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Tag: Saraki

  • My political travails are distractions, says Saraki

    My political travails are distractions, says Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday described his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and others as mere distrations that would soon fizzle out.

    Saraki spoke yesterday at a town hall meeting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, adding that those distractions have started giving way.

    Said Saraki: “All the travails one is going through for those people who believe in God knows that all these are politics. All those are distractions not to allow us focus on issues. They always say that the truth will always prevail. We are beginning to see truth is already prevailing. The distrations are finding their ways.

    “I want to assure you that since my eight years as governor of the state, the legacy that we left is there for people to see. There is nobody after I left office who can say either there is any uncompleted project or any contractor anywhere in Kwara State who can stand up and say I demanded for any gratification from him.

    “I want to say that my business in government is to improve the lives of the people. If it is for myself and family I don’t have to be in government.”

    He said the All Progressives Congress- (APC) led government has no excuse not to fix the economy.

    He explained that no responsible leader would abandon his followers in time of distress.

    He warned members of the National Economic Management team to buckle up and proffer solutions to the challenges confronting the economy, saying any of them not willing to offer personal sacrifice would have scores to settle with the Senate.

    He urged Nigerians to exercise restraints with the ongoing efforts to find solution to the problems.

    Saraki assured that the senate under his leadership would not rest until the solution was found, declaring that “It is a challenge to fix the problems and improve the nation’s economy”.

    “We have no excuse not to fix Nigeria economy but we need to be more patient on our agitation. It is important and of necessity to bring about solution. There is no responsible leader that will allow his people to suffer just because the economy is not doing well.

    “Until we find solution to Nigeria problems, we will not rest. It is a challenge to improve the nation’s economy, and that is the primary reason people voted us into power. We can no longer engage in blame game, we are here to fix the problems. By the special grace of Almighty, we shall succeed,” Saraki said.

    He expressed concern that Nigerians were in the habit of aiding the economy of other nations with unbridled patronage for foreign goods at the expense of the locally made products.

    The senate president said the National Assembly had provided requisite legal frameworks to strengthen the campaign for patronage of made-in-Nigeria goods.

    Speaking on the renewed hostility in the Niger Delta, Saraki added that only dialogue would stem the rising militancy.

    Explaining that the ruins in the region had grounded crude oil production from 2.2million barrels daily to 900,000 barrels, the senate president maintained that engaging the concerned people in the area in talks would arrest the situation, adding that “the same method was used during Yar’adua and it worked”.

     

  • Saraki urges Nigerians to use Eid-el-Kabir for prayers

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged Nigerians, especially the Muslims, to use Eid-el-Kabir period to pray for restoration of economic prosperity and financial stability in the country.

    Saraki made the call while fielding questions from State House correspondents after joining President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful at Juma’at prayer at the State House.

    He said that with genuine prayer to Almighty God, Nigeria would come out of the current socio-economic challenges.

    “With prayer, Insha Allah, we will overcome (recession) it.

    “The most important thing is for us to stay together and give the president support and continue to believe in this great country that we all have and be rest assured that we will all weather the storm and scale through together.

    “Once again, as a country in this period we will continue to pray.

    “On Sunday, the day of Arafat, we offer prayer for our leaders and president so that we can do what is right; because we feel the pain, we know what the country is going through.

    “There is no Nigerian with blood flowing through his vein that will not know that things are difficult now and we pray that with God’s guidance, He will see us through,’’ Saraki said.

  • Nigeria will overcome economic recession – Saraki

    Nigeria will overcome economic recession – Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Friday assured that Nigeria will overcome the current period of economic recession.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after observing the Friday Jumaat prayer with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Saraki urged Nigerians to be patient.

    He said the nation’s leaders are very much aware of the economic hardship in the land.

    The leaders, he said, are also feeling the people’s pains.

    He urged Nigerians to support President Buhari in order to succeed.

    The Senate President wished Nigerians, especially the Muslim faithful, a happy Sallah celebration.

    He said: “With prayer Insha Allahu, we will overcome it (economic recession). The most important thing is for us to stay together and give the President support and continue to believe in this great country that we all have and be rest assured that we will all weather the storm and scale through together.

    “Once again, as a country in this period, we will continue to pray. On Sunday, the day of Arafat, we offer prayer for our leaders and President so that we can do what is right, because we feel the pain. We know what the country is going through.

    “Because there is no Nigerian with blood flowing through that will not know that things are difficult now and we pray that with God’s guidance, He will see us through.”

     

     

  • Saraki sends technical team to IDP camps in Borno

    Saraki sends technical team to IDP camps in Borno

    As part of the activities marking the 2016 World Humanitarian Day, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has sent a technical team to Maiduguri, Borno State, to conduct interviews with domestic and international stakeholders working in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP camps in the state.

