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‘Saraki, Ekweremadu’s elections are a nullity’

Frontline lawyer and rights activist Jiti Ogunye examines the crisis at the National Assembly. His opinion: the election of Senate President Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ibe Ekweremadu should not stand.

Since the National Assembly (NA) erupted in crisis during the “inauguration” of the 8th NA and the “election” of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, the 9th of June, 2015, a lot has been said and written about the issues in dispute in the crisis. Unfortunately, rather than subject the “election” in the NA, in particular in the Senate, on that day, to a rigorous legal examination, in order to determine the legality of that election, many of the principal actors in the NA leadership crisis or in the All Progressives Congress.

Since the National Assembly (NA) erupted in crisis during the “inauguration” of the 8th NA and the “election” of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday, the 9th of June, 2015, a lot has been said and written about the issues in dispute in the crisis. Unfortunately, rather than subject the “election” in the NA, in particular in the Senate, on that day, to a rigorous legal examination, in order to determine the legality of that election, many of the principal actors in the NA leadership crisis or in the All Progressives Congress (APC) imbroglio, and a host of other interveners have been discussing the politics of the crisis and its “mishandling” by the APC leadership, who, according to these interveners, was hell bent on foisting a leadership on the NA. Many simple-minded gloaters have even reduced the serious issues thrown up by the crisis to a celebration of the “ political defeat of Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, as if that alleged defeat was all that was needed to make the aberration that occurred in the NA acceptable. In this intervention, we seek to redirect the discourse. We argue that the NA leadership crisis primarily should be discussed and resolved on the basis of enquiries as to whether there had been a violation of the rule of law and the provisions of the Constitution.

What transpired in the NA on Tuesday, 9th June, 2015 was a coup d’état. If it was merely a coup d’état by the treacherous members of the APC against their party’s choices for the offices that constitute the leadership of the NA, we would not have been bothered. We are bothered because it was also a coup d’état against the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the rule of law.

On that day, while Senator Bukola Saraki of the APC, who has confessed that, like a typical coup d’état leader, he sneaked into the premises of the NA at dawn, was “elected unopposed” as the Senate President, by 57 Senators, in the absence of 51 Senators, who were “ambushed” into a fence-mending and ranks-closing meeting that eventually turned out to be a hoax, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the People Democratic Party ( PDP) “defeated” his opponent, Senator Ali Ndume of the APC by 50 votes to 24 votes ( with one abstention) to clinch the post of the Deputy Senate President. Instructively, the APC controls the Senate with 59 ( now 58) Senators, while the PDP has 49 Senators, meaning that 108 members ought to have congregated on the Senate Floor on the said date to constitute the leadership of the Senate. Alas, only 57 senators and 75 senators took part in the elections into the two offices.

In the run up to the “inauguration” of the NA on 9th of June, 2015, after the initial intra-party horse-trading and compromises, two blocs within the APC, keenly interested in fielding candidates and contesting available positions in the NA leadership, had emerged: The offices are that of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives. For the House of Representatives, there was the Femi Gbajabiamila and Yakubu Dogara Blocks, and for the Senate, there were the Bukola Saraki and Ahmed Lawan Blocks. To put its house in order, the APC, correctly and responsibly, in our view, conducted a straw poll amongst her elected legislators to determine the popularity and acceptability of the aspirants and adopt consensus candidates of the party for the positions. It would not have made any sense for the APC to have allowed its aspirant members to go on the floors of the Senate and the House to slugger it out amongst themselves. That is not the way a responsible party behaves. Strangely, some dubious partisans and jaundiced interveners have condemned the APC for striving to forge consensuses amongst its party members, insisting that the NA should have been left alone to self-constitute its leadership, without the input of the parties of the respective members. This position that is being laundered as the correct approach that ought to have been adopted by the APC in order to guarantee the independence of the legislature is ignorant, plain dumb and silly. At the end of the straw poll, which the Saraki and Dogara blocs boycotted and walked out of, obviously because they were in the minority and because they did not want the decision of the majority to bind them, the Lawan and Gbajabiamila Blocks emerged victorious. Consequently, the APC directed all its legislators that were to participate in the NA Leadership Elections to tow the party line and vote for the party’s candidates in the elections.

