Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has confirmed getting the ministerial list from President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a tweet on his handle @bukolasaraki, the Senate President wrote ” About an hour ago, I received the list of President’s Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial nominees from the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Abbah Kyari and the Special Adviser to Mr. President on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang.”
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday withdrew from a case filed by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, against the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Saraki is seeking to retrain the CCT, the Federal Ministry of Justice and others from proceeding with his trial on alleged false declaration of assets.
Justice Mohammed had on September 17 declined to grant Saraki’s prayer for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents.
Instead, the judge ordered that the respondents be put on notice and for them to explain on September 21, why the prayer sought by Saraki should not be granted.
On September 21, the judge, after entertaining argument from parties, elected to hear the substantive suit.
Justice Mohammed said it was more honourable for him to hand the case file back to the court’s Chief Judge for reassignment to another judge.
To avert a possible misrepresentation of the day’s proceedings, the judge directed an official of the court to make printed record of the proceedings, signed by the judge, available.
A mild drama played out on the floor of the Senate over the absence of the much awaited ministerial nominees’ list on Wednesday.
The Senate gallery was unusually crowded by people who thought that the ministerial list would be read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
The drama was sparked by the outburst of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The Senate President had hardly concluded reading a letter from the South West Senate caucus which nominated and endorsed Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central) as Senate Chief Whip when Akpabio sought and was granted the leave to speak.
Akpabio started by thanking President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for calling to sympathize with him over the auto crash he was involved in last month in Abuja.
He said the newspapers, television stations and other media outlets were awash with the news that the ministerial list had been sent to the Senate.
He added that President Buhari promised that the list would be submitted to the Senate in September.
He noted that most Nigerians were also concerned that submission of the list had been unduly delayed.
He said, “Mr. President, today is September 30th. Where is the ministerial list. I am surprised that the list is not part of what was read by Mr. Senate President.”
Before Saraki could respond, Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, took the floor.
Na’Allah (APC Kebbi South) stood in for Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, who was not in the chamber.
He noted that since the question Akpabio raised had to do with the All Progressives Party (APC) government, it was his duty to respond.
Na’Allah said that it was still too early for anybody to conclude that the ministerial list would not be submitted on Wednesday.
The Deputy Senate Leader said he was aware that the office of the Senate President remains open till 12 midnight every day.
He insisted that the ministerial list could still be submitted to the Senate especially when September 30th ends at 12 midnight on Wednesday.
He said, “11.59pm up to 12midnight is still September 30th. The day is still very young. The ministerial list can still be submitted. So there is no cause for alarm.”
Na’Allah’s response drew wild laughter from Senators on both sides of the divide. Some were gesturing to pat Na’Allah on the back.
Saraki said that based on the explanation of Na’Allah, he has no option than to rule Akpabio out of order.
There was further laughter in the chamber.
Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the screening of ministerial nominees will be thorough.
The list is expected to be forwarded to the upper legislative chamber today.
Addressing the lawmakers at yesterday’s plenary session, Saraki said: “As we await the list of ministerial nominees this week, I believe the presence of ministers will create the space for greater policy engagement with the executive arm of government.
“This will enable us to begin to respond in a more systematic manner to the various economic and social challenges before us, especially through our various committees that will also be constituted soon.
“On this note, I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us.
“Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch and thoroughness. We must not be held down by unnecessary politicking. The enormity of our national challenges at this time does not give room for pettiness or politics of vendetta”.
Saraki urged the senators to demonstrate clearly to Nigerians that they were prepared to put the interest of the country above other considerations.
To behave contrary, he said, would amount to a betrayal of the confidence reposed on them by the electorate and the country as a whole.
He rued the challenges confronting the national economy, occasioned by dwindling oil revenue, a situation which he said, has brought enormous shock to the economy.
He observed that the trend has greatly limited the capacity of government at various levels to meet even basic commitments, adding however, that the nation had gone through periods of recession in the past.
“What we face today is however unprecedented in ramification and potential gravity. We must think hard and work hard with the executive to achieve greater clarity in policy direction and interventions.
“We shall therefore commence immediately, a review of the 2015 budget and begin now to lay down the fundamental principles that would determine the 2016 budget and the philosophy of our economy in times like this”, Saraki stated.
He urged the executive arm to complement the significant military success recorded in the counter insurgency campaign with a robust economic strategy.
