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Tribunal to rule on Saraki, others today

The Legislative House Elections Petition Tribunal in Ilorin, Kwara State, will today deliver judgment in a petition against Senate President Bukola Saraki.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 28 senatorial election, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, challenged the declaration of Dr. Saraki as the winner of the Kwara Central poll.

The three-man tribunal is led by Justice Josiah Majebi.

It was learnt that the tribunal would deliver four judgments.

Other matters are Lola Ashiru v Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South Senatorial District); Babatunde Olusola v Olufunke Adedoyin and Tajudeen Abioye v Tope Olayonu; which are House of Representatives cases.

The Nation gathered that the tribunal had communicated the judgment date to them as promised by the chairman on September 4, when final written addresses were adopted.

Adopting his final written address, counsel to Saraki, Mallam Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali (SAN), asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition, saying the petitioner failed to prove his case.

Ali said a forensic report tendered in evidence was dated March 28, 2014, a year before the election was conducted.

“The date shows the document was prepared in anticipation of the election,” the lawyer said.

He said the four-volume forensic analysis report suffered “incurable and fundamental afflictions.”

Mallam Ali said the report was prepared by a Lagos forensic analyst, Mrs. Nkolly Asika Obumse, wife of Abdulrasaq’s lawyer, Francis Obumse.

Obumse, who led the petitioner’s counsel, adopted his final written address.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), second and third respondents, Abdulwahab Bamidele and Alarape Salman (SAN), agreed with Ali’s submission, praying the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

October 13, 2015
Will Saraki pass this test?

Another opportunity has presented itself for Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki to make amends and respect President Muhammadu Buhari’s wish and that of their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Towards bringing the desired change and moving the nation forward, President Buhari has submitted the first batch of 21 names of ministerial nominees to the Senate.

The screening of the first batch of nominees is expected to begin at the red-carpet chamber headed by Saraki today.

Two previous wishes of the party did not see the light of day in the 8th Senate.

The first was the ‘James Bond’ style adopted by Saraki to emerge the Senate President in June against the wish of his party.

His party then had wanted Senator Ahmed Lawan to emerge the Senate President.

But with the support of the senators of the opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the wish of APC was truncated in June in the Senate, which paved way for PDP to also produce the Deputy Senate President in the person of Ike Ekweremadu.

As if that was not enough, the second wish of the APC was also blocked after Saraki emerged the Senate President.

The APC’s candidates for the principal offices in the Senate did not get the positions.

The Senate, under Saraki, rather settled for other candidates different from the wish of his party.

Reflecting on practices under Saraki’s predecessor, Senator David Mark of the PDP, he did not fail at anytime to protect the interest of his party in such past elections and appointments.

Some ministerial nominees, who were seen as less qualified for the job in some quarters, eventually got the Senate confirmation then.

With due respect to the immediate past Minister of Women Affairs, Zainab Maina, the roles she had previously played in the PDP mainly paved the way for her to be a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the past two weeks, Saraki, no doubt, has been romancing with the number one and number two citizens of this country.

His presence has been more felt in the last fourteen days in the Presidential Villa than all the past months of his tenure as Senate President.

Nigerians, for the first time, had the honour of seeing Saraki attend an official function of Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary celebration at the Presidential Villa on 1st of October.

On the same day, he visited the seat of power the second time by having a private meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in his office after the ceremony.

To mend the fences further, Saraki for the first time also led principal officers of the Senate along with Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and House leadership for a meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa last Wednesday night.

It is hoped that all these new moves will be in the short and long term interest of the party in power and the nation.

A test case for Saraki to prove his new love for his party is the screening of ministerial nominees scheduled to start today.

Supporting his party will not necessarily mean working against the progress of his country.

Given that the nominees are qualified for the ministerial job, the ball is now in Saraki’s court to ensure level playing ground for all the nominees and also prevent unnecessary politics on the floor of the Senate to discredit anyone of them.

The focus should be on whether they have what it takes to bring about the desired CHANGE of the APC for the development and benefit of Nigerians.

Saraki cannot afford to fail his party and the nation this time around.