Upon realising that they did not command the following of a majority of their party members, the Saraki and Dogara blocks surreptitiously hatched a conspiracy against their party’s interest and forged a coalition with the PDP against their party choices That coalition led to the “defeat” of the APC choices in the elections, and the triumphs of the Saraki and Dogara Blocks. In the House of Representatives leadership election, Dogara scored 182 votes to Gbajabiamila’s 174 votes. Given the result of the election, it was obvious that out of the 209 APC legislators in the House, about 36 of them leagued up with PDP legislators to defeat Gbajabiamila, their “party’s” candidate for the office of the speaker, and Monguno, their party’s candidate for the office of the Deputy Speaker. Saraki, Dogara, and Lasun, all defectors from the PDP, simply reached out to their kith and kin in the PDP. And it only took the infusion of Ekweremadu for the family reunion to be complete. Blood, as we know, is always thicker than water. It was an act of gross betrayal and misconduct.

Was that act of betrayal illegal or unconstitutional? No, even if it is immoral. Section 50 (1) of the Constitution says so. It provides that “ there shall be:- (a) a President and a Deputy President of the Senate, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves; and (b) a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be elected by the members of that House from among themselves”. By virtue of this provision, any member of the Senate or House of Representatives, be s/he of the majority party or minority party can be elected into any of the aforementioned positions, in so far as he or she is a member of the Senate or House of Representatives. It only stands to reason that if any legislator, regardless of the numerical strength of his party, can aspire to a leadership position in the upper and lower chambers, he or she can draw his electors from his own party or from other parties in the legislature. And any member can elect any other member of his choice to occupy any of the said positions, regardless of political party affinity or divide.

Without any doubt, the leadership tussle in the NA has shown clearly the fault lines in Section 50 (1) of the Constitution. Section 50(1) needs an urgent amendment, such that the indubitable legislative intendment of having a majority party constitute the leadership of the parliament, while the minorities parties play the role of the parliamentary opposition can become more manifest and taken out of its current state of wooliness.

We have argued that the act of betrayal of the APC insurgents is not illegal or unconstitutional, but immoral. But do we all not know that immorality, lack of integrity, opportunism and perennial power and money hunting are the hallmarks of a majority of Nigerian politicians? Lacking in scruples, values, principles and ideology, they change political parties, switch political allegiances and positions on any matter, based on their whims, caprices, political calculations and expectations, and pecuniary interests. Most of them are nothing but charlatans and political mercenaries. Lacking shame, noble comportment and decorum, but fixated on grabbing power for primitive accumulation and self aggrandizement, they do not mind dumping a “ national conscience party”, “a national salvation congress”, or people redemption movement” for “ a kidnappers party of Nigeria”, or “congress of Nigerian armed robbers “, regardless of the repugnance of such names, if the platforms give them an assurance of a short cut to power, and a shorter and surer route to the public till.

The APC that is now talking about party loyalty and supremacy, and is bellyaching about the treachery of the renegades within her ranks reeks of the vice of political prostitution, which usually is masked as patriotic expediency, political pragmatism, and free exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of association. We are, therefore, not concerned about the moral wrong that the APC has suffered in the hands of her saboteur members, who, apparently fled a leprous PDP into the APC in the belief that staying back in the PDP in the 2015 general elections was going to harm their ambitions to get elected or re-elected into political offices. It was a mutation from one party to the other for political survival. It was “change”, indeed.

As we have stated above, we are bothered because the events of 9th of June, 2015 have serious implications for Nigeria’s democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

It is our considered view that the election of Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President is illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. It is a sham. Put in another way, Bukola Saraki and Ekweremadu, are not, legally speaking, the Senate President and Deputy Senate President of Nigeria. They are impostors, who should stop parading themselves as senate president and deputy senate president. Asking Ekweremadu to yield up the office of the Deputy Senate President, as some partisans who have labeled him a PDP usurper have suggested, does not arise. De jure, he is not occupying the office of the Deputy Senate President from which he may resign. You cannot resign from an office you do not occupy. Why do we say so?

First, by their own declarations and admissions, the organizers of the sham election on the floor of the Senate on the 9th of June, principally the Clerk of the National Assembly and his cohorts, claimed that they organized that election pursuant to the Senate Standing Orders, 2015, as amended, which purportedly provided that elections into the two offices shall be by secret ballot, instead of the open ballot as provided by Orders 72 and 73 of the Senate Standing Orders, 2011. As it has now become glaring, there was, in fact, no such Senate Standing Orders, 2015. As at the time of the dissolution of the 7th National Assembly, on the 4th of June, 2015, the operative Rules of the Senate were Senate Standing Orders, 2011. Between that dissolution and the inauguration of the 8th Senate on the 9th of June, the Senate was not in existence. It was a period of interregnum. The Senate leadership of the 7th Senate went with the dissolution of that Senate. Therefore, that leadership, acting alone, or in concert with the generality of the members of the 7th Senate could not have amended the Senate Rules to produce the Senate Standing Orders, 2015. By virtue of Order 110(5) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2011, two-thirds majority of the Senate shall decide proposed amendments and such amendments shall form part of the Rules of the Senate. This purported amendment is the act of forgery that is being alleged against David Mark, Ekweremadu and the Clerk of the National Assembly, which has now become the subject of police investigation. While the crime of forgery that is alleged may lead to prosecution and conviction, if investigation establishes a prima facie case, the effect of that forged or manipulated document on the election at the Senate is stark. Being the foundation of that election, the election is rendered illegal, null and void. No senate president or deputy senate president can be elected pursuant to a non-existent or forged Senate Standing Orders.

