The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Saraki

  • Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara, others in Aso Villa

    Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara, others in Aso Villa

    President Muhammadu Buhari last night met behind closed doors with the leaderships of the Senate and House of Representatives at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and House Speaker  Yakubu Dogara, led the leadership of the two chambers to the State House.

    Other Senate leaders at the meeting included Majority Leader Ali Ndume;  Deputy Majority Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah;  Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio and Minority Whip, Philip Aduda.

     Deputy Senate  President  Ike Ekweremadu was absent.

    Members from the House of Representatives  included  Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun; and  Leader Femi Gbajabiamila.

    They arrived at the First Lady’s Conference Hall venue in a convoy at about 8.45pm.

    The meeting started about 9.15pm when Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some top government officials arrived at the venue.

    Reporeters were barred from covering the meeting.

    Even though the agenda of the meeting was not made public, it was gathered that it was not unconnected with moves to resolve the crisis and reconcile Saraki with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Saraki, who is being prosecuted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false declaration of assets emerged the President of the Senate against the party’s wish.

    Another issue that might be tabled during the meeting is the plan by the President to send a supplementary budget to the National Assembly.

    The meeting was still in progress as of the time of filing this report,

  • NASS, private sector partnership key to economic development, says Saraki

    NASS, private sector partnership key to economic development, says Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday said collaboration between the public Sector, especially the National Assembly, and the organised private sector is crucial to  the nation’s economic development.

    Saraki while addressing the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Kyari Bukar who led other members of the board on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja said: “The truth is that if we are going to build a strong economy, we in the public sector cannot do it without strong collaboration from the private sector and the level of collaboration has to be at this (highest) level.

    “It has to be at this level because we need to understand what the issues are and we need to be able to address them and buy into them as an agenda before us.”

    He said the Senate is already looking at some laws that are relevant to economic growth with the aim of bringing them up to date in view of present realities. JJust today, we were talking about the railway sector and we found out that we are looking at a law that was enacted since the 1950s.  So, why are we surprised that we are not getting the necessary investment in the railway sector? And I am sure it goes across other sectors of the economy”, he said.

    He added: “We have identified the bills that will impact on our economy, growth and employment. We will fast-track them and try as much as possible to pass them as soon as possible. That is the commitment we are giving you.

    Earlier, Bukar noted that most Nigerians are yet to fully comprehend the role of the legislature since it remains the newest among the three arms of government.

    He said the NESG is willing to work with the National Assembly to establish a framework of continuous engagement with the citizenry and the private sector to get a better understanding of the nation’s legislative process.

    He said: “One simple tool that can quickly be harnessed is that of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to ensure public information of all bills and their status on the National Assembly website.”

    He also urged the National Assembly to ensure that all obsolete laws in the country are repealed and re-enacted to enhance national purpose and development.

    Bukar said: “A cursory look at all laws in Nigeria will reveal plethora of laws that were automatically inherited from our colonial masters, and as a result are not only irrelevant in our society today, but also impede development.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • Photo: Copy of the ministerial list

    Photo: Copy of the ministerial list


    [caption id="attachment_439221" align="alignleft" width="411"]Cover Page Cover Page[/caption]                               Ministerial List 1

  • Saraki: Mending fences

    The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since assumption in office in June has not been sighted in the Presidential Villa, Abuja until last Thursday.

    He has kept away from the seat of power probably because of his faceoff with his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Saraki, had against the wish of his party, contested and emerged the Senate President with the support of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators in the red-carpet chamber.

    Apart from his emergence, Saraki, unlike the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara who won election to the number four seat in similar circumstances, also did not allow the wish of the party to prevail in the selection of other Senate leadership positions.

    Saraki has not been to the Presidential Villa until last Thursday during Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary celebration, except if he had visited under the cover of darkness in the last three months.

    As the number three citizen, it would have been unprecedented for Saraki to have absented himself from the independence anniversary celebration.

    His predecessor, Senator David Mark did not miss any of the celebrations under the last dispensation.

    Saraki, who arrived the Presidential forecourt after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, took salute from the military personnel on parade before joining dignitaries and invited guests at the sitting arena.