October 13, 2015
Tinubu’s aide to Saraki: play down personal desire

•Senate President: no plot against Buhari

An aide to All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday urged Senate President Bukola Saraki not to allow his personal interest to affect the screening of ministerial nominees.

In a statement, Mr. Sunday Dare, Tinubu’s Chief of Staff/Special Adviser (Media), said “Tinubu will remain true to the progressive ideas that fuelled the creation of the (APC)”.

Reacting to a news story published by “The Sun” at the weekend that Tinubu was under security watch, having been fingered to be working with the senate president to thwart the ministerial screening, Dare said: ”Given the exigencies of his position, President (Muhammadu Buhari) is placed in an unenviable position to some degree.

“The duties of his office give him no choice; necessity constrains him, requiring that he discuss with Senator Saraki. As party leader, Asiwaju is free of such constraints.

“On these matters, I know where Asiwaju Tinubu stands. He remains glued to the party decision that the manner by which Saraki captured his current seat travestied party discipline. It was a crass act of disloyalty showing that Saraki may have joined the APC on paper but has remained true to the malpractices and wrong aims of the reactionary PDP in his soul.

“The alleged conspiracy is a figment. It takes at least two people to make a conspiracy.

“There has been no substantive communication between Asiwaju and Saraki since the latter decided to foul the integrity of the Senate and the party.

“To be truthful, I don’t think Saraki would care to hear what Asiwaju would have to say to him. He would admonish the Senator to treat the nomination process with dispatch, justice, fairness, transparency, and most of all with the greatest patriotism.

“He would counsel Saraki to shelve his personal situation for the moment to concentrate on the people’s business. It would be a grave mistake and abuse of office for Saraki to directly or indirectly inject his personal matter into the approval process.

“Saraki should not link the approval of a single Minister to his desire for extrajudicial treatment of his issues.”

The full statement is hereby reproduced.

October 12, 2015
Group demands Saraki’s resignation

The Salvage Group, a group of professionals in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to toe the line of morality and decency, by stepping down, to enable him face his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Peter Ajayi, and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bola Olanrewaju, the group said it is shameful that while the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is working hard to give Nigeria a new direction, the Senate President is undermining its efforts by colluding with those that ruined the economy in the last 16 years.

The group said this not the first time a Senate President would be compelled to step down in the current political dispensation because he has lost the moral high-ground demanded to occupy such an exalted office.

It cited the cases of Senator Chuba Okadigbo, Senator Adolphus Wabara and Senator Evan Enwerem, who were removed from office under similar circumstances. “These men were members of the governing party and they quietly left office at the time, but the nation moved on,” the statement noted.

It added: “We like to say clearly here that some of his colleagues that purportedly passed a vote of confidence on him do not truly represent the feelings of their constituents, and so cannot be speaking for the 170 million Nigerians. The senators cannot claim to know Saraki better than the millions of his Ilorin kinsmen who, on Sallah day, stoned him like the devil which they think he replicates.

“Saraki’s vote of confidence is mute because under the presidential system, unlike Westminster parliamentary system, votes of confidence are inappropriate. When the process commences, his colleagues will surely abandon him, as two of them have already done.

October 12, 2015
Ministerial screening: ‘It won’t be business as usual,’ says Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday gave an insight into the process to be adopted by the Red Chambers of the National Assembly when it commences the screening of the ministers-designate on Tuesday.

Saraki, leading a delegation of Senators on a condolence visit to the family of the late Mrs. H. I. D. Awolowo in Ikenne, Ogun State, said that national interest more than any other consideration would be the guiding principle in screening the nominees.

“It is not going to be business as usual. What I can assure you is that we will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first,” he said.

Saraki with whom were Senators Lanre Tejuoso and Biodun Olujimi said: “the screening will be done with a high level of seriousness and what we are all about is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that we find people who are fit enough to be Ministers and particularly this time, to give President Buhari the support he requires.

“It is not about who you like or who you don’t like and I want to assure Nigerian that will not be the basis, it will be based on the constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of capacity of the nominees to perform.