In underscoring the nullity of the Saraki and Ekweremadu’s presidency and deputy presidency, we find it very apt to use the analogy of a familiar legal principle.

“A court can only be competent, if among other things, all the conditions precedent for its having jurisdiction are fulfilled. In Madukolu and Ors. v. Nkemdilim (1962) 1 All N.L.R. (Pt.4) 587 at 594 Bairamian, F. J, (as he then was) stated the principles which , ever since, have been accepted in successive cases in the Supreme Court of Nigeria. ‘A court is competent, he said, ‘when- (1)it is properly constituted as regards numbers and qualifications of the members of the bench, and no member is disqualified for one reason or another; (2) the subject matter of the case is within its jurisdiction, and there is no feature in the case which prevents the court from exercising its jurisdiction; and (3) the case comes before the court initiated by due process of law, and upon fulfillment of any condition precedent to the exercise of jurisdiction. Any defect in competence is fatal, for the proceedings are a nullity however well conducted and decided; the defect being extrinsic to the adjudication.’ See Skenconsult(Mg.)Ltd, &Anor. v. Ukey (l98l) 1 SC 6 at 15

• To be continued

July 23, 2015
Election petition hearing against Saraki begins

Hearing on the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital between Senate President Bukola Saraki of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenger in the March 28^th elections, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq began Wednesday.

Alhaji Abdulrazaq is challenging the declaration of Saraki as the senator representing Kwara Central.

The petitioner came with one witness, Mallam Oloyin Abdullateef Adebayo, who is also the private personal assistant to the PDP senatorial candidate.

The witness, who was led in evidence by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr. John Obumse was cross-examined by all the respondents’ counsel.

Mr. Obumse informed the tribunal that he had an application dated June 17, which was filed on June 29, 2015 and thus sought for adjournment based on three grounds.

First, he said that the date print out of card reader to be collected at the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) headquarters, Abuja, meant to be used for the purpose of the petition was yet to be obtained.

Also, he said that the Mallam Adebayo was the only witness in court and no one else.

The petitioner’s counsel also sought adjournment to move the application, while the respondents’ counsel did not object the motion.

The chairman of the tribunal Justice Joshua Majebi therefore adjourned the matter till Friday, July 31, 2015 for continuation of hearing of the petition and the hearing of the application filed by the petitioners, saying that the court would sit like a normal day on the adjourned date.

July 22, 2015
Court refuses to restrain Saraki on choice of Minority Leader

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday refused to restrain the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and 17 others from departing from the Senate’s standing rules in the appointment of Minority Leader for the 8th National Assembly.

Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Alaye Don Pedro (Ward 8 Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State) and Okechukwu Ibeh of Umukegwu/Umuopia in Ide Ato Local Government Area of Imo State – had, in an ex-parte motion sought to restrain Saraki and 17 members of the PDP South -South Senate Caucus from choosing the Minority Leader outside the provision of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).

The plaintiffs are contending that the alleged plot by some individuals to make former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godwill Akpabio (a first term Senator) the Senate’s Minority leader, was in violation of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).

Named with Saraki as respondents, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/602/2005 are – Akpabio, Nelson Effiong, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, Ben Murray Bruce, John Owan Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, James Manager, Peter Nwaoboshi, Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Mathew Urhoghide, George Thomson Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu.

Justice Kolawole in his ruling refused the plaintiffs’ prayer for “an order restraining the 2nd to 18 respondents from selecting or appointing the Minority Leader of the Senate by a procedure in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

The judge also refused their request for an “order prohibiting the 1st respondent from accepting, recognising, announcing or giving effect to the appointment of a Minority Leader of the Senate, whose appointment is in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

Justice Kolawole, who noted that the plaintiffs were neither members of the Senate nor contestants for the position of Minority Leader, said he could not grant their prayers because they failed to establish the interest they sought to protect.

July 22, 2015
Saraki, others sued over move to make Akpabio Senate Minority Leader

•Court to rule today

Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to restrain the Senate from departing from its standing rules in the appointment of the Minority Leader for the Eighth National Assembly.

