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Tag: Senate crisis

  • Senate crisis: We ‘ve agreed on ceasefire – Ndume

    Members of the 8th Senate have agreed to put aside their differences and work in harmony for the progress of Nigeria, former  Majority Leader, Alhaji  Ali Ndume, (APC-Borno South), said yesterday.

    Ndume spoke with State House correspondents after leading the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Taraba State ,Mr.  Sani Danladi, to a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa,Abuja.

    He said that Nigerians had been supportive of the National Assembly and expected so much from it, but regretted that leadership crisis made the 8th Senate to perform below the expectations of Nigerians.

    “The legislative arm, which is supposed to be interdependent, was more or less independent and extensively antagonistic; and to some extent, you can say the leadership has been sabotaging the activities of the executive instead of cooperating with the executive to deliver the services Nigerians are expecting from us,” he said.

    “I am accusing specifically the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, not the leadership, so to say; as I have said several times, we elected the Senate leader who turned out to be Senators’ President.

    “We have a leftover time of six months and we have agreed to cease fire, including the Senate President himself, that we put the interest of Nigerians first.

    “That was why when we resumed, we have been able to pass certain outstanding bills and we have agreed to work together; the interest of the nation first before party’s interest or any other individual’s interest.

    “Any breach of that agreement that we have will also send us back to our trenches.’’

    On the 2019 budget proposal, Ndume said that the timely passage of the budget was important as it was one of the agreements the senators had.

    According to him, the budget belongs to Nigerians and Nigerians are expecting that the budget be passed as quickly as possible so that the contents of the budget will be delivered to Nigerians.

    He said that anyone that tried to stand on the way of the budget would be seen as a saboteur to Nigerians.

    Ndume said that APC senators were fully in support of the budget because they had input in it.

    “It is a budget of continuity; it is a realistic budget,”he said.

    On the appointment of Amina Zakari by the INEC as the head of its collation centre for the forthcoming presidential election, Ndume said her relationship with Buhari had nothing to do with her assigned role.

    He chided the opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the party had resorted to what he labelled CCC.

    “They are concentrating on complaining, criticising and contradicting themselves instead of campaigning.

    “We in the APC; we said it initially and we even have a manual of campaign and that is to discuss issues, ideals, integrity and things that will move this country forward.

    “PDP ruled this country for 16 years. Instead of giving Nigerians democracy, they were practising kleptocracy; and after Nigerians tasted three years of democracy now, they are struggling to take us back to the period of their kleptocractic governance and Nigerians will not accept that.

    “This election is going to be the choice of Nigerians to choose either to go back to the government of kleptocracy or continue with government of democracy,’’ he said.

    He told the correspondents that he had been appointed the Director-General, Campaign, in the Presidential Campaign Council of the APC for the North-East.

  • Suspend Saraki, not me – Marafa

    Suspend Saraki, not me – Marafa

    Moves by the leadership of the Senate to suspend Zamfara senator, Kabiru Marafa, may generate intense heat as the upper legislative chamber reconvenes on Tuesday.

    Pique by what it described as Marafa’s disparaging press interviews in recent times, the Senate leadership last week, mooted the idea to suspend the lawmaker for a period of time.

    But in a reaction on Sunday, Marafa said rather than suspending him, it is the President of the Senate,  Bukola Saraki that should be suspended.

    At a press briefing in Abuja, Marafa said nobody in the Senate can suspend him, saying there was no offensive remarks in the said interviews he granted the press.

    He said, “Nobody, I repeat, nobody in that Senate, can suspend me over those remarks I made in the said interviews. Rather, it is the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, that should be suspended by the Senate for turning things up side down within the last eight months from forgery of Standing Orders to illegally increasing the number of standing committees in the senate from 57 to 65 with attendant violation of ranking rules in their compositions.

    “And above all, refusing to resign as Senate President in the face of his trial for corruption charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) and invariably battering the image of the Senate.