“And I assure you that individual differences would not be an issue at all, and we have spoken with Senators and told them that.

“At this moment of time, we have made sure that as much as possible, we share with the public, we try to ensure that all we be covered live so that everybody can see, we will all be screening from our bedrooms and sitting rooms as well along with the Senators.

“You’re rest assured that we will do a good job Nigerians would be proud of.”

Saraki added that Nigerians would have the opportunity of participating in the screening process from the comfort of their homes as the exercise would be broadcast live.

Commiserating with the Awolowos, Saraki described the deceased as a great person, an icon and mother for all.

He said this informed why the Senate passed a resolution mandating a delegation to be led by the leadership to pay a condolence visit to the family

Saraki said: “on Wednesday the eight Senate passed a resolution mandated us to come here and commiserate with the Awolowo family, the good people of Ogun State and Nigeria in general on the loss of great person and an icon.

“Normally, we send a delegation, but in the case of Mama she deserves even more .That is why the entire Senate, represented by the presiding officers, is here. That is why I am here in person representing the entire eight Senate.

“The country, not her family has lost a great person; she was a great person because since the death of Papa ,for so many years she continued the life of virtues and Papa’s dreams. She showed that she was a uniting factor not only in the South West, but Nigeria in general.

“I can say that, because just a few months ago we were here during the period of our campaign and I don’t think there was any campaign in this country that politicians would not stop here to pay respect and honour.

“She earned that because we have many wives and mothers who, after their husbands passed on, have not been able to sustain their dreams. I think she showed herself that in the entire country she was the only person that has been able to achieve that. That is a great achievement.

“As we mourn we also celebrate the great life she has lived. I remember when we were here we thought we would come to celebrate her 100 years but that shows that we must believe that were of the Almighty God.

“Once again on behalf of the entire Senate I commiserate with the Awolowo family, the Ogun State people and Nigeria at large. The country has lost a great person and we have a lot to be proud of and with the faces I am seeing Mama HID is coming, I think she deserves the honour.”

In her response, Mama’s eldest daughter, Mrs Omotola Oyediran, commended the Senate leadership for identifying with them.

The funeral programme for the deceased is scheduled to start on 15th of November when her body will be taken to the Apapa home of the Awolowos in Lagos for an interdenominational thanksgiving.

She will be laid to rest in Ikenne on November 25.

October 11, 2015
Senate crisis: Saraki, allies consider fresh peace options

To stave off the massive opposition against him, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has embarked on an intensive rapprochement with his opponents both within and outside the National Assembly, reports Remi Adelowo

After months of engaging in a face-off with leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the leadership of the Senate, President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has embarked on fresh moves to thaw the ice.

Some days ago, the Kwara State-born politician paid a surprise visit to the Abuja home of Senator George Akume, one of the major antagonists that opposed his emergence as Senate President.

Akume, a former governor of Benue State is one of the key leaders of the Unity Forum, which supported Ahmed Lawan, the Senator representing Yobe North senatorial zone to become the Senate President against Saraki.

The visit, which sources described as “an ambush” by Saraki, marked the third attempt by the embattled Senate President to reconcile with his opponents.

The Nation gathered that Saraki’s first attempt to meet Akume at his Abuja home was not successful, as the latter allegedly travelled to the United Kingdom ostensibly to avoid having a one on one meeting with Saraki. And on the second occasion that Akume was scheduled to meet Saraki also in his Abuja home, sources say he travelled to his home state leaving his expected visitor in the lurch. It was on the third attempt that the meeting finally held, it was learnt.

Akume insists on party supremacy

The meeting between the host and his visitor was not its attendant mild drama. A sources privy to what transpired disclosed that Saraki, who was reportedly accompanied by some of his loyalists in the All Progressives Congress (APC), had requested for a private audience with Akume, a plea that was turned down by the host, who allegedly insisted that the meeting should be open. The reason for his stance, according to sources, “was to avoid a situation where his comments would be misrepresented.”

That settled, Saraki was said to have informed Akume on his plans to constitute the Standing Committees of the Senate, while seeking for his host’s inputs. He also reportedly pleaded with his host to use his influence within the Unity Forum in the discharge of his duties.