The suit, aimed at frustrating the possible emergence of former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the Senate’s Minority Leader, was filed by two members of the PDP from Rivers and Imo states.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Alaye Don Pedro (Ward 8 Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State) and Okechukwu Ibeh of Umukegwu/Umuopia in Ide Ato Local Government Area, Imo State.

The suit has the Senate President, Bukola Saraki (as the First respondent, followed by Akpabio (as second respondents) and 16 others, who are members of the Southsouth Senate Caucus.

They are Nelson Effiong, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, Ben Murray Bruce, John Owan Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, James Manager, Peter Nwaoboshi, Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Mathew Urhoghide, George Thomson Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu.

It is the plaintiffs’ contention that the alleged plot by some individuals to make Akpabio (a first term senator) the Minority leader, was a violation of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).

Yesterday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Bankole Akomolafe, argued his clients’ motion ex-parte in which they sought orders restraining the defendants from taking steps that could negate the Senate’s ranking tradition.

Justice Kolawole, after listening to Akomolafe, adjourned to today for ruling.

July 22, 2015
Why Saraki must resign, by ex-Rep

A former House of Representatives member Joseph Ajatta has asked Senate President Bukola Saraki to resign as his position has become untenable.

Ajatta, who represented Oshodi-Isolo II from 2003 to 2011, argued that Saraki’s alleged treachery against his party was inimical to the current dispensation.

To him, the Senate President’s action, which he said was borne from inordinate ambition, was capable of diminishing the pervading atmosphere of change and progress Nigerians voted for.

Ajatta said Saraki endorsed the National Assembly Clerk’s decision to disenfranchise over 50 All Progressives Congress (APC) members and traded away the position of Deputy Senate President to his party’s detriment.

On the way out, he said: “There is hardly any other way than either the resignation of the Senate president, which is not an easy decision, or the Senate taking steps to remove him.

“Saraki should do the honourable thing by resigning and allowing a proper election to take place. If he wins, then the nation will accept and respect him.

“As a two-time governor, and now a two-time senator, he deserves respect. But when one’s antecedent continues to put a large question mark on his head, he should take steps to show himself above board.”

Ajatta said although Saraki’s supporters are pointing to the legality and constitutionality of his election, it remains morally illegitimate and a flagrant violation of the letter and spirit of transparency being championed by the new administration.

“The Senate president should know that the burden of occupying that exalted office in a dubious manner is too heavy. He might have won the seat through the most crooked means I have ever seen in global politics, but he cannot succeed in it because he is leading the elite and most senior citizens of Nigeria.

“He cannot compel anyone to respect him and to successfully navigate through the stormy waters of the Senate; you must earn the respect of the senators,” he added.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari cannot successfully tackle the country’s problems with Saraki as Senate president, as he needs the support of the other arms of government to succeed.

Ajatta also urged the lawmakers to emulate the President and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), who showed exemplary leadership by reducing their salaries by 50 per cent.

The APC chief condemned the attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to politicise the bailout of some states by the Federal Government.

“While the PDP was trying to deceive Nigerians that the intervention fund came from the looted Excess Crude Account (ECA), the fund was indeed sourced entirely from dividends and taxes paid to the Federation Account by the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Company (NLNG) in June this year after the exit of the Jonathan’s administration, otherwise it would equally have disappeared,” he said.

July 20, 2015
Saraki, Dogara, Yussuf, Mark others harp on national unity, peace

Senate President Bukola Saraki House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara stressed the importance of prayer in the development of the country yesterday.

They spoke in their congratulatory messages to Muslims across the world on the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fast and the celebration of Eid-el-Fitri.

Mark, who spoke in a statement by his Media Adviser Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Muslim faithful should intensify prayers for unity, peace and progress in Nigeria.

He urged Muslims to adhere to one of the injunctions of Allah that formed the basis of sermons delivered in various mosques during the holy month that all citizens should pray for their leaders and their nation for divine guidance.

The statement reads: “At this point in our national life, unity among all the different ethnic and religious groups will usher in peace and peace will engender progress and development.

“We therefore need to learn to live together in peace, tolerate one another and eschew actions which can threaten the peace of the nation.

“Muslims, in particular, should continue to demonstrate the fact that the meaning of Islam is peace and therefore we should learn to live in peace with people of other faith and tolerate one another.

“We should also remember our fellow citizens in the North eastern part of the country who are being assailed by insurgents who call themselves Boko Haram.”

Saraki urged all Nigerians to pray for the military in the war against the insurgents so that by the period of the next Ramadan, peace would have been totally restored to the whole of the Northeast and other parts of Nigeria.”