    “Saraki should remember that when the issue first came up in August or September last year, but we didn’t tell him to resign. So he cannot by whatever means now, gag us and gag our mouths

    “The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives us the right to say our opinions, to air our views and nobody can deny us that.”

    The senator linked the controversy generated by the alleged missing 2016 Budget to machinations by “fifth columnists” operating on behalf of the Senate President.

    He continued, “These fifth columnists were shouting at different times that the budget was missing, the budget had been doctored, the budget was padded and that it could no longer be passed as earlier planned.

    “Honestly speaking if am to comment on the controversy that has been trailing the 2016 budget in the Senate, I will say it is all the work of the fifth columnists there.

    “You remember we woke up after 15 days or so of the receipt of the budget in the National Assembly. We woke up one day and the Senate President just came and said there was no budget, that the budget was stolen, thus embarrassing everybody. But the following day, the Speaker came out to say the budget was not stolen.

    “Next, they said the budget was doctored, next they said the budget was padded, next they said there were discrepancies all over the place.

    “We knew how they came into the leadership of the National Assembly or the Senate. Was it a coincidence that the issue of padding and everything just came up after the Supreme Court told Saraki to go and face your trial?”

     

  • Senate crisis: Ndume meets Tinubu on reconciliation

    Senate crisis: Ndume meets Tinubu on reconciliation

    Senate Leader Ali Ndume yesterday met with All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    The meeting focused on how to reconcile Senate President Bukola Saraki  and Unity Forum members, led by Senator  Ahmed Lawan.

    It was learnt that the outcome of the preliminary session might lead to an enlarged session of senators in the Like Minds Group and the Senate Unity Forum.

    A source in the National Assembly, who said: “Ndume met with Asiwaju Tinubu about noon and the talks lasted for about an hour. The talks dwell on the reunification of the APC Caucus in the Senate. The Senate Leader said it was time for the crisis in the upper chamber to end.”

    The meeting was at Ndume’s request. He is said to be leading a fresh initiative for reconciliation of all senators, who have been locked in a cold war since June 9.

    “He pleaded with Asiwaju to bury the hatchet as the election of principal officers on June 9 was not targeted at eroding the political influence of the former governor of Lagos State.

    “In fact, Ndume went to the extent of saying that he was ready to make any sacrifice to bring peace to the Senate,” the source said.

    Responding to a question, the source said: “It was a strictly personal initiative of Ndume to feel the pulse of Asiwaju who welcomed him with open arms.

    “The preliminary meeting was designed to set the tone for an enlarged session between Asiwaju, the Senate President, Sen. Ahmed Lawan and other key actors in the Senate crisis.

    “We hope that his colleagues will buy into the project when they resume on September 29.”

    Ndume’s visit to Tinubu was the second in one-and-a half weeks when Saraki’s loyalists will seek reconciliation with the aggrieved senators in the Senate’s Unity Forum.

    Some Saraki loyalists had met with President Muhammadu Buhari, who advised them to also “reach out to the aggrieved senators in the Unity Forum”.

    The aggrieved tabled two conditions for ceasefire.

    These are: *respect for the supremacy of APC and compliance with the party’s directive on principal officers; and

    * Ndume and the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, should step down for Lawan and Akume –  in line with the party’s wish.

    Senators in the Like Minds Group want unconditional reconciliation; acceptance of Saraki’s leadership; withdrawal of all suits relating to the election of principal officers on June 9; and withdrawal of the petition on alleged forgery of the Senate Rules 2015.

    The APC directed Saraki to accommodate the party’s list of principal officers. He declined.

    On the party’s list are: Sen. Ahmed Lawan (Majority Leader)—North-East; Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip)—South-West; Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader) —North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim (Deputy Chief Whip) —North-West.

    But adopting Caucus Politics to sideline the Lawan group, Saraki’s power-sharing formula led to the emergence of the following principal officers: Ali Ndume( Senate Leader); Bala Ibn Na’Allah( Deputy Senate Leader); Francis Ailimikhene ( Deputy Chief Whip).