Dr. Saraki canvassed a global infrastructure and development fund that could deliver the vital services needed by the army of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Northeast part.
He identified homes, hospitals, schools and jobs as some of the key infrastructure required by the IDPs to live a more meaningful and more secured life in the future.
On his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Saraki restated his earlier position that he was facing trial because he became the President of the Senate; against the wish of his party.
Said he: “I have no iota of doubt that I am on trial today because I am the President of the Nigerian Senate, against the wishes of some powerful individuals outside this chamber.
“But what is clear to me also, is that the laws of Nigeria, and the rules of the National Assembly give consideration only to the wishes and desires of those of you who are here today as members of the Senate, to elect as you wish, one of your peers as President of the Senate.
“This, in your wisdom, is what you have done by electing me to be the first among all of you who are my equals. The laws of Nigeria does not give any consideration to any other forces outside the Senate in the election of its President.
“And to yield the ground on this note, is to be complicit in the subversion of democracy and its core principles of separation of powers as enshrined in our constitution.
“This is why we must, once again, commend President Muhammadu Buhari, for refusing to interfere in the election of the National Assembly leadership, even in the face of enormous pressures on him to do so.”
The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has stressed the need for the Senate to expedite action in screening and approving the list of ministerial nominees from President Muhammadu Buhari.
The list is expected to be forwarded to the upper legislative chamber any moment from now.
Addressing the lawmakers at Tuesday’s plenary session, Saraki said, “As we await the list of ministerial nominees this week, I believe the presence of ministers will create the space for greater policy engagement with the executive arm of government.
“This will enable us to begin to respond in a more systematic manner to the various economic and social challenges before us, especially through our various committees that will also be constituted soon.
“On this note, I want to urge you all my colleagues to ensure that what is uppermost in our minds as we begin the constitutional task of screening of ministerial nominees is the overall interest of our country, informed by the enormity and the urgency of the challenges before us.
“Once the list is submitted, let us ensure that we treat it with dispatch and thoroughness. We must not be held down by unnecessary politicking. The enormity of our national challenges at this time does not give room for pettiness or politics of vendetta.”
Saraki charged the senators to demonstrate clearly to Nigerians that they were prepared to fulfill their mandates and put the interest of the country above other considerations.
To behave contrary, he said, would amount to a betrayal of the confidence reposed on them by the electorate and the country as a whole.
The President of the Senate rued the challenges confronting the national economy, occasioned by dwindling oil revenue, a situation which he said, has brought enormous shock to the economy.
He observed that the trend has greatly limited the capacity of government at various levels to meet even basic commitments, adding however, that the nation had gone through periods of recession in the past.
There was disquiet in the Senate on Tuesday over a vote of confidence passed on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and other leaders of the upper chamber.
The confidence vote supported by 83 Senators – 48 from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 35 All Progressives Congress (APC) members sparked protest on the floor of the Senate.
Some Senators almost exchanged blows but for the quick intervention of other Senators who stood between the combatants.
The motion was sponsored by Senator David Umaru (Niger East), while Senator Ahmed Rufai Yerima (Zamfara West) seconded.
Tuesday’s vote of confidence on the leadership of the Senate was the second in two months, the first was on July 28 when the senators adopted confidence vote as a sign of solidarity to the Senate President and members of the Senate Leadership.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Business and Rules, Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East) may have unwittingly sparked the protest when he dissociated himself from the vote of confidence.
Omoworare’s name was number 11 on the list of supporters of the motion sought and was granted permission by Saraki to make some observations on the motion.
The Osun State APC lawmaker to the consternation of the promoters of the motion, said he was not consulted before his name was smuggled into the list of supporters of the confidence vote.
He insisted that his name be struck out of the list since he knew nothing about the motion.
He added that as chairman, Senate Business and Rules, he should have known about the motion “but because it came under a motion of urgent national importance”, he has no issue with the presentation.
He, however, said his named should be removed from the list of sponsors of the motion.
After the confidence vote had been moved and adopted, the Senate President gave Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) the floor to speak.
Before Saraki gave the nod to Umaru to present his motion, Marafa was seen raising his hand several times.
Senate President who may have gauged Marafa’s mindset ignored him and gave Umaru the floor to make his presentation.
Marafa waited but when Saraki allowed him to speak, he came under Senate Order 53 (5) which says “Reference shall not be made to any matter on which a judicial decision is pending.”