Lastly, Saraki specifically pleaded with Akume to broker a truce between him and some national leaders of the APC who are opposed to Saraki as Senate President.

In response, Akume, who reiterated that the Unity Group’s grouse with Saraki was not personal, but rather in the overall interest of APC, allegedly berated for his actions, which are capable of destroying the party. Furthermore, Akume allegedly frowned at Saraki’s extreme closeness to PDP senators at the expense of his party colleagues and interests.

He added that for peace to return to the Senate, those opposed to Saraki must be made Chairmen of “Grade A” Committees without any conditionality. The meeting ended without Saraki making any commitments on the issues raised by Akume.

Finally, Akume declined to speak to aggrieved APC leaders, while reportedly asking Saraki to take the bull by the horn and personally reach out to those concerned.

Saraki meets Lawan

Few days after Saraki met Akume, unconfirmed speculations have it that he also met with his challenger for the Senate Presidency, Lawan, who virtually re-echoed Akume’s position.

…his dilemma

Would Saraki accede to the demand of the Unity Forum group to make their members Chairmen of plum committees? That is the dilemma the Senate President is presently faced with, say sources in the know.

His dilemma, it was gathered, may not be unconnected to his alleged deal with PDP senators and its leadership to share the chairmanship of committees between the APC and PDP on a 50/50 formula if he is backed for the Senate Presidency.

Saraki and his core loyalists, it was learnt, have been brainstorming on in the past couple of days about how the expected fall-out of any crisis of confidence with PDP senators would be managed if he reneges on his alleged “agreement” with them prior to his contest against Lawan.

Political resolution still on the cards

With his arraignment at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on allegations of alleged false declaration of his assets, sources revealed that the Senate President has allegedly realised the imperative of making peace with his APC colleagues in the Senate.

His fence mending moves, it was learnt, may have also informed the intervention of some influential members of the House of Representatives, who a few weeks back, mandated the leadership of the House to broker a truce between Saraki and his party on one hand and with the Presidency on the other.

While it is not clear yet if Dogara has reached out to APC leaders and the Presidency, The Nation gathered that last Wednesday’s late night meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of both the Senate and the House of Representatives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, gave a ray of hope that the end may just be in sight in the frosty relationship between the parties.

At the end of the meeting, which was at the instance of the President to allegedly facilitate the smooth clearance of his ministerial nominees by the Senate and the forthcoming 2016 Budget, Saraki had expressed hope that it would be the beginning of a cordial relationship between the Presidency and the National Assembly.

He was also reported to have urged the President to the meeting a regular interface between the two arms of government going forward.

This development, coupled with the warm camaraderie displayed by both the President and Senate President at the Independence Anniversary celebration held on October 1 at the Presidential Villa, reportedly generated excitement in Saraki’s camp that the President is favourably disposed to ending the alleged face-off with the leadership of the Senate once and for all “in the overall interest of the country.”

Though no mention was made of the Senate President’s trial at the CCT which is scheduled to commence on October 21, 22 and 23 at the meeting in the Villa, his camp is optimistic that a political solution to his travail should be worked out before then.

A few confidants of the Senate President are, however, adopting a cautious approach to the unfolding development. Their argument, it was gathered, is that the camp should not expose its flanks in order to be caught napping.

Not a few of them indeed believe that the friendly disposition of the President towards Saraki in recent times may not be genuine after all, while insisting that nothing should be taken for granted at least for now.

As events unfold within the next few weeks, it remains to be seen if Saraki would navigate his way out of his travails with his party and his APC counterparts in the Senate.

October 11, 2015
The Saraki debacle

He who the gods want to destroy, they will first make him mad. Senator Saraki intends to apply the same tactics of espionage he used to ridicule, embarrass & destroy his father politically in Kwara State. That is the same way he has ridiculed & embarrassed the APC by his action in the Senate when he connived with the opposition party, i.e. the PDP, in the election of the principal officers of the Senate by electing a PDP member as the Deputy Senate President to spite his own party. He thereby sold his birthright for a pot of porridge. On reflection, he who rubs his own cloth inside the mud will not care to tear another person’s cloth.