Also yesterday, Speaker Dogara urged Nigerians to be optimistic of a better tomorrow despite the harsh economic climate in the land.

His deputy, Yussuf, also appealed for understanding as the President Mohammadu Buhari administration and the APC unfold plans on how to move the nation forward.

Felicitating with Muslim faithful, Dogara called on all Nigerians not to relent in prayers for the peace, unity and development of the country.

In the statement by his Media Adviser Turaki Hassan, the Speaker urged Nigerians, especially Muslims, to use the Sallah period to pray for the country to overcome the multifaceted challenges facing it.

It reads: “He said that, more than ever before, the present crop of leaders are coming at a very difficult time when the country`s economy is in bad shape, and worsened by dwindling revenues, as leaders, we are ready and prepared to make the necessary sacrifice and lead by example.

“The Speaker maintained that recent happenings in the country, especially the renewed attacks by the Boko Haram in the Northeast are source of concern, nonetheless, he expressed hope that Nigeria will surely over come.”

Dogara described the resurgence of bombings of worship places by the insurgents as “last kicks of a dying horse and that it will soon be a thing of the past”.

Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for the recent shake-up in the military high command with the appointment of new Service chiefs, Dogara promised the National Assembly’s support to ensure adequate funding and kitting of the military and other security agencies.

Yussuf’s media aide said the deputy speaker has a strong belief that only unity that can bring about growth and development to the nation.

A statement by Oladimeji reads: “The deputy speaker appealed to Nigerians be patient and allow the present government unfolds its plans on how to move the nation forward.

“No meaningful development and achievement could be made under a hostile atmosphere which leads to instability.”

Senator Mark urged for ceaseless prayer and genuine resolve by all Nigerians in the war against insurgency in the country.

The former Senate President called on all men of good will to rise to the challenge posed by the unabating terrorism being orchestrated by Boko Haram insurgents.

Noting that the situation was pushing the country to the extreme, Mark said: “There is no hiding place any more. We must face the reality of a war situation. We either confront the monster headlong or get consumed.”

He bemoaned the agonies being unleashed on Nigerians “especially in the Northeast region that has led to millions of avoidable deaths, made our people refugees in their fatherland and destroyed property worth millions of naira.

“I’m convinced that we can overcome our challenges including insecurity if we come together in an honest, sincere and committed manner. In these circumstances, we have no choice but to come together and confront our problem in a holistic way.”

July 17, 2015
Sallah: Saraki, Mark harp on national unity, peace

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday congratulated Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts across the world for the successful completion of this year’s Ramadan fasting and celebration of Eid-el-Fitri.

He said that Muslim faithfuls should intensify prayers for unity, peace and progress in Nigeria.

Saraki in a statement issued by his Special Adviser (Media), Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Muslims to adhere to one of the injunctions of Allah that formed the basis of sermons delivered in various mosques during the holy month that all citizens should pray for their leaders and their nation so that the leaders can receive divine guidance while initiating measures that will bring comfort and respite for the generality of the people.

He said, “At this point in our national life, unity among all the different ethnic and religious groups will usher in peace and peace will engender progress and development.

“We therefore need to learn to live together in peace, tolerate one another and eschew actions which can threaten the peace of the nation.

“Muslims, in particular, should continue to demonstrate the fact that the meaning of Islam is peace and therefore we should learn to live in peace with people of other faith and tolerate one another.

“We should also remember our fellow citizens in the North eastern part of the country who are being assailed by insurgents who call themselves Boko Haram.”

The Senate President urged all Nigerians to continue to pray for the country’s military who are engaged in the war against the insurgents “so that by the period of the next Ramadan, peace would have been totally restored to the whole of the Northeast and other parts of Nigeria.”

He added that good followership is a sine qua non for good leadership.

He urged Nigerians to display patriotism always as well as to pay their taxes as at when due, eschew corrupt practices and protect public facilities as if it is their own.

Also former Senate President, David Mark, in a good will message to Muslims, called for ceaseless prayer and genuine resolve by all Nigerians in the war against insurgency in the country.

July 16, 2015
Lesser Hajj: Saraki criticises Saudi’s visa policy

Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki has criticised the entry visa issuance policy of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Nigeria for this year’s lesser hajj.

His Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) Yusuph Olaniyonu, in a statement yesterday, said Saraki spoke in Medinah, Saudi Arabia, at the weekend after listening to complaints from some Nigerians who are performing the lesser Hajj.

The Senate President noted that the Saudi authorities, unlike other embassies in the country, refused to articulate a visa policy which potential visitors to the holy land can follow and obtain their entry visa without any difficulty once they meet the requirements.

