “While some strategists and forces in the presidency prefer the Managing Director of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Emmanuel Jime (who was APC governorship aspirant in 2015), Akume, the kingmaker in the state, wants Mr. Titus Tartenger Zam, who is a Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to Governor Ortom.

    “It is left to the strategists to take a risk or defer to Akume who holds the ace. But Ortom’s plot to control the party machinery in the state might box Akume into a corner.

    “The likely exit of Ortom to SDP will leave three parties (APC, PDP, SDP) competing for votes in the state.”

    Zamfara State

    Sources said Senator  Yerima’s next move appears unclear for now “because of his romance with Saraki.”

    However, Buhari’s  camp is banking on Governor Abdulaziz Yari, some Yarimawa like ex-Governor Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi and his running mate in  2015, Madami Dandoto, and a  former Deputy Governor in the state, Muktari Anka and others to checkmate the ex-governor.

    “The battle is likely to be a royal one because the governor is interested in installing his successor in 2019 and he wants to contest for the senatorial seat being occupied presently by Yerima,” one source said.

    “Yerima has told his political son that he is not yet ready to retire from politics now.”

    Buhari’s strategists have the weighty influence of a former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, traditional rulers in the state and the unending killings in Zamfara to cope with.

    “We think Gusau is in league with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and ex-President Ibrahim Babangida to stop Buhari in 2019,” another strategist added.

    Bauchi State

    Governor Mohammed Abubakar’s strong hold on the party’s structure in Bauchi State is posing immense threat to the political career of House of Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who represents Bogoro/Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency.

    From the look of things, it is unlikely that Dogara will get a ticket to return to the National Assembly or even have a shot at the governorship.

    Although the Speaker has reported the governor to the presidency, not much intervention seems to have taken place.

    The APC National Secretariat in August 2017 sent a Fact-Finding and Reconciliation Committee to the Bauchi State chapter but the panel which was headed by Labour and Employment Minister Chris Ngige could not go far.

    A source said: “The Cold War between Dogara and the governor may lead to the exit of the Speaker from APC to PDP where he will join forces with leaders like ex-Governor Isa Yuguda and ex-FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed to fight the governor.

    “The Speaker in May 2017, said: ‘It was because the people were getting so angry that they decided to take their destiny in their hands and everybody knows. You can find out from them in Bauchi that that was the direction we were heading to, a very dangerous direction and the president needed to intervene.’

    “Buhari’s strategists are aware that Bauchi State is politically fluid. The signs of the deep crisis in APC in the state were obvious at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi during the recent visit of the President to the state.

    “The strategists are relying on total reconciliation with top politicians like Dogara, Yusuf Tuggar and all the segments of the state to save the situation for Buhari. The reconciliation may involve President Buhari this time around.

    “Apart from politicians, the traditional institution is unhappy with the deposition of about 150 district heads and civil servants were shocked by the suspension of their pay for three months. In fact, of the 12 members of the House of Representatives from the state, only five Reps are with the governor.”

    A source said: “Once Tambuwal defects to PDP, Dogara will follow, I can tell you this.”

    Kaduna State

    Apart from his hometown, Daura, President Buhari is emotionally attached to Kaduna where he almost lost his life to a bomb ambush about four years ago. Well-loved and treated like a tin-god by his large support base, Kaduna is an electoral nightmare for Buhari in spite of the pretence by Governor Nasir el-Rufai.

    In an apparently frustrated tone, el-Rufai on Friday declared the three Senators representing the state as useless for allegedly blocking a $350m loan request by the State Government. The senators are Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central), Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) both of the APC and Danjuma Leah (Kaduna South), who is from the opposition PDP.

    Beyond the loan palaver, the battle ahead in 2019 is the hidden motive behind the vituperations of the governor.

    The facts are not adding up in the presidency and among Buhari’s strategists on the logjam in Kaduna. The entire Kaduna South is almost lost due to incessant killings such that the governor has not been able to attend major events in the area lately.