He was apparently referring to the welcome address by Saraki where the Senate President referred copiously to his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
But the Senate President asked Marafa to read Order 53(6) which states “It shall be out of Order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission.”
Instead of reading Order 53(6), Marafa chose to read Order 53(8) which says “No Senator shall impute improper motives to any other Senator.”
Senate President promptly ruled Marafa out of order and asked him to sit down but he persisted.
Marafa protested profusely, but his protest fell on deaf ears as the Senate President further ignored him.
As Umaru read his prayers, Marafa was heard shouting “nay, nay, nay” to all the prayers.
There was uproar in the senate on Tuesday over vote of confidence on Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Senators in near fisticuffs.
83 senators passed vote of confidence in Saraki.
Senator Babajide Omoworare whose name was included as supporter dissociated himself from the motion.
The stage is set for the resumption of senators today after a six-week holiday. Opinions are divided as to the propriety or otherwise of their leader, Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), steering the affairs of the upper legislative chamber. Assistant Editors GBADE OGUNWALE and ONYEDI OJIABOR report.
The Senate reconvenes today after a six-week recess. Expectedly, a number of issues will dominate procedures and discussions in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
No doubt, the ongoing trial of the Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) will take the centre stage. Saraki is standing trial for alleged false assets declaration while he was governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011. The trial has continued to generate controversy within and outside the Senate.
Some senators have identified with Saraki. They have vowed to stand by him through thick and thin. But, the trial has far-reaching implications on the turbulent tenure and indeed the political career of the Dr. Saraki. The development has further widened the gulf between the polarised senators, especially, on the appropriate steps to take on resumption.
The various camps have been holding secret meetings and coming up with various positions on the way forward. Some of them argue that as a matter honour, Saraki ought to step down as Senate President for the period his trial will last. Those bringing up this suggestion base their argument on morality and the need to save the image of the upper legislative body.
According to them, legislative proceedings and actions taken by the Senate under Saraki’s leadership may be adversely affected.
“The resolutions or decisions arising from proceedings on the floor of the Senate presided over by Saraki may not pass the credibility and integrity test,” one of them said.
Such resolutions or decisions, he went on, would not get the deserved acceptance and respect from members of the public and even the international community. “No doubt, the trial has to a large extent debased the National Assembly,” the senator said.
Apart from being the Senate President, Saraki doubles as the chairman of the National Assembly, a nomenclature invented for the office since the Sixth Senate. His trial cannot but rub off on the image of the entire legislative arm of government.
It’s Unity Forum
versus Like Minds
Hence, some senators, especially those in the Unity Forum group, are insisting that Saraki should do the needful to save the Senate and indeed the National Assembly the odious implication of harbouring a tainted leader. Those championing the Saraki-must-resign cause reason that the weight of the moral burden of his trial has the inclination to impede legislative business.
They posit that since he who goes to equity must come with clean hands, Saraki’s image has been dented by his arraignment and ongoing corruption trail. To them, Saraki must step down honourably to give the Senate fresh breath to begin afresh.
Observers are of the view that the trial may halt the stream of government institutions and corporate bodies that have been paying courtesy visits on the President of the Senate. There has been a plethora of visits and courtesy calls on the Senate President since the inauguration of the Eighth National Assembly on June 9. Many of such calls were said to have been at the instance of Saraki’s office.
But senators loyal to the Senate President, under the auspices of the Like Minds, insist that the is no bais for the call on Saraki to step aside. According to them, the trial should not in any way stop Saraki from presiding over the affairs of the Senate.
Their argument is that the accused person is deemed innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court of law. They added that asking him to step down would be tantamount to pronouncing him guilty before trial.
Saraki may be lucky to weather through the storm either by some judicial wizardry by his counsel, or through a political solution that may entail a great deal of compromise on the part of the Saraki camp. However, losing the trial portends dire consequences for the tenure and political career of the Senate President. If he loses and bags a conviction, either in form of a jail term or fines, or both, he automatically loses his seat as President of the Senate and senator representing his Kwara Central Senatorial District.
Shopping for
Saraki’s replacement
In the event of the latter scenario playing out, the lawmakers would have to shop for a replacement amongst the body of senators.
Speculations are rife that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with its 49-member strength, is angling to cash in on the cracks within the ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has a simple majority in the upper chamber, pick the plum job for one of its members. The APC has 59 members in the 109-member Senate.