He said: “The present process in which visitors to Saudi must go through a third party has created artificial bottlenecks, which are now being exploited by the travel agents and the embassy officials.

“Our people are now made to suffer indignities arising from conspiracy between the embassy officials and the so-called agents. The process is fraught with corrupt practices.”

The Senate President said some Nigerians informed him that they had to send their passports through Saudi embassies in other West African countries, where the cost of the visa was less and they did not need to go through the hardship experienced in Nigeria.

“It is unimaginable the amount of money people paid to get visa for this year’s lesser hajj and we do not want that to repeat itself for the hajj proper coming in a few months’ time. You know these religious rites and obligations are very important to our people and so, despite these inconveniences, they still struggle to get here and we have a responsibility to ensure this exploitation and inconvenience stop immediately,” Saraki said.

He reassured Nigerians who complained to him that the Saudi visa policy will be one of the issues the Senate will look into when it resumes plenary later in the month and that the Saudi authorities as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja will be engaged to find a lasting solution to the problems of visa issuance to Nigerians by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Senate President called on all Nigerian Muslims on lesser hajj and those at home to devote the last days of Ramadan to pray for peace, security, development and progress of Nigeria.

He urged them to specifically ask for Allah’s intervention in the search for a lasting solution to the Boko Haram crisis in the Northeast and for God to help President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to revamp the economy.

July 13, 2015
Saraki, Lawan have agreed to come together – APC govs

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are convinced that the bitter disagreement rocking the party over the choice of principal officers of the National Assembly is over for good.

The governors met last night with Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara on the issue and told reporters that a broad outline for peace had been agreed by all the parties involved in the crisis.

Details of the agreement are being worked out and will be made public in due course, Governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State said at the end of the meeting, which was a follow up to the APC National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

The NEC itself deliberated extensively on the crisis and mandated the governors to deal with the matter.

President Muhammadu Buhari, at the NEC meeting, said the party must not throw out its success through unnecessary bickering.

The NEC passed a vote of confidence on the party National Chairman,Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

Emerging from the APC governors’ meeting at about 6 pm, Okorocha said the discussion went well.

He said: ”We have had discussions and we have all agreed for peace. So, you will not see any more disagreements as it had been in the past.

“Peace has come to our party. Both the Senate President and the Speaker and Senator Lawan and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila will work together for the unity of the National Assembly and for the progress of our party.

“By next week, we shall give you the details of the (final) outcome of this arrangement. But so far, so good; to God be the glory,” Okorocha stated.

Also speaking Oshiomhole said that the presence of the leaders of the warring factions at the meeting was a confirmation of the outcome of the governors’ peace-building efforts.

“The only way to sort matters out is to talk; we have started the process,” he said.

“The fact that the two sides are present shows that the foundation for peace is there. If people refuse to see eye-to-eye or they refuse to sit together, then you can’t even discuss.

“But the fact that they all turned up and they met, we listened to all sides, we had consultations and we have agreed to continue with the conversation.

“So, I believe that we are making some progress. It is just not that everything is signed sealed and delivered; that is why Governor Okorocha said that we are continuing the process.”

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had earlier in the day briefed reporters on the NEC meeting, saying the APC governors had accepted the responsibility to resolve the crisis in the National Assembly.

He said the NEC meeting upheld party supremacy and also resolved to make the Buhari administration work.

He said: “We did have the National Executive Committee meeting today with the President in attendance. Not just is this the first NEC meeting we are having after the victory of the party, I think it is also symbolic that the President agreed to come to the party’s headquarters.

“When we offered to hold the meeting at the Villa, he opted to come here because he believed that coming here will also raise the morale of the party. And we had a meeting and I am happy that you listened to both the addresses of the President and the National Chairman of the party.

“And what you want to know is what transpired after you left. After you left, the National Legal Adviser came to seek the approval of NEC as to certain categories of members who should be members of the BOT. And the motion was moved and it was carried unanimously after which the National Executive Committee and the governors passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of the party.

“I think also important is the fact that the NEC has also provided an enabling environment to look into ways of resolving the National Assembly logjam.

“And I know that today the governors will be meeting with both the Speaker and the Senate President. The governors are meeting today with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in a further attempt to find a lasting solution to the lingering logjam in the National Assembly.

“But also, it is important to point to it that everybody in the party is united on two issues. One, party supremacy, secondly that this government must work. That this government must deliver its electioneering promises. That this government must bring about the change that Nigerians want. These I think, in a nutshell are the highlights of the meeting. “

Alhaji Mohammed said it was not just in the interest of the APC to resolve the problem but the nation itself and “all of you who voted for change.”