    The other two Senatorial districts are not an easy ride for el-Rufai who is Buhari’s self-acclaimed 2019 polls salesman.

    The most difficult will be Kaduna North where  Hunkuyi, ex-Governor  Ahmed Makarfi, ex-Governor Ramalan Yero,  a game changer, Isa Ashiru and the aggrieved huge population of followers of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim Yaqoub el-Zakzaky hail or operate from. El-Rufai is from Kaduna North although he votes in Kaduna Central.

    Except for the influence of ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo in Kaduna Central, Senator Sani poses less political threat to Buhari because his senatorial ticket was a “consequence of Buhari-el-Rufai’s benevolence in 2015.”

    Reputed as a human rights activist, Sani is not a natural or typical Nigerian politician. Although he is gifted with oratory skills, he will have to lean on big politicians like the ex-VP and the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki (who can negotiate his exit from APC to PDP) to realize his governorship or senatorial ambition.

    But with the control of party machinery by el-Rufai, there were indications yesterday that Sani, Hunkuyi, Ashiru and other stalwarts might be PDP bound.

    Six options open to the strategists of Buhari on Kaduna are relying on old and stale love for the President by his mob supporters; appeasing Kaduna South with enhanced security and development; granting automatic second term tickets to all House of Reps members and the state Assembly members from Kaduna State;  immediate reconciliation with Hunkuyi and Sani by conceding automatic Senate tickets to them;  factoring Ashiru into consideration with a better package and resorting to aged fault lines of ethno-religious politics to win votes in 2019.

    A top source said: “Capitalizing on the age-long fault lines will make the politics in Kaduna in 2019 messier and Buhari might have the upper hand. The same factor will not make the Christians in Southern Kaduna to vote for Buhari.

    “El-Rufai’s offer of automatic second term tickets to House of Reps members and the state Assembly members from Kaduna State is an ingenious political masterstroke which can make each of them to defend their frontiers.

    “To knock out Sani, one of the propaganda stunts emanating from the fault lines against him is the fact that he is from Niger State and as a non-indigene, he should be disallowed from taking the slot of a native.

    “Also, if Buhari’s camp can strike a deal with Ashiru and Hunkuyi, he can comfortably win Kaduna with a better margin. But Ashiru, whose ambition is to be a governor, might prefer following his political friend and ally, Governor Aminu Tambuwal to PDP. It is becoming too late to win.

    Adamawa State

    The strategists of Buhari and followers of the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari have been trying to hijack the party structure in Adamawa State with a view to clipping the wings of ex-VP Atiku Abubakar who has tremendous influence on Governor Jibrilla Bindo.

    The outcome of Saturday’s congresses will determine and define where APC stalwarts in the state like ex-Governor Murtala Nyako, SGF Boss Mustapha, ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Sen. Binta Mashi, Hajiya Aishatu Dahiru Modibbo Binani and others are headed.

    A source said: “Adamawa is a heterogeneous state and the politics of 2019 is still dicey as I am talking to you.

    “While Atiku is still pulling the strings in APC through the governor, all the leaders are divided. Governor Bindo has visited the Presidential Villa many times to assure the President of support but the strategists of Buhari are still suspicious of him.”

  • PDP raises panel to discuss name, bring back Saraki, Tambuwal, Kwankwaso

    The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has inaugurated a contact committee for the purpose of aligning with other political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The committee, which is headed by a former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Liyel Imoke, will also explore the possibility of tinkering with the name and insignia of the PDP.

    Some key stakeholders, particularly prominent chieftains of the PDP that defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2014, are said to have insisted on a change of name, as one of the conditions to rejoin the PDP.

    Prominent among the APC chieftains being wooed by the leadership of PDP include the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; his Sokoto State counterpart, Aliyu Wamakko; and former Gombe State Governor, Danjuma Goje.

    Overtures are also being made to woo the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Tambuwal had defected from the PDP to the APC at the tail end of his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Investigation further revealed that the high-profile politicians are being wooed with tickets for choice offices, including the presidential slot.