    Although the Office of Chief Whip was ceded to the Southwest, Senators from the geopolitical zone have spurned the offer, insisting that Lawan and Akume must be accommodated before the consideration of any offer from Saraki.

  • Senate crisis: NASS Clerk faces trial as Police establish forgery

    Senate crisis: NASS Clerk faces trial as Police establish forgery

    *File sent to Ministry of Justice
    *Buhari angry over how Clerk gate crashed into Ramadan dinner
    *Ekweremadu’s fate unknown

    The Police appear to have established a case of forgery of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 which paved the way for the June 9, 2015 emergence of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Chief Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President.

    There were indications yesterday that the police might charge the  Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa to  court  for the alleged forgery of the Standing Orders.

    Maikasuwa may be arraigned with some staff of the National Assembly suspected of having played one role or the other in the drafting of the rules.

    But the fate of Ekweremadu who was one of those quizzed by the Police in the course of their investigation into the matter was unknown last night.

    Police sources declined to discuss his fate.

    Already, the case file has been sent to the Federal Ministry of Justice for advice and prosecution.

    Besides the Standing Orders matter, the Clerk is also said to be facing  a fresh crisis on how he was selected to be part of a Ramadan dinner (Iftar) with President Muhammadu Buhari while under investigation by the Police.

    The Presidency is investigating alleged breach of protocol by the Clerk by attending the breaking of fast with the President.

    Investigation in Abuja showed that the Police, acting on a petition by six Senators, believed that the Senate Standing Orders 2015 was forged.

    According to findings, the Police team, led by Deputy Inspector-General Danazumi Job Doma, discovered many anomalies in the said Senate Standing Orders.

    The   Police findings include the followings:

    *The Senate Standing Orders 2007(as amended) was still in force when the 7th Senate wound up.

    *There was no time the 7th Senate amended the Standing Orders or any subsisting motion as shown in the Senate Standing Orders 2015

    * The Senate Standing Orders 2015 was strange and a violation of Paragraph 110 of the Senate Standing Orders 2007(as amended)

    *All the principal officers of the 7th Senate interviewed admitted that the Senate Standing Orders 2007(as amended) was not reviewed before their tenure ended.

    * A clear case of forgery, manipulation, and tampering has been established.

    * Those connected with the forgery should be immediately prosecuted.

    A top police source said: “We have concluded our investigation and recommended the Clerk to the National Assembly and a few others for trial.

    “The Clerk presided over the election of some Principal Officers of the Senate on June 9 with a forged Standing Orders 2015 when he ought to know better.

    “As I am talking to you, we have sent the investigation file to the Federal Ministry of Justice for Legal Advice and prosecution.”

    The police source said the Senate Standing Orders 2015 was not in compliance with Paragraph 110 (1) of the Senate Standing Orders 2007 (as amended).

    The source added: “The National Assembly management claimed that it has the prerogative to set the rules for the election of a new set of Principal Officers since the 8th Senate was yet to be inaugurated.

    “They said since nature abhors vacuum, they did nothing wrong with the Senate Standing Orders 2015.

    “But when we asked them why they refused to use Senate Standing Orders 2007as the case with the 8th Senate, they were not too convincing.”

    Paragraph 110(1) of the Senate Standing Orders 2007 (as amended) says: ” Any Senator desiring to amend any part of the Rules or adding any new clause shall give notice of such amendments in writing to the President of the Senate giving details of the proposed amendments.

    “The President of the Senate shall within seven working days of the receipt of the notice, cause the amendments to be printed and circulated to members. Thereafter, it shall be printed in the Order Paper of the Senate.

    “The Mover or Movers of the amendments shall be allowed to explain in detail the proposed amendments. Thereafter, the Senate shall decide by simple majority votes whether the amendments should be considered or rejected.

    “If the decision is to consider the amendments, then another date shall be set aside by the Rules and Business Committee whereby opportunity would be given to Senators to further propose amendments but must strictly be confined to the original amendments. “Two-third majority shall decide the amendments and such amendments shall form part of the Rules of the Senate.”