“What the country wants is stability. What the country wants is peace, a government that can function properly. And I think that is what we are working towards.”

Asked why the APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the party’s former Interim national Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande were not at the meeting, Alhaji Mohammed said: “If you look at the constitution, neither of them are members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party. I think it is at the discretion of the NWC and NEC to invite. And it is not out of respect to question why they are not here. But the bottom line is that neither of them is a member of the exco of the party.”

On the alleged slow approach of the Buhari administration, he said: “I think that this is just a perception, because if you look at the circumstances of this government, it is unlike what happened like say in 2003, 2007, and 2011.

“This is the first time that really there has been a transition. It is not just one president being re-elected or one president passing the baton to another candidate of his own party.

“This is the first time in the history of Nigeria when the opposition has defeated the ruling party. And that will also have a lot of implications.

“Two is the fact that when we were coming in at this time, the government as opposition, we need to know the depth of the challenges we are facing. This is what the President-elect of the party realised when he set up the transition committee.

“Our idea of the transition committee was to allow interactions between the outgoing government and the incoming government to give us the opportunity to know what is the state of the affairs, which projects are ongoing, which one has changed, what is the state of the economy?

“But the President has made some progress. You see, the President took a particular step which I think is not being appreciated by many people.

“A part of it is adherence to Section 8 of the constitution which says that every money accruing to the Federal Government should be paid into the Federation Account.

“Now, by calling the Federal Inland Revenue, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Customs Services, and the NNPC, to close all other illegal accounts, I think that is the beginning of probity in this administration.

“Again, the abolition of general prohibition of goods, I think it is another point that the government is actually working, because before now, what we had was what was referring to the general list of things that are prohibited which had cause to find their ways into the country. “

The APC National Chairman, Chief Odigie-Oyegun and Senate President Saraki also spoke to reporters.

Oyegun said: “This is the beginning of the end of that crisis. We are still going to sit down and dot the i’s and cross the t’s. By the way, there was a resounding vote of confidence from the entire meeting.

“It has been underlined, it has been underscored. And it has been emphasised by all levels of the leadership; Mr. President, members of the National Assembly, and our governors. That has today been thoroughly underscored.”

Saraki said: “Be rest assured that the leadership crisis in the National Assembly is over, and as the chairman said, we just have to dot the i’s and cross the t’s. And we are very pleased and this will be put behind us very soon.

“You can see the smiles from the faces of everybody coming out. It is a good meeting.”

July 4, 2015
Buhari to Saraki, Dogara: I’m for party supremacy

President Muhammadu Buhari will tell Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara today that they should respect party supremacy in the choice of principal officers of the National Assembly, it was learnt last night.

Buhari will attend today’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the first since it won the presidential election and the breakout of the crisis over the National Assembly’s principal officers’ elections.

Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu gave an insight into what the President will tell his party members today in a statement last night.

He said Buhari was “thoroughly disappointed” about what happened at the Senate where Senate President Saraki not only defied his party, but a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Ike Ekweremadu, was elected Deputy Senate President.

Shehu, who was clearing the air on Wednesday night’s meeting the President had with House of Representatives member Femi Gbajabiamila and 30 others, said: ”It was a mistake, possibly our own, to have assumed that Speaker (Yakubu) Dogara was expected at the meeting with the President yesterday (Wednesday).

“He was not invited because he had had his own meeting with the President earlier on.

“The President having heard from the Speaker needed to hear out Gbajabiamila and the 174 APC loyalist-members behind him.

“When he met the representatives of the APC caucus on Tuesday night, President Buhari rued the fact that ‘we won the battle and lost the war’. Without mentioning names, he said that ‘those who went with the PDP know that they are killing the APC’.

“He said he was thoroughly disappointed about what happened in the Senate and was still agonising over it, but equally blamed the APC majority for failing to assert their numerical superiority.

“He said he expected Senator Saraki and Dogara to bend in deference to the party leadership, because, as he said, ‘we have to make the choice of either having a party or none at all. I believe in the superiority of the party over all members so this issue and all others, I will continue to stand with the party,” the President told the meeting.

“President Buhari is also expected to emphasise at tomorrow’s (today’s) NEC meeting that he is a product of the party’s due process himself, and would not allow due process to end with him.”

Gbajabiamila is confident that the party will insist on its supremacy.

He said: “We all know the President is a party man. He believes in party supremacy”.

The 174 APC members of the House loyal to Gbajabiamila urged the President to prevail on Dogara to abide by the APC’s decision and announce the remaining four principal officers.

APC wanted Gbajabiamila to be Majority Leader, Alhassan Doguwa Deputy Leader, Mohammad Monguno Chief Whip and Pally Iriase Deputy Chief Whip.