For weeks, the APC as a party could not think right to even know what step to take to manage the situation; they were totally confused. After much consultations, reason prevailed that the party should write the Senate President detailing the decision of the party concerning principal officers with the list of Senators approved by the party to be given positions in order to resolve the logjam in the Senate.

The same hand of fellowship was extended to the Speaker of House of Representatives which he reluctantly accepted and is now in peace with his party.

But Senator Saraki, our man Friday, the cleverest man on the surface of the earth, defied the instruction from his party, that the list sent to him did not reflect federal character. He immediately became an advocate of federal character and thereby jettisoned the list from his party and substituted it with his own personal list. It is said that pride goes before fall. Forgetting that a child who says his mother will not sleep, he too will go without sleep. He failed to realise that he who goes to equity must go with clean hands. He used the federal character to garner cheap public support against his party and made his party a subject of public ridicule.

There is an adge in Yoruba language that says that “omode bu iroko owa weyin lojo koni oluwere ja,” meaning “a child abuses and insulted an iroko tree and he immediately looks backwards, he failed to realise that the iroko tree doesn’t react immediately. Let us wait and see who laughs last.

If what was reported on Sallah Day by Channel T.V at Ilorin is true, it was a big embarrassment to Saraki who claimed to be the political godfather of Kwara State, although this might be a tip of what to expect in future. The Saraki dynasty in Kwara State is about to be ruined politically

– By Israel Oyegbile

Kaduna.

October 11, 2015
Saraki assures of dilligent screening of miniterial nominees

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has assured that the 8th Senate would put Nigeria first and also carry out a dilligent work regarding screening of the ministerial nominees by next Tuesday.

Saraki gave the assurance in Ikenne home of the matriarch of Awolowo family, Chief HID Awolowo when he led a delegation of the Nigerian Senate on a condolence visit to the deceased’s children.

Aside the Senate President, those in the delegation are Senator Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central), Senator Biodun Olujinmi (Ekiti state) among others.

Saraki noted that Nigerians would have the opportunity of participating in the screening process from the comfort of their homes as the exercise would be broadcast live, adding that notwithstanding any relationship with nominees, Nigerians would come first in the spirit of the constitution.

“We have said that for the 8th Senate, it is not going to be business as usual. What I can assure you is that we will go with the constitution, the rules, we will put Nigeria first.

“Screening will be done with level of seriousness and what we are all about is our constitutional responsibility to ensure that we find people who are fit enough to be Ministers and particularly this time, to give President Buhari the support he requires.

“It is not about who you like or who you don’t like and I want to assure Nigerian that will not be the basis, it will be based on the constitution and based on ability and our own assessment of capacity of the nominees to perform.

“And I assure you that individual differences would not be an issue at all, and we have spoken with Senators and told them that.

“At this moment of time, we have made sure that as much as possible, we share with the public, we try to ensure that all will be covered live so that everybody can see, we will all be screening from our bedrooms and sitting rooms as well along with the Senators.

“You’re rest assured that we will do a good job Nigerians would be proud of,” he said.

And earlier while commiserating with Mama’s children at Efunyela Hall within the family home, the Senate President described the late HID Awolowo as a great person, an icon and mother for all.

He said this informed why the Senate passed a resolution mandating a delegation to be led by the leadership to pay a condolence visit to the family

Saraki said: “on Wednesday the eight Senate passed a resolution mandated us to come here and commiserate with Awolowo family, the good people of Ogun State and Nigeria in general on the loss of great person and an icon.

“Normally, as our tradition, we send a delegation, but, for Mama she deserved this even more is for the entire Senate represented by the presiding officers to be here in person I lead that delegation. That is why I am here in person representing entire eight Senate.

“The country, not the family that has lost a great person, she was a great person because since the death of Papa for so many years she continued the life of virtues and his dreams and she sustained over many years she showed that she was a uniting factor not only in South West, but, Nigeria in general.