    He exchanged pleasantries with them before taking his seat.

    There were also warm exchange of pleasantries between Saraki and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and later with President Muhammadu Buhari when they arrived the venue separately.

    The frequent smiles from discussions between Saraki and Buhari during the event made some guests to wonder in low tone what has kept Saraki away from the seat of power for so long.

    As if that was not enough, Saraki who left the Presidential Villa after the ceremony ended returned to Osinbajo’s office in the Presidential Villa about an hour later in a private car.

    He spent about thirty minutes in a private meeting with Osinbajo.

    Saraki was escorted to his vehicle by Osinbajo after their closed-door meeting.

     

  • Saraki condemns blasts, advocates increased intelligence gathering

    Saraki condemns blasts, advocates increased intelligence gathering

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday condemned the bomb explosions in the satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kuje and Nyanya.

    He urged security agencies to step up their intelligence gathering activities.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja, urged Nigerians not to panic, as the renewed attacks are signs that the days of Boko Haram are numbered.

    He lauded the security agencies for their quick response to the incidents in Nyanya and Kuje, especially the prompt evacuation of both the dead and injured to medical facilities where they are receiving needed for medical attention.

    The Senate President however, urged the security agencies to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the peace that has returned to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs is not only sustained but improved upon.

    He said, “To maintain peace, we need to step up the intelligence gathering machinery and get ordinary people to give useful information on suspicious movements by individuals, groups or even unexplainable location of objects and structures. This war against insurgency is one that all of us must co-operate with and support the military.”

    The Senate President commiserated with the families of victims of the explosions and wished those hospitalised speedy recovery.

  • Saraki: Beyond PDP Senate caucus’ united front

    Saraki: Beyond PDP Senate caucus’ united front

    The trial of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), may have ignited a crisis of confidence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate, reports Remi Adelowo

    On the surface, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the Senate appears a united force backing the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is currently standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    A few days ago following the arraignment of the number three citizen at CCT, the PDP issued a statement pledging its total support and declaring that the party would not abandon Saraki in his trying moment.

    But that may just be façade after all, if feelers emanating from the party are anything to go by. Sources in the party said the PDP lawmakers are divided on the best approach to the “Saraki travail,” with some vowing to remain loyal to him, while others are allegedly of the opinion that the Senate President deserves no sympathy.

    For the pro-Saraki camp, the prevailing argument is that supporting him at this point is strategic with the long term objective of decimating the rank of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead the 2019 general elections.

    But those on the other side of the divide think otherwise. Supporting Saraki, they contend, should not be compensated for his role in the crisis that culminated in the defection of five of its former governors and other chieftains to the APC in early 2019.

    In the last few weeks, the PDP national leadership had held several meetings with its senators to deliberate on the issue, but the non-committal attitude of some of the lawmakers has been a source for concern to the leaders.

    The Nation learnt that one high ranking senator not too keen in backing Saraki all the way is David Mark, who according to sources, only threw his weight behind the Senate Presidency ambition of the former following tremendous pressure from within and outside the party.

    Senator representing Anambra South, Andy Uba, allegedly spearheaded the lobbying to convince Mark to support Saraki who had defied his party, APC, to contest his current seat. Mark’s grouse is not unconnected to Saraki’s alleged arrogance and fears that “he is not trustworthy to abide by agreements.”

    For some other PDP anti-Saraki senators, particularly those from the South East and South geo-political zones where elections into various political offices were allegedly flawed, supporting the embattled Senate President in his war of attrition with APC could jeopardise their political career.

    Some of these senators, it was gathered, are looking at the possibility of striking a deal with the APC to retain their seats and ditch Saraki when the chips are down.

    Sources revealed that the Senate President’s camp is aware of this scenario playing out and has allegedly reached out to these senators to convince them that they have nothing to fear about retaining their seats.

    PDP governors of the two zones are also alleged have been co-opted to keep tabs on the senators in their respective states whose loyalty to the Saraki cause cannot be vouched for.

    In Rivers State for instance, a serving senator is alleged to be fraternising with the opposition APC in the state. This development has reportedly pitched him against the state governor, Nyesom Wike, who has not hidden his displeasure to the Senator’s “disloyalty.”