    A statement issued on Thursday by his media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the purpose of the visit was to collect information about emergency relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts in the camps.

    The team was directed to review the coordination between the government of Nigeria and NGO/INGOS, the capacity of service delivery programmes and receive feedback from the IDPs themselves.

    The statement added that team, which had arrived the camps, interacted with groups of officials and volunteers of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), who reported that the government was doing all that it possibly could to aid and secure the IDPs.

    “However, the complexity and scale of the emergency is far beyond the government’s capacity and that Nigeria simply cannot do it all alone,” the statement said.

    Saraki was quoted as saying that following reports from aid agencies, greater international attention and a more robust response was needed to alleviate the plight of the over nine million Nigerians who are in need of relief in the Lake Chad Basin area.

    “We cannot afford to take for granted the sacrifice and support of both our domestic and international partners in the Northeast. This is why we must all sit down as quickly as possible to plan the transition from crisis, to relief and beyond.  We must expedite the processes that are needed to bring about the recovery and rehabilitation of the entire region,” the Senate President added.

     

  • Sultan an ambassador of peace – Saraki

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has described the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, as an ambassador of peace.

    He also described the Sultan as a promoter of national unity, champion of national development, embodiment of tradition and culture and a source of inspiration to many Nigerians.

    Saraki, in a goodwill message on the occasion of the Sultan’s 60th birthday, said he was delighted to identify with the Royal father in view of his worthy lifestyle, egalitarian leadership, compassionate support for the downtrodden and acting as a voice to the voiceless in society.

    The Senate President in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said, “I am delighted to congratulate you on this epoch anniversary of attaining the age of 60.

    “Your legacies as the Sultan of Sokoto, the head of Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), are visible to all. You have continued to diligently serve humanity both in your immediate domain and the country at large.

    “You remain a great source of blessing and inspiration to the entire country, especially your quest for peaceful coexistence, religious tolerance, fight against insurgency, free and compulsory education for the less privileged and the holistic development and unity of the entire country.

    “I pray that the Almighty Allah will continue to grant you perfect health, long life and more wisdom in the discharge of your duties.”

    Saraki also wished the Sultan more fruitful years of service to the nation in particular and humanity in general.

  • CCT ready with verdict on Orubebe, Saraki

    CCT ready with verdict on Orubebe, Saraki

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) has fixed judgment for September 21 in the case of false asset declaration involving ex-Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godsday Orubebe.

    The tribunal, in a statement yesterday, also scheduled ruling for October 5 in an application by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, seeking an order for the disqualification of the tribunal Chairman, Danladi Umar, in his (Saraki’s) trial for false asset declaration.

    The tribunal, will, on September 28, hear the case involving former Councillor from Kogi State Musa Mubeen. It adjourned to September 29 the case involving three serving permanent secretaries from Jigawa State – Zakari Umar, Muhammad Musa and Muhammad Mu’azu.

    Orubebe was tried on a one-count charge of false asset declaration. He was initially arraigned on November 9, 2015 on a four-count charge.

    He was accused of failing to declare his asset and accepting bribe. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. After some delay, the prosecution amended the charge, reducing the counts to one.

    The single count reads: “That you, Godsday Peter Orubebe, on or about June 29, 2011, while being a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable tribunal, did make a false declaration of assets to the Code of Conduct Bureau when you failed to declare Plot 2057, Asokoro District, Abuja on assumption of office on September 26, 2007, and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure) on June 29, 2011, and you hereby commit an offence contrary to section 15 of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap 15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 23(2) of the same Act.”

    Orubebe was re-arraigned on the amended charge on March 8, 20176.

    The prosecution, led by former Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Mohammad Diri, opened trial on April 7, by calling its sole witness, Samuel Madojemu, an official of the CCB, and its case on April 24.

    Orubebe conducted his defence on June 2, by calling two witnesses, including himself. The other defence witness was Akinwumi Ajibola, who described himself as a lawyer and managing director of Givention Properties Limited.

    The tribunal initially fixed June 30, 2016, for judgment, but later rescheduled it to September 21.

     

  • ‘APC must not shield Dogara, Saraki’

    Lagos cleric Prophet Lai Bamidele, yesterday, warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) not to shield the Speaker, House of Representatives,Yakubu Dogara, from probe, saying the backlash could cost the party the 2019 elections.

    Bamidele, general overseer of Christ Glorious End-Time Evangelical Church, Fagba, Lagos, said as an oracle of God, he could tell the APC that Dogara and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, should be dispensed with for the party to make a head-way.

    The cleric foresaw the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election, and his vision was published by some newspapers.

    On the Dogara debate over the alleged budget padding, which the Speaker reportedly said was in order, Bamidele said this was a litmus test for the ruling APC in future elections.

    His words: “If APC should cover up Dogara, on the latter’s declaration that there is nothing wrong with padding the budget, then I declare as an oracle of God that the party will lose in 2019.