    But the heavy baggage of corruption trailing the PDP has made it difficult for prospective defectors to cross over from the APC and other political parties.

    A prominent chieftain of the PDP confided in our correspondent yesterday that the major task of the committee is to make wide consultations regarding the propriety or otherwise of name change.

    The source, who did not want to be named said, “Yes, we are seriously concerned about the issue of name change, as being demanded by some of the intending returnees.

    “But I must let you know that not all of them are assisting on name change because they can see through the veil of deception in the APC government’s anti-corruption campaign”.

    Our correspondent further gathered that the leadership and key stakeholders in the PDP may have narrowed the search for the party’s presidential flag bearer to only two individuals -a serving governor and a serving senator from the same geopolitical zone.

    The two politicians are believed to have enough political clout to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari’s pre-2015 cult-like followership, particularly among the masses in the Northwest geopolitical zone.

    While inaugurating the committee yesterday, the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, said the party would do everything within the confines of the law to regain power in 2019.

    Secondus said the past three years of President Buhari’s administration had convinced Nigerians of the need for a credible alternative in 2019.

    The party chair tasked members of the committee to reach out to Nigerians and groups on the need to forge a common front for what he described as the “political salvation” of the country.

    Secondus said: “Just as your name connotes, you are to deploy your well-versed network to help open the space and allow into our party, all those whose union with us can help in rescuing this country.

    “Like we always say in this party, this umbrella is big enough to accommodate all people of patriotic ideals”.

    Imoke promised to work tirelessly to deliver on the mandate, stating that the situation in the country had become too dangerous for well-meaning Nigerians to fold their hands in resignation.

    Other members of the committee include former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido; his Niger State counterpart, Babangida Aliyu; and former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam.

    Others a former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii; former Aviation Minister, Kema Chikwe; and a former National Chairman of the PDP, Bello Haliru Mohammed, among others.

  • Saraki: Nigeria has the potential for greatness

    •Condoles with NYSC on death of corps members

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has said Nigeria is a great country with lots of potentials.

    He said times may appear hard, but the leaders are working hard to lay a solid foundation that would enable the youths match with their contemporaries in any part of the world.

    Saraki spoke at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp at Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    He was was at the camp to condole with the management and corps members on the death of Miss Amadi Eva Ikechukwu, a ‘Batch A’

    corps member.

    Amadi (KW/18A/0135) died on camp last Thursday. She was a graduate of Oil and Gas Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Saraki said relevant authorities must take responsibility to prevent a recurrence.

    He said: “You are at a very critical point in your life and about to start the journey out there. I know times are hard, the future is not as promising as we hope, but we have a great country that has a lot of potentials, and we are working hard to ensure that we lay a kind of foundation that would enable you people, who have potentials and capacity, to match anybody in any part of the world.

    “Please, stay focused and committed and I promise you that we would do our best to ensure your future is bright.”

     

  • Buhari, Tinubu, Saraki, Dogara attend SGF’s daughter’s wedding

    •Buhari, Saraki, Dogara meet few days after impeachment threat

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday attended the wedding reception of the daughter of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

    The wedding reception took place at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.

    SGF’s daughter, Amanda Tolulope of Adamawa State was earlier in the day joined in Holy Matrimony to Otelemaba Tamunowariboko Westwood, Son of Westwood from Rivers State at the Family Worship Centre, Abuja.

    Among those who attended the wedding reception included the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who is the chairman of the occasion

    The wedding reception was the first public function to be attended together by President Buhari, Saraki and Dogara few days after the lawmakers threatened to invoke Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution towards starting impeachment process against the President.

    Also at the event were the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and National Chairman of APC, John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Many state governors and federal cabinet members also attended the wedding reception.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the reception, the SGF said: “It is a pride of a father that at one point in time you will be giving out your children in marriage or receiving bride into your home. And that is what has precisely happened to us today as a family. I feel very happy and very thrilled about it.