    An alleged plan by the Rivers PDP to suspend the senator was reportedly put on hold in order not to create what a source in the party described as a “needless crisis at this stage when all hands must be on deck” to ward off the opposition APC, which is challenging the victory of the PDP in the last governorship election in the state.

    The events playing out in Cross River State is also a bit scary for the PDP leadership, it was gathered. Quite a number of the party lawmakers both at the state and national levels are apprehensive over their fate in the Election Petition Tribunal, owing to the fact that Labour Party (LP) candidates are alleged to have very “good cases to upturn the victories of many PDP candidates in the state.”

    Many sources say the election of the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, would also have been challenged by the LP governorship candidate, Fidelis Ugbo, the former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC), but for the alleged intervention of former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba (SAN), who brokered a truce between the governor and Ugbo in his office at the Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja a few months ago.

    The case of Akwa Ibom is even dicier. For some time now, palpable fear has been the lot of PDP lawmakers in the state, many of whom are not apprehensive of the likely outcome of the petitions against their elections at the Election Tribunal by the APC.

    PDP senators and vote of confidence

    On the resumption of plenary last week, 83 senators reportedly passed a vote of confidence on the Saraki-led leadership of the Senate, but feelers indicate that not all the lawmakers were consulted before their names were included in the list of signatories to the motion sponsored by Senator David Umaru representing Niger East., while Senator Ahmed Yerima (Zamfara West) seconded.

    Beside Senators Jide Omoworare (APC Osun East) and Sabo Mohammed, who dissociated themselves from the vote of confidence, The Nation learnt that many PDP lawmakers were also shocked to see their names included in the list.

    In private sessions, some of these senators allegedly argued that passing a vote of confidence on Saraki on the floor of the Senate would have no effect whatsoever on the outcome of the trial of the Senate President at the CCT and that the best that could be done under this circumstance is to allow the trial to run its full course before a final decision can be taken.

    But in spite of the confusing posturing of some PDP senators, the Senate President is said to be banking on the influence of his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and his other allies in the PDP caucus to keep his support base intact while his trial lasts.

    Whether he succeeds or not however remains in the realm of conjecture.

  • When Saraki became ‘Lord of the Ring’

    When Saraki became ‘Lord of the Ring’

    The unfolding scenario in the trial of the embattled Senate President Bukola Saraki is taking an interesting episode in the Nigeria’s political soap opera. I can’t but air my opinions once again considering the level of sentiments flying about in this celebrated trial.

    After various efforts made by the heir of Kwara political dynasty to stop the prosecution by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), finally he became ‘lord of the ring’, like others in the past. In as much as it is agreed that an accused person is not guilty until he is found guilty by a competent court of law, the body language towards trial often speculate the psychological state of an accused person.

    On Tuesday 22nd September when Senator Saraki was docked at the accused box of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, he was seen obviously nervous and uncomfortable. Yes, never was it comfortable for anyone guilty or not guilty. However, there is need to beam searchlight on this matter that has suddenly taken flight from the reality in the public perception, and from different schools of thoughts.

    Saraki, like every other person has the right to defend himself in the court. However, what his seemingly usual practice of running to a court of higher jurisdiction to stop his trials by the lower court (where obviously the trial of an accused person supposed to commence) is quite logical and cynical. As Nigeria’s Senate President who is not covered by immunity to be tried, stretching his trial by means of out-of-court defensive mechanism has labelled him as trying to be too smart towards evading trials, the consequences of which might ignite forceful implementation of trial, often with little or no mercy at that climax.

    The trial of Charles (I) was one of the most momentous events and Stuart ever to have taken place in the history of England. Following the end of the Civil War Charles I was brought to trial in Westminster Hall on 20 January 1649. The King’s trial was proclaimed to the sound of trumpets and drums, at the south end of the Hall.

    Bringing the King through a large crowd at the north was too great a risk; on the other hand, it was important that the trial be held in public. The court was divided from the public by a wood partition from wall to wall, backed by railings, and guards were stationed on the leads. The King appeared before his judges four times, charged with tyranny and treason. The exchanges always took a similar form with the King challenging the court’s authority and its right to try him.