Feelers from the PDP caucus indicate that the immediate past Senate President David Mark; his erstwhile deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and the incumbent Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, are being primed to succeed Saraki. But, the trio of Mark, Ekweremadu and Akpabio, have enough political battles on their hands. Mark is battling to save his political career at the Benue election petition tribunal, where he locked in a battle with Daniel Onjeh of the APC. Onjeh contested the Benue South senatorial seat with Mark at the March 28 National Assembly election. The pendulum may swing in favour of either Mark or his opponent. Until that matter is dispensed with, the former Senate President may distance himself from another round of political struggle.
On the other hand, Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu, who is being projected as a possible replacement, is also facing a criminal case in court. His alleged involvement in tinkering with the Senate Standing Rules, on the plank of which he emerged Saraki’s deputy may his albatross. Like Saraki, if the court finds him culpable, he would be losing his position as well as his Enugu West senatorial seat. Akpabio may not be the right choice for the job. In the first place, the immediate past Akwa Ibom State governor is a first-time senator and therefore not qualified to lead ranking senators. He may have pulled through as Minority Leader with his PDP, but, becoming the Senate President as anon-ranking member time member is a different kettle of fish. Besides, there are unconfirmed reports indicating that hard currency and arms were found in a section of the Akwa Ibom Government House recently raided by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The former governor was said to be the tenant in section raided by the operatives. The last may not have been heard of the raids as more facts in the days ahead.
Ministerial screening
There are also speculations that Saraki could get as many senators to stall the clearance of ministerial nominees. The list of the nominees from President Muhammadu Buhari will be forwarded any moment for the screening and approval of the Senate.
Political analysts argue that there are no indications whatsoever within or outside the Senate to suggest that the ministerial list will suffer any delay.
According to them, if anything, the Saraki camp may use the expeditious screening and approval of the nominees as a bargaining chip. This, they say, may be in the form of wooing the Presidency and other stakeholders in the APC. The pundits argue that the Saraki camp and the APC leadership may use the list to strike a balance that could be symbiotically beneficial to both parties.
It is however left to be seen how the parties would pull through such knotty compromise. Others insist that the Senate, as presently constituted, lacked the strength, character and moral force to hold down the President’s ministerial list. Going by the mood of the public and the eagerness on the part of the citizenry to see a federal cabinet in place, any attempt to delay the approval of the nominees may complicate matters for the lawmakers.
Already, there is high-level of political awareness across the land and the various constituents appear to be in a hurry to see the Buhari administration marching on with full complements of cabinet ministers. Any wrong move by the lawmakers may backfire and attract public uproar and resentment against the Senate.
A statement issued on Monday by the Chairman, Senate ad-hoc committee on media and publicity, Senator Dino Melaye appears to give an insight into the mood of the lawmakers. Melaye, a die-hard supporter of Saraki, said the Senate is fully prepared and waiting to receive communications from Mr. President, including the ministerial list.
So, in the actual sense of it, there is no pound of flesh for the senators to extract from the Buhari Presidency. Many of the senators believe that in line with the change mantra sweeping across the country, the course of justice should not be blocked, no matter who is involved. The likely inference from this is that, with or without Saraki’s trial, the Senate must be seen to be doing its job unhindered.
Opinions are sharply divided as to how long the embattled Senate President can continue to push on. Some believe that with the weight of criminal charges against him, Saraki may not come out unscathed, morally and politically. They see his political future hanging precariously in the balance if the government decides to pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
Others, however, observed that in saner societies and civilised democracies, someone in Saraki’s position would have been asked by his colleagues to voluntarily resign or be impeached. It is believed that a good number of the lawmakers, mainly of the ruling APC, are working towards this option. But, it is unclear if they could get enough members to push through their position.
As the senators prepared for their resumption, it was gathered yesterday that the Unity Forum and the Like Minds are favourably disposed to finding a political solution to the logjam problem. They are said to have expressed optimism that the matter could be resolved amicably before the October 21 adjourned date for hearing in the case before the CCT.
Senator Aliyu Wamako, who belongs to the Like Mind group, has predicted an early end to the string of crises rocking the Senate after today’s resumption.