    Asked what his advice will be to the new couple, he said “Basically, they have received a lot of inductions and trainings when they went through their pre-marital classes. But as a father, talking out of experience, I’m married for 29 years now, I can assure you that, I wouldn’t say I have done badly, my candid advice to them is that they should respect each other, think highly of each other; they should remain friends and as much as possible let them make God the centre piece of their home.

    “If they have doubts about things happening around them, let them go back to the author of marriage Himself, which is God.

    “So my advice to them is let them remain together through thick and thin. They should not take each other for granted.” he added

    When asked how he feels giving out his daughter to another tribe, he said “Well, I am married to somebody from a different state all together. I come from Adamawa State while my wife comes from Osun State.

    “So Amanda is not the first. It is a marriage of unity. Whenever I hear people talking about Nigeria breaking up, I just laugh. The foundations are deep. I have a brother-in-law who is Igbo. I have a brother-in-law who is Urhobo. So our home has always been a small Nigeria whenever we congregate,” he stated.

  • Video: Saraki leads Senate delegation to visit Melaye

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led the Senate delegation to visit Senator Dino Melaye at the National Hospital, Abuja, on Wednesday.

    Saraki stormed the hospital with an entourage of about 40 senators.

    Only eight of the about 40 senators were allowed to accompany Saraki to the ward, while others were made to wait in the hospital’s conference hall.

  • Saraki leads senators on visit to Melaye at hospital

    President of the Senate; Dr. Bukola Saraki was Wednesday allowed to see embattled Senator Dino Melaye who was admitted to the National Hospital, Abuja on Tuesday.

    Saraki who stormed the hospital with an entourage of about 40 senators, was allowed to go into the trauma centre where Melaye was being given medical attention.

    Only eight of the about 40 senators were allowed to accompany Saraki to the ward, while others were made to wait in the hospital’s conference hall.

    The President of the Senate, who came out of the ward after spending about 20 minutes with Melaye, said the embattled lawmaker was in stable condition but that he still required medical attention.

    Saraki however said the hand cuffs in which Melaye was taken to the hospital by the police Tuesday night had been taken off.

    Melaye was handcuffed and taken away on stretcher from Zankli Hospital, Abuja to the National Hospital on Tuesday night.

    He had gone to the private hospital to get treatment after an ordeal with the police team that attempted to take him from Abuja to a court in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital for alleged criminal charges.

    The police has charged the lawmaker with gun running and monetary inducement linking him to some political thugs who the police said had confessed to having been sponsored by the Kogi West senator.

    The Senate had, at the plenary session earlier in the day, bemoaned the harsh treatment meted out to Melaye by the police. The lawmakers were forced to adjourned plenary to enable them visit the embattled senator in hospital.

    The first batch of four senators that went to visit Melaye earlier in the day was denied access to the lawmakers and had to report back to the Senate leadership.

    Senator Melaye has been having a running battle with the governor of his home state, Yahaya Bello over political differences.

    Melaye had raised the alarm a few weeks ago to draw public attention to the importation of weapons and military hardware into the country by Governor Bello.

    The embattled senator had pointed out that there was no End User Certificate from the office of the National Security Adviser to certify the imported security items.

    A few days after the senator had raised the alarm, marauders stormed some communities in Kogi East, killing, maiming innocent villagers and setting houses ablaze.

    Read Also: Melaye did not jump out of vehicle, says aide

  • SERAP to court: order Saraki, other senators to refund N13.5m monthly allowance

    A RIGHTS group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), has asked a Federal High Court in Lagos to order Senate President Bukola Saraki and other senators to refund the N13.5 million monthly allowance being received by them with interest.

    The organisation prayed the court to stop the lawmakers from receiving such allowance henceforth.

    It made the request in a suit filed on Monday before the court by a legal counsel Ms Bamisope Adeyanju.

    The defendants in the suit are the Senate President and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN).

    SERAP urged the court to declare “that the N13.5 million allotted to each senator per month as running cost aside their salaries and allowances is in breach of the provisions of section 70 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders Act”.