    The peculiar nature of the trial reflects not simply the fact that a King was on trial but that both the King and his judges took their stand on what are still crucial principles – the King on his right to trial by a properly constituted court acting on the basis of established law, and his accusers on the need to call to account a King they had described as a tyrant who shed the blood of his people. The King’s persistence disconcerted the judges, but there was little doubt about the outcome, and the death sentence was proclaimed on 27 January.

    The prosecution process is simple: appear and state your side of the story. If clean, the public will know when the law is being manipulated to supress an accused person. Persistent attempt at avoiding being tried is a case study.

    In Nigeria’s history, high profile personalities have appeared before the CCT. As it is, CCT prosecution is streamlined, so no serious argument once the accused is free of financial mess. No too much logic is required.

    To those making mountain out of the trial, it must be noted that Saraki’s trial started with Jonathan’s administration, not even the Buhari government. I am looking for which-hunt in the process but it is obscure. When Jonathan opened corruption case against Saraki then, it was not which-hunt to the PDP commentators now particularly the party’s spokesperson Olisa Metuh of the same party as Saraki and Jonathan then. Such is the politics here!

    It should also be taken into account that Saraki was being tried in Jonathan’s era as former Governor of Kwara State just as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was tried as former Governor of Lagos State. Even as member of opposition to the sitting government trying him, Bola Tinubu never stopped the CCT prosecution. He went-in and came out vindicated of the charges levelled against him.

    If Saraki is to fall, he is not going to be the first legislative giant to suffer decline of fate; Salisu Buhari, Adulphus Wabara and Patricia Eteh were heads of parliament who came down the ladder of power on account of corrupt practices. Besides the parliamentarians, there have been other lords of the ring in the CCT box.

    Saraki should be seen in the light of a free man and not guilty of all accusations levelled against him. In fact, he is a free man undergoing trial. Many cases opened in the era of Goodluck Jonathan without meaningful conclusion were being re-visited by the ‘new Sheriff in town’. “We will get there” is the popular slogan in the mouth of Nigerians who are waiting to see justice for the poor.

    For the fear of becoming lord of the ring someday in the CCT box, the mischief makers have started condemning Buhari’s administration for opening up abandoned cases and trials; but we will get there!

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party was fast to condemn Saraki’s trial. The fear is obvious. If a man can land six strokes of cane on his child’s buttock, another man’s child better be careful. There were too many cases of oppression against the people but which were buried under the carpet in the last administration. It became a regular practice of the GEJ government that the President himself proclaimed openly that “stealing was not corruption” after all. What a shame!

    Now that stealing has been properly defined as corruption, we must decide what kind of nation we want. Indiscipline is the bedrock of corrupt practices and other fowl plays by public office holders. The parliament which is the law making institution cannot be seen littered with personalities that are contrary to our legislative integrity. Come to think of it, the Senate President is under trial for stealing; the Deputy Senate President has a case of forgery in court; Senate Majority Leader has a case of sponsoring terrorism in court and Senate Minority Leader under the guise of stage-managed accident ran out of country two days before he was billed to testify at the electoral tribunal for electoral fraud. What kind of the upper parliament is in place for Nigerians? Law-makers or Law-breakers?

    Whoever sees Akpabio should tell him to come home because all is well. No matter how fast the night can run, the daylight will surely overtake it. Fayose should continue to insult the President in the guise of opposition, the good news is that he cannot be in the ruling again. Wait, we missed the Kogi Senator who was following Saraki’s wife to the tribunal in dark glasses the other time, saying Tinubu started pursuing him sometimes ago. I can feel a silence in town. The noise from the powerful political actors in time past has suddenly gone down; I think everyone now cares for individual fate more. We will get there is the peoples’ song!

    If anyone is still living in the euphoria of a Tinubu versus Saraki in the current subject, tell the fellow that Tinubu is not from Kwara and he never petitioned the CCT from 2007 when Saraki left office as Governor of Kwara State. Did Tinubu also ordered the stoning of Saraki in Ilorin? The bitter truth is that the people cannot be manipulated for too long. As it is now, if some people are unable to impregnate their wives successfully, it must be Tinubu that is behind it. But for now, it is the State versus Bukola Saraki; it is high time we all settle down for business sincerely and detach all sentiments around Bola Tinubu who is living his dream; let everyone find theirs and strive for a greater cause.