He said at the weekend: “I see Mr. President, Saraki and senators holding a meeting very soon on how to salvage democracy, which certain elements have been trying to subvert. They will find time to meet to stop our opponents from progressing with acts to sabotage our democracy.
“Once the President and the Senate leadership sit on a round-table with a resolve to re-oil the wheels of democracy for national progress, the cynics, the political rabble-rousers and those who never mean well for the APC government will go to sleep.”
SIR: After all the politics couched in posturing and legalisms, Dr. Bukola Saraki was finally docked at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on September 22, to take the plea on 13 counts of charges of wrongdoing.
That he was charged with wrongdoing is no big deal. Anybody could be charged for anything – whether true or trumped up. A mischievous prosecutor, seeking to settle scores on political or amorous jilts could bring charges on his nemesis. However, given the blind stance of Lady Justice, every charged person is innocent until proven guilty. Senator Saraki may still prove his innocence in this matter. Thus to charge a person is not the end of the world. What really matters is the course of justice in charging a person, and fidelity of the avenues available to clear the name of any accused person
The real issue that Nigerians must consider dispassionately is: Does Saraki’s ambition to retain the esteemed position of President of the Senate trump the sanctity and continuity of Nigeria’s democracy? I do not think so. As much as I encourage Saraki or any other Nigerian, to fight for his individual rights, the general good of Nigeria must remain supreme at all times.
Following the sensation of Saraki’s docking, the drums of Impeach Saraki are getting closer and louder. That would be the easy way out, and I do not subscribe to it because that would ultimately hurt our democracy. If the sentiments to impeach Saraki becomes dominant and eventually succeeds, an avalanche of impeachments would be unleashed on the land. The ensuing chaos in the polity is better imagined than experienced.
To deepen our democracy, Senator Bukola Saraki must resign, and voluntarily, from the Presidency of the 8th Senate. His voluntary resignation would hardly be new in the annals of democracy. Leaders of parliament in different democracies of the world have resigned their leadership and even left parliament over lesser charges and controversies. APC rode to power on the mantra of change that includes fighting corruption. To give teeth and meaning to that fight, the right thing for Saraki to do for himself, the Senate, and for Nigeria, is to resign voluntarily. For him to continue to preside over the 8th Senate, carry on as chairman of the National Assembly, head of one arm of our three tier government, would be a “moral comma” on our democracy. Why would anyone want to carry about such moral dilemma in the discharge of their duties? Imagine the side talks, and the thoughts on the minds of his colleagues and the public, as he presides over the Senate; or whenever he addresses any audience, at home or abroad. At a time when Nigerian youths need moral guidance, and our economy is desperate for sustained foreign investments, Nigeria must make definitive statements punctuated with emphatic “Full-stops”. Not Commas.
His continuation as the President of the 8th Senate would stifle the work of the Senate by undermining the congenial collegiate culture of the institution; cause avoidable confusion in the polity; polarise the APC, endanger its chances at future elections, and most of all, hamper governance by reinforcing the wedge between the presidency and the legislature. Therefore, Senator Saraki must do the right thing, for the good of the country. He will be a hero for it.
Ogidi, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State
The Nigeria Labour Congress said on Monday it was not party to calls for the resignation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
The body also called for an immediate investigation into death of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
NLC in a statement signed by its president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said it has never made any comment on the trial of the Senate President by the Code of Conduct Tribunal and has not made any call for his resignation.
The statement reads “The attention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been drawn to the report on The Punch Newspaper of Sunday, September 27, 2015 captioned: “Resign now, labour unions tell Saraki.”
“The report stated that “Nigerian workers, under the umbrellas of the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, have asked the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, to vacate his office pending the determination of his case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.”
“We wish to state categorically clear that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) did not issue any statement to that effect. As a matter of fact, Congress has never made such a demand and therefore dissociates itself from the statement. We therefore urge the general public and our members in particular to please take note.
“The recent mass rally by NLC/TUC and civil society allies in Abuja was to support the anti-corruption crusade of the current administration as well as enthronement of good governance in the country. While Congress will continue to support the anti-graft war, it will however not support the removal of any public office holder without recourse to due process.
“Labour values security of tenure unless there is a proven case of guilt which clearly is not yet the case with particular reference to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, whose controversial matter of alleged false declaration of assets is still in court. Congress as a democratic organization presumes all Nigerians, workers inclusive are innocent until they are proved guilty by the courts of law of the land.”