    The group urged the court to declare the money as “illegal, unconstitutional and unjustified having regards to section 70 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), and the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders Act 2008 and the Appropriations Act”.

    SERAP is also seeking an order of the court “directing the defendants to stop allotting N13.5 million to each senator per month as running cost, the said sum being illegal and unconstitutional”.

    The group is also seeking:

    “An order compelling the second defendant to call for immediate investigation by the appropriate federal agency on the use to which the said sum was put to by the first defendant and his colleagues; and

    “An order directing the defendants to make public the findings of the investigation by publishing same in at least two national dailies and other orders as the may deem fit to make in the circumstance of this suit.”

    SERAP claimed to have learnt of this illegal act through Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna Central, who revealed that he and his colleagues receive N13.5 million monthly aside their salaries and allowances.

    “The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the constitutional body responsible for fixing public officials’ salaries and allowances, has declared the said sum of N13.5 million running cost of the Senate President and other senators as illegal.”

     

  • Group urges Buhari, Saraki, Malami to facilitate CJ’s confirmation

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami have been urged to hasten the confirmation of Justice Adamu Kafarati’s appointment as the substantive Chief Judge (CJ) of the Federal High Court (FHC).

    A group, the International Human Rights and Anti-corruption Society (IHRAS), made this request after rising from its international council meeting held in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on April 13.

    The group, in letters of appeal to the leadership of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, said its members, observed with dismay the seeming conspiracy to retain Justice Kafarati in an acting capacity.

    It argued that the delay on the part of President Buhari to send Justice Kafarati’s name to the Senate for confirmation did not only amount to abuse of office, it was oppressive and threatens the independence of the Judiciary.

    The Nation recalls that Justice Kafarati, who is the court’s  most senior judge, has been its acting CJ since last September 16, when the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen swore him in as Acting CJ pending the confirmation of his appointment by the Senate as required by the Constitution.

    The National Judicial Council (NJC), empowered by the Constitution to nominate and recommend a fit a proper person for the president’s appointment as the CJ of the FHC has, since last year, recommended Kafarati to President Buhari, a recommendation the President has refused to act on.

    IHRAS argued that since there was no law that allows the President the discretion to withhold NJC’s recommendation for the position of the CJ of FHC, President Buhari would only be acting unlawfully by his continued reluctance to send Justice Kafarati’s name to the Senate for confirmation.

    The group, in its letter to President Buhari, endorsed by its Director-General, Dr. U. O. Udofia and Secretary, M. T. Kachina, argued that there was no justification for the continued non-confirmation of Justice Kafarati’s appointment as a substantive CJ.It contended that since there was no known case of unethical conduct pending against Justice Kafarati, his nomination and recommendation by the NJC was all that was legally required for President Buhari to forward his name to the Senate for confirmation.

    IHRAS said President Buhari’s delay in seeking Justice Kafarati’s confirmation might have been informed by either his belief that he had discretion on the issue or that he has not been properly advised by the AGF.

    Part of the letter reads: “At the international council meeting held on Friday, 13th April, 2018, attended by all  IHRAS’ international directors, the issue of the non-confirmation and swearing in of Justice Kafarati as the substantive Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, without any known justification, was discussed at length by members, who expressed concern.

    “The meeting, therefore, resolved to write and appeal to President Buhari,  AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Senate President; the Speaker, House of Representatives and the Chairman of the NJC and CJN to act in unison and ensure Justice Kafarati’s confirmation without any further delay.

    “Our position is informed by the fact that  the uncertainty created around the fate of the Acting CJ of the Federal High Court was not only capable of negatively impacting on the moral of other judges of the court, it threatens the independence of the Judiciary.

    “Where judges’career progression is allowed to be dictated by the Executive, it weakens public confidence in the Judiciary and casts doubt on the integrity of the institution in the eyes of the international community.

    “Nigerian leaders, at this critical time, when the country badly requires international investment, cannot afford to be arbitrary and thereby creating an image of instability and uncertainty in the eyes of the civilised world.