But Dogara and his group – in a replica of the Senate scenario – are not disposed to the party’s position.

Urging Buhari to call to order the 39 disloyal APC members, who have colluded with the PDP members in the House to undermine the APC, the group said the Federal Character principle being thrown up by Dogara and his loyalists cannot apply to National Assembly as it did not apply in the 6th and 7th National Assembly.

If it must apply now in the 8th National Assembly, the group said, either Senate President Saraki or Dogara must step down as they are both from the North.

A copy of the group’s presentation to Buhari reads: “On the 9th of June, 2015, 174 APC members in the House faithfully and loyally followed the directives of the party to vote for Hon Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon. Mongunu as Speaker and Deputy Speaker while 39 other APC members colluded with the opposition party, the PDP, to elect the current Speaker and Deputy Speaker with only 8 votes superiority.

“Whereas the candidates of the majority (Gbajabiamila and Mongunu) openly congratulated the winners and continued to cooperate with the House, the opposition and the 39 APC members continued to hold the APC leadership in contempt.

“Whereas we the 174 party faithful and loyalists had been obedient to the party, what shall be the reward of our loyalty to the party?

“The Party has chosen not to punish the 39 APC members, including the elected Speaker and Deputy Speaker, but chose to direct, as it is customary and conventional, on how the other four (4) Principal Officers should be distributed. Alas! The opposition and the 39 members continue to hold the ruling party in contempt by disobeying the party

“Whereas, the beneficiaries of the disobedience are citing Federal Character Principle as the main reason for their disobedience, His Excellency should note that

“(a) During the 6th Assembly 2007 – 2011, the following officers were elected from the Northwest (I) the president and Commander-in-Chief (ii) Hon. Ismaila Kawu (iii) Hon. Mutawalle. The two (ii) and (iii) occupied 2 out of the 4 principal officers positions of the Minority Party (iv) Hon Aminu Tambuwal was elected Deputy Chief Whip.

“(b) Also during the 7th Assembly, the following officers in Government were elected from the Northwest

“(I) The Vice President (II) The Speaker, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal (III) Hon. Ismaila Kawu, Deputy Minority Leader (IV) Hon. Garba Datti, Deputy Minority Whip. In these instances there was never an issue of Federal Character.

“It should be noted that the Federal Character principle as embedded in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is not justiciable and of no legal consequence. Its provision in S.14 of the Constitution is only applicable to appointments in federal ministries and agencies. The House of Representatives is not an agency of the Federal Government and the principal officers positions are elective and not by appointment. If the Federal Character is applicable to the National Assembly, then both the Senate President and the Speaker cannot come from the North; one of them should be advised to step down.”

The two- page presentation added: “It is noteworthy that Mr. President and the governors had strongly put their weight behind the party and had severally admonished the House to abide by the party position. The 39 APC members in the House continued to collude with the PDP to flagrantly disobey Mr. President, the governors and the party with a view to bringing the party and government to ridicule before Nigerians.

“The conduct of the 39 APC members colluding with the PDP is tantamount to affront, ultimately targeted at polarising our party so as to give room for many of them to decamp to the PDP.

“It is, therefore, imperative for Mr. President to take a stand and save the integrity of the party by calling to order the 39 members, which include the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, to respect, honour and obey our Party Leaders and their directives.

“In conclusion, Mr. President, we as loyal party members shall continue to abide by the party and our party leaders and their directives. We strongly appeal to you to direct the Speaker to return to our fold and be truly elected Speaker on APC platform. He should be directed to announce the other four party principal officers positions as directed by the party as it has always been the convention.

“We sincerely appreciate Mr. President for the audience, trusting in his ability to successfully mediate so as to save our great party, the APC, from further embarrassment.”

Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Gbajabiamila said it was “very successful” and that the caucus and the party will come out bigger and stronger.

According to him, Buhari, who is a party man, is committed to party supremacy.

On what Buhari’s response to the group was, he said: “We all know that the President is a party man. He believes in the party supremacy. He believes in the ideology of the party and he believes that the party will move forward. That is how much I can tell you. That is not new; we all know the President.”

Asked why Dogara did not attend the meeting if it was a caucus meeting, Gbajabiamila said: “The Speaker probably had other engagement and there were other caucus members that were not here. We are a representative of the caucus.”

He said that the meeting was not about himself or any individual, but the party.

“It is not about me. We need to get that very straight. They voted with me, but the idea is about the party; they supported the party, the party position and the party line. It is not about any individual. Nobody came here as an independent candidate.”

On the way forward, Gbajabiamila said: “The party’s will will be done.”

July 3, 2015