    Stella Oduah is not talking in the Senate, but I wonder if Tinubu didn’t cause that. Let the former Aviation Minister keeps talking until Sheriff Calls her case file. Everyone should know that power alone does not guarantee respect and peace of mind as giving good governance to the people who are the ultimate owners of the mandates we use as powerful congressmen. Above all, I know quite well ‘we will get there’!

     

    – Olulade is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Epe Constituency II

     

  • Photo: Buhari, Saraki at the Independence parade

    Photo: Buhari, Saraki at the Independence parade

    President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki at the October 1 independence parade at the Presidential Villa.
    President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki at the October 1 independence parade at the Presidential Villa.
  • Reps seek political solution to Saraki’s travails

    Reps seek political solution to Saraki’s travails

    The leadership of the House of Representatives is set to meet President Muhamadu Buhari  to find a political solution to the corruption trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

    The decision of the House is an offshoot of a motion brought before the House under matters of urgent public importance by a member, Raphael Igbokwe, with the title: “a motion on Nigeria’s 55 years of independence: need for vigilance.”

    The lawmakers, also in their resolution, passed “a vote of confidence in the leadership of the National Assembly, urging all institutions of government to be guided by the rule of law and due process and avoid being used to undermine any arm of government.”

    Sequel to an amendment by the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, and Hon. Patrick Asadu, members at plenary yesterday mandated the leadership of the House to meet with the President “ with a view to politically resolve all outstanding issues relating to the National Assembly in the interest of Nigerians”

    His amendment to the original motion, which was also granted, included mandating the Speaker “to intervene in the issues and challenges being faced by the Chairman of the National Assembly ( Saraki) with a view to finding a political solution and protecting the institution of the National Assembly as a whole in the interest of our democracy.”

  • Saraki, resign now

    SIR: The move and the boldness of 83 senators in passing a vote of confidence on the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the red chamber’s sitting of Tuesday 29 is scandalous to the integrity of the chamber, an affront to the sensibilities of Nigerians, the rule of law and also principles of morality. This is a man standing trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false assets declaration. One is bound to be ashamed that senators who should be distinguished in their actions could be seen to glorify criminality.

    It is sad that many of our distinguished senators have not changed from their old ways of handling sensitive national issues such as when their presiding officer, the Senate President is involved in a trial touching on acts of dishonesty, fraudulent disclosure or non-disclosure of his assets.

    If there be honour and integrity in the Senate, its president on being publicly put on trial ought to have stepped aside to await the end of his criminal trial and not to face the other way as if nothing happened. It is mischievous insisting that his travails are the handwork of the people he referred to as “powerful individuals, outside the legislature”. This is an infantile argument to distract attention and also to win the favour of his colleagues.

    The call for Saraki to throw in the towel is premised on the fact that the mandate he holds is that of his constituency but the public office he holds as Senate President is that of an institution belonging to all Nigerians. The Senate as per Dino Melaye may not be distracted by the actions of some powerful individuals outside the National Assembly, but Melaye should be be reminded that by the conventions of civilized democracies from where we learnt our democracy, Saraki would have long been asked to step down and not to taint the sensitive function of making laws.

    Again, to debunk Saraki’s argument that it is taking the government 13 years before bringing him to court, let it be known to him that the law does not prescribe timelines within which he could be tried.

    Finally, one wonders the probative value that the public would ascribe to laws made by a Senate whose head is standing trial on grave criminal allegation. The Senate as a responsible arm of government should act now to save the institution and the Nigerian state from public disparagement. Apart from Saraki, there are other well qualified senators from other sections of the country to pilot the affairs of the Senate. After all, Senator Evan Ewerem who started the senate presidency in 1999 did not in 2003 conclude it; neither did Senator Chuba Okadigbo who took over from him within the same senate session.

     

    • Chief Utum Eteng,

    Calabar.