“I can say that, because just few months ago we were here during the period of our campaign and I don’t think there had been a campaign in this country that no politician will not stop here to pay respect and honour.

“She earned that because we have many wives and mothers who after their husband passed out have not been able to sustain the dream, I think she has shown herself that in the entire country she is the only person that has been able to achieve that that is a great achievement.

“As we mourn we also celebrate the great life she has lived. I remember when we were here we thought we would come to celebrate her 100 years but that shows that we must believe that were of the Almighty God.

” It is not we that decide some of these things when they happen, but, she lived a great life, she is someone we should be proud of not only here but also in Nigeria I don’t see if there is any wife or mother in the entire country, wife of a leader or politician that does what she has done , some years after her husband has gone she continued to sustain the dreams.

” Once again on behalf of the entire Senate I commiserate with the Awolowo family , the Ogun State people and Nigeria at large. The country has lost a great person and we have a lot to be proud of and with the faces I am seeing mama HID is coming, I think she deserves the honour.”

In her redponse, Mama’s eldest daughter, Mrs Omotola Oyediran, commended the senate leadership for identifying with them.

She disclosed that her mother’s final journey to be with the maker, would commence on the 15th of November when the body will be taken to Apapa home of the Awolowo’s in Lagos for an interdenominational thanksgiving.

On the 16th, the body will also depart Lagos for Ibadan for another service before heading to Ikenne in Ogun State where service will be held before a private interment the same day November 25th.

October 10, 2015
We ‘ll work for Nigeria’s progress, says Senate President Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the National Assembly and the Presidency have resolved to work for the country’s progress.

Saraki, who addressed State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Assembly leadership with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said it was an initiative of the President.

He said the maiden parley was a very useful session.

According to him, the interaction would ensure a cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive.

Saraki said: “We discussed a number of issues. The commitment is that yes, the National Assembly has lawmakers from different parties, but we are representing the country.

“We have a goal to ensure we work together for the progress of the country.”

On whether his trial was discussed, Saraki said the meeting focused on how to move the nation forward through the fulfillment of the promises made during the campaigns.

He said: “We are talking about what will make Nigeria work, we are talking about the promises we made during the campaigns.

“These are the issues we are talking about and to ensure there are no distractions. The focus is to ensure the executive does things in the interest of the county.

“It is normal in a democratic setting. From time to time, you see the parliament discussing with the executive. This is how to make things work.

“We are committed to working together and it is going to be for the good of the country. It is a good development.”

“We are committed to what we were elected to do, to make Nigeria work.”

On Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu’s absence, Senator Saraki said: “Two people are not here because they are attending a conference. The deputy minority whip in the House too is not here. They are not in the country.”

October 9, 2015
We’ll work for progress of Nigeria – Saraki

The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday night said the National Assembly and the Presidency have resolved to work amicably for the general interest of the country.

He spoke with State House correspondents after a meeting of National Assembly leadership with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Stressing that the meeting was an initiative of the President for, he said the meeting was a very useful session, being the first one.

According to him, the interaction will help to ensure smooth relationship between the two arms of government.

He said: “We discussed a number of issues. The general commitment is that, yes, the National Assembly has legislators from different parties but now we are representing Nigeria.

“We have a common goal to see that we work together for the interest of the country as a whole.”

On whether the issue of his ongoing trial featured at the meeting, Saraki said the focus of the meeting was on how to move the nation forward through the fulfillment of promises made during the political campaigns.

He said: “We are talking about what will make Nigeria work, we are talking about the promises we made during elections.

“Those are the big issues we are talking about and to ensure that there are no distractions. The focus is to ensure that the executive arm does things in the interest of the county.

“It is normal in democratic setting, from time to time, you see the parliament talking with the executive, and that is how to make things work.

“We are committed to work together and it is going to be for the good of Nigerians at large. It is a good development.

“We are all committed to what we are all elected to do so in order to make Nigeria work.”

On Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu’s absence at the meeting, he said: “Two people are not here because they are attending a conference. The Deputy Minority Whip in the House too is not here. It just happened that they are not in the country.”

October 8, 2015