    “The President of Nigeria must put his house in order and ensure that Justice Kafarati’s appointment is urgently confirmed.

    “The Legislature, as constituted by the representatives of the people, must prevail on the President and the AGF to perform their constitutional responsibilities in ensuring that the Federal High Court has a substantive Chief Judge.”

  • Saraki, Tambuwal give PDP conditions

    Will the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) grant the request of Senate President Bukola Saraki and some of its former members for a name change before rejoining the party?

    The party is wooing Saraki, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, his predecessor, Senator Aliyu Wammako, former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano) and former Governor Danjuma Goje (Gombe) to return to its fold in order to wrest power from the All Progressives Congress (APC) next year.

    They all left PDP in 2014 to form APC, which wrested power from PDP in the 2015 elections.

    Although sources said yesterday that the request of the APC chieftains tagged as “game changers” had been “tactically rejected” by the National Executive Committee (NEC), PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan claimed that no decision has been taken on the issue.

    Another APC chieftain and  former Zamfara State Governor Sani Ahmed Yerima, who was never in PDP, is being wooed by the opposition party.

    About three APC governors from the Northwest are also on PDP’s radar.

    But none of them, it was learnt, has made any commitment to return to PDP. They were said to be weighing the options.

    The name change request is said to be a drawback for the talks.

    There are fears that changing PDP’s name may truncate the tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Uche Secondus.

    Some forces in the party also felt that the APC stalwarts should not be dictating to a party they “left in the lurch to lose the 2015 presidential election.”

    A top member of (NEC), who spoke in confidence, said: “We have really opened up talks with Saraki and others. It is like we are begging them to return to their roots as part of a larger reconciliation policy in PDP.

    ”We want Tambuwal, Kwankwaso, Wammako, Goje and others in PDP because we see them as “game changers. We are also targeting ex-Governor Sani Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State who has always been in the opposition until the APC coalition emerged.

    “We have had series of shuttles to them by some of our leaders having discovered that they had been patching in APC. They have been stifled and abandoned in the coalition called APC. We want them to return to their natural habitat.

    “The PDP has also initiated talks with three APC governors in the Northwest, which is the political base of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Responding to a question, the source added: “None of these leaders has given the PDP any commitment because they are the weighing options. Some of them have given sufficient signal that they might quit APC.

    “If you look at some states, the associates of these key leaders have started deriding APC. Some of them have even defected from APC to PDP. So, we are positive.”

    Another member of NEC said: “As part of the ongoing negotiations, some of those defecting to PDP specifically demanded for a change of name of the party.

    “We were wary of the request for change of name in order not to cause crisis in PDP. If we accede to their request, the Uche Secondus-led NWC will technically cease to exist.

    “The danger is that these new members might want the NWC restructured in a manner that will give them a stake in the leadership of the party.

    “We believe we have conceded enough by granting a waiver to all PDP returnees and new members. We have promised them equity and justice too in all our dealings.

    “Another concession is granting these bigwigs the control of PDP machinery in their states in order to determine who to field for the 2019 polls. We, however, added a caveat that they should accommodate those who have been steering the affairs of PDP in the affected states before their return.”

    The source however added: “We won’t promise any of these leaders automatic presidential ticket. We are firm on this.”

    Ologbondiyan said the party was reaching out to top politicians and leaders but declined to name them.

    He said there were demands at the talks including the name change.

    Ologbondiyan said the party had not taken any decision on the request.

    He said: “Our party is open to discussion with anybody and politicians of various ilk. We are talking to community leaders, religious leaders and youth groups across the nation. A lot of Nigerians are tired of this government and we are reaching out to them.

    “We are discussing with everyone on the need for us to lead the coalition for the sack of this incompetent administration in Nigeria and the dysfunctional APC.

    “In the course of these discussions, various suggestions have been made; some requests and demands naturally came up. We are not tied to any decision yet.

    “But as we speak, the PDP remains open to conversation. No decision yet in respect of changing name. PDP is a structured party and we have various caucuses that any decision will pass through.”