    “Let the party expressly ask him and Saraki, who is on trial, to resign. This is the path of honour for the APC, as Nigerians look up to the party for true leadership. The truth is that Dogara and Saraki are PDP in heart and APC in body; party politicking all over the world does not condone betrayal.”

    The cleric expressed concern about increasing instances of hedonistic livelihood among lawmakers, saying some of them launder money abroad at the expense of the bleeding economy.

    On  President Muhammadu Buhari, he said: “Buhari is not a listening President and this has shown in some of his lopsided appointments, which are unfavourable to the East and Southwest.”

  • Meeting with Buhari not designed to intervene in Saraki’s trial – Governor

    Meeting with Buhari not designed to intervene in Saraki’s trial – Governor

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar, said on Wednesday that the All Progressive Congress (APC) governors’ meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari was not designed to intervene in the ongoing trial of Senate president, Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and others over alleged forgery of Senate Standing Rules.

    Abubakar also said the APC governors have raised a committee to look into the crisis and other problems confronting the party.

    He said while the governors will look into party issues in the National Assembly, they will not dabble into either the case in court or the present crisis in the legislature.

    Although he was silent on names, it was obvious that he was referring to the ongoing trial of Saraki and others for forgery of Senate rules.

    Abubakar, who made the submissions at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, said the APC Governors will not intervene in any criminal matter.

    He said: “The APC is a party that has come to power recently and it has come to power from an opposition political party and I must confess that we are experiencing teething problems in the APC because being in government is a new phenomenon for us.

    “I cannot say that things are going on smoothly and that is why yesterday (Tuesday) we paid a visit to Mr. President and we expressed the need for governors to be called upon to delve into the problems of the party with a view to reinvigorating the party so that it can continue performing the functions of a party in power. So we are trying to address this issue.”

    Asked on the extent to which the APC governors will intervene in the trial of some National Assembly leaders.

    Abubakar said: “The question of what aspect of the National Assembly matter we are delving into as APC governors, I assure you that we are not going to tamper with cases that are before courts or tribunals and we are not going to delve into the current issue at the moment.”

  • Saraki urges NLNG to reduce gas flaring

    Saraki urges NLNG to reduce gas flaring

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, yesterday, asked the management and board of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) to work towards reducing the 20 per cent of gas being flared in the country.

    Saraki said by reducing gas flaring, activities of the gas company would be more appreciated by Nigerians.

    The Senate president pledged the determination of the Eighth Senate and the National Assembly to foster business friendly laws in the country.

    This is contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate president on Print Media, Mr Chuks Okocha.

    It said Saraki gave the  advice when he hosted the outgoing Managing Director of NLNG, Mr. Babs Omotowa, who came to introduce the in-coming Managing Director, Tony Attah, to him.

    The statement said the Senate president after listening to the opening remarks by the outgoing managing director that the NLNG succeeded in reducing gas flaring in Nigeria from 60 to 20 per cent, said “there is need to do more.”

    “You have to work harder to further reduce the status of gas flaring in Nigeria,” Saraki said.

    Saraki told the management of NLNG that the National Assembly would ensure a business-friendly incentive for economic development.

    He explained that it was in this regard that the Senate facilitated review of the railway laws inherited from the colonial masters over 50 years ago.

    Saraki, who called for private sector participation in railway development in Nigeria, said “no government can fully fund railway development as it is central to economic reforms.”

    He advised the management to ensure that roads leading from Port Harcourt  to Bonny is constructed.

    Omotowa was quoted to have said he and the management team were at the National Assembly to introduce Attah, who is billed to assume duties as the new managing director on September 1.

     

  • Saraki urges NFF factions to resolve crisis

    Saraki urges NFF factions to resolve crisis

    The president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, on Monday appealed to warring factions in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sheathe their swords in the interest of football development in the country.

    Saraki gave the charge when the president of NFF, Amaju Pinnick, led the president of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, and Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, on a visit to the Senate in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    He urged the NFF executive members to seize the international recognition accorded Nigeria by the visit of FIFA leadership to put the crisis plaguing the federation behind them.

    “Apart from the major issue of reform and accountability, the key issue remains the development of our own football, and I think Africa, as you said, is the greatest place such can come from.

    “We are going to play our own role in creating the enabling environment. I am happy that other presidents of football associations from different African countries are here.

    “I think your visit clearly shows that you want to work with us in Africa. We must play our own role and that is why we must give all the support we can.

    “It gives me an opportunity to talk to members of NFF that we must solve our problems.

    “With this kind of world recognition we have today, the only thing we can do is to show example here in Nigeria how we think a football association should be run.

    “A lot of you professionals sometimes blame politicians that when we lose elections we don’t want to accept the outcome. But now, we politicians are now reformed,” he said.