    Meanwhile, the Clerk to the National Assembly might be in fresh trouble over how he was included in the list of those who broke Ramadan fast with President Buhari while still being investigated by the police.

    A breach of protocol was being probed as at press time.

    But the President made the Clerk to know that he was an unwanted guest at the Villa when he was introduced at the end of the dinner.

    A source said: “When he was introduced to Buhari for a handshake after the dinner, the President said: ‘You, how did you get here? If I knew I would not have allowed you to enter this place.’ I think some protocol officers committed a slip.

    “We did not know how he got onto the list of the guests of the President. This is why the President is very strict with his schedule and aides.”

     

  • Senate crisis: Lawan group asks court to nullify Saraki’s election

    Senate crisis: Lawan group asks court to nullify Saraki’s election

    •As peace talks breaks down 

    The peace talks to end the leadership crisis in the Senate appears to have collapsed following the decision of the Unity Forum to challenge in court the June 9 election of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Chief Ike Ekweremadu as  Deputy Senate President.

    Some members of the forum are praying a court in Abuja to nullify the elections of Saraki and Ekweremadu.

    But the Like Minds backing Saraki hurriedly convened yesterday in Abuja to assess the situation and launch counter-legal attacks if they are joined.

    The Saraki loyalists, who were caught unawares, were still meeting at press time.

    Members of the Unity Forum are said to be angry at what they see as the hard line position of the Saraki group against the directive of the APC leadership on the sharing of principal positions in the chamber.

    Their decision to go to court is hinged on alleged lack of quorum in the chamber on June 9 when Saraki and Ekweremadu were elected and the use of alleged forged 2015 Senate Standing Orders (Amended) to conduct the election.

    Although the Police who investigated the alleged forgery are expected to release their report this week, the Unity Forum opted for legal redress irrespective of the outcome.

    A top member of the Unity Forum said: “We have decided to seek legal redress to contest the validity of the election of the Senate President and his deputy based on forged Standing Orders.

    “We want to lay all the cards on the table before the court. If at the end of the day, the court affirms the validity of the Standing Orders and the election of the Principal Officers, we will abide by such judicial pronouncement.

    “We have discovered that the Like Minds are not ready to yield ground despite the intervention of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a panel raised by the APC Governors Forum.”

    “Is it not better to follow the rule of law than impunity? The management of the National Assembly is expected to tell the court how it came about the forged Standing Orders,” the source said in response to a question.

    The Like Minds behind Saraki launched into a meeting last night in Abuja to review the situation, while leaving  the Clerk to the National Assembly and his team to handle the legal aspect of the matter.

    “Saraki had nothing to do with the Standing Orders whether legal or forged. It is the business of the Clerk to the National Assembly to handle,” a source in The Like Minds said.

    It was not immediately clear if the two warring groups would return to the negotiation table this week.

    The APC Governors Forum Committee on the crisis in the Senate is being coordinated by Governors Atiku Bagudu and Adams Oshiomhole.

    A source close to the committee said: “The governors are expected to meet Saraki and Lawan after the Eid-el Fitr break. The resumption of negotiation was one of the reasons why the National Assembly fixed July 28 for Senators to return from recess.

    “If members of the Unity Forum have gone to court, it means they have expanded the scope of negotiation. We can resolve everything with cooperation from all parties to the crisis.

    “The issue is how to respect party supremacy and abide by the directive of APC on the choice of principal officers.”

    The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun on June 23 sent the party’s position to Saraki.

    The June 23 letter to Saraki, referenced APC/NHDQ/NAM/01/015/05, said: “Please find below for your necessary action names of principal officers approved by the party, after excessive consultations for the 8th Senate as follows: Sen.Ahmed  Lawan (Majority Leader)—North-East; Prof. Sola Adeyeye (Chief Whip)—South-West; Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader)—North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip)—North-West.