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Tag: Senate president

  • Why we must continue to defend democracy, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday reiterated the resolve of the members of the National Assembly to continue to protect and defend the country’s democracy.

    Saraki stated this in Abuja while addressing the Chairmen and leaders of 45 registered political parties who paid him a solidarity visit at the National Assembly.

    Read Also:Saraki should resign as a matter of honour, says Sagay

    The Senate President told the party leaders led by the National Chairman of the Democratic United Party (DUP), Chief Perry Okpara, that as representatives of the people, lawmakers will continue to play their role to ensure the rule of law.

    He said that it’s also the duty of lawmakers to ensure that human rights are respected in the country at all times.

    Okpara had earlier told the President of the Senate that the visit was to show their solidarity with the leadership of the National Assembly for standing up in defence of democracy in the face of the recent siege in the complex by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    Saraki said: “I thank you for taking out time to be with us here today. Thank you for the solidarity message and we truly appreciate it as it encourages us to further do what we are doing to defend democracy in our great country.

    “The big thank you goes to all Nigerians that stood with us and have come to support us here in the National Assembly because in supporting us, you are supporting our democracy.

    “We will continue to defend it. We will continue to ensure that there is respect for the rule of law and that due process is followed across the country.”

    Saraki further expressed optimism that the perpetrators of the siege to the National Assembly have learnt their lesson from the wide condemnation that continued to trail the anti-democratic action.

    He said: “It is our hope that those anti-democratic forces have leant their lesson in the last few days, to listen to the voice of Nigerians – men, women, boys and girls – all across the country, who stood firmly to reject their unconstitutional and anti-democratic action.

    “Their voice is loud and clear. I believe we must respect it. We must respect those that have made sacrifices for us to be here.

    “Some have paid the ultimate price and we must respect that and ensure that Nigeria, as a country, is a shining example for other democratic nations to emulate. We must not allow anything that will tarnish the image of this country and the democracy we have worked so hard to birth and sustain,” he stated.

    The leader of delegation, Chief Okpara, condemned the DSS siege to the National Assembly.

    He noted that as national leaders of political parties in the country, “we cannot sit by and watch our country slide into the Hobbesian state of anarchy, where life has become short, brutish and lawless.”

    Okpara added, “We unequivocally condemn the use of agencies of state – Nigeria Police, DSS, EFCC – to clampdown on the opposition and stifle democracy as demonstrated in the siege on the residences of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, the siege on the National Assembly, and the siege on the Benue State House of Assembly.”

  • DSS intervention saved planned violence in NASS, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the intervention of security operatives prevented what could have led to a planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said in a statement that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki mobilized thugs to the National Assembly that would have foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.

    Read Also:DSS boss Daura fired

    He said it was curious that only PDP lawmakers were present at the National Assembly as early as 7.00am while those they accused of plotting to impeach the senate President were busy holding their meeting at a different location outside the assembly.

    The statement reads: “Following Tuesday’s incident at the National Assembly, our investigations have now uncovered the sinister plot hatched by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.

    “Our investigations uncovered and noted “the timely intervention of the security operatives forestalled the planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

    “Why did the Senate President mobilise thugs to the National Assembly who almost lynched Hon. E.J. Agbonayinma, the only APC federal lawmaker present but for the timely intervention of security operatives.

    “Why did the Senate President reconvene the National Assembly? Ostensibly as a pre-emptive move to frustrate federal lawmakers move to impeach him. Is it not curious that only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) federal lawmakers were present in their numbers-some as early as 7am, while the majority APC federal lawmakers were elsewhere holding a caucus meeting on the state of the nation.

    “We call on security agencies and relevant bodies to as a matter of urgency probe these findings and take all necessary and legitimate action to stop these illegalities which pose a direct and ominous threat to our democracy.

    “As espoused in our earlier statement, whilst our contention with the leadership of the National Assembly as currently constituted is a matter of public record, we still believe that the legislature as an independent arm of government must be allowed free reign for vibrant contestation of ideas and values amongst its members within the context of their constitutional mandate and for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

    “Finally, we reiterate our call for the Senate President to resign from the position immediately as he no longer has the moral and legitimate ground to occupy that position as a member of the minority PDP. Going by the popular axiom, ‘the majority will have their way, but the minority will have their say”.

  • Saraki storms National Assembly

    Few hours after the departure of the men of the Department of State Services (DSS) from the National Assembly, Senate President Bukola Saraki walked into the lobby of the White House to a tumultuous welcome from his colleagues that have been keeping vigil over the chambers.

    At about 3.40pm, movements in the complex changed as people started running toward the White House lobby where lawmakers were seated.

    Saraki walked in on his colleagues after which he sat in their midst while everyone struggled to have a handshake with him.

    Read Also: Osinbajo condemns takeover of the National Assembly

    Saraki was supposed to chair a meeting of the National Assembly leadership scheduled for this afternoon but was called off due to the taking over the complex by security operatives.

    He did not grant interviews to reporters though he had earlier sent a statement that he would address a world press conference tomorrow afternoon.

  • Boroffice to Saraki: Resign honourably

    The Senator representing Ondo North District at the Upper Chamber, Prof. Ajayi Boroffice on Saturday urged the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to resign his position honourably or be booted out.

    According to him, he should do the needful since the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has majority lawmakers in the senate.

    The chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology lamented that the senate under Saraki had been most turbulent and crisis-ridden for the past three years.

    Read Also:Defection: Saraki has stepped on banana peel–Senator Adamu

    Boroffice noted that the Senate frosty relationship between the executive and legislature should not have been if not because of Saraki’s opposition to the executive since inception of Buhari’s led Administration in the country, because of ulterior motive.

    The Asiwaju of Akoko spoke with reporters in Akungba, Akoko South West local Area of Ondo state shortly after laying the foundation of model basic science laboratories in the university town.

    The Senator maintained that if Saraki declined to relinquish his position honourably, APC Senators will do the needful.

    He however assured that the defection of Saraki and others would not have any impact on Buhari’s victory in 2019 general elections.

    The lawmaker explained that they left APC because they were not comfortable with anti-graft crusade of unimaginable corruption, realising that most of them would soon be exposed to Nigerians that they are corrupt elements.

    He extolled President Muhammadu Buhari for his courage to tackle the menace in spite of loud criticisms.

  • Saraki’s continued stay as Senate President is constitutional – Makarfi 

    One of the Presidential Aspirants in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),  Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has called on all those crucifying the Senate President, Bukola Saraki to leave him alone as his continued stay as Senate President irrespective of his party affiliation is lawful, constitutional and democratic.

    He said that Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Yakubu Dogara were elected based on the provision of the constitution and not party based.

    Read Also:Offa robbery: Court orders service of summons on Saraki

    Speaking to newsmen during his visit to the PDP Secretariat in Minna on Saturday, Markafi told those who have been calling on Saraki and Dogara to vacate their seats to leave them alone.

    “The position of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, based on the constitution of Nigeria is an election of one among equals based on voting irrespective of party affliction. The constitution said that the Senators are to elect among themselves, it did not say that it must be from a majority party.

    “Positions tied to party affliction are the positions like majority and minority leaders and Chief Whips along with their deputies. Therefore Senator Bukola Saraki, Ike Ekweremadu and Dogara should be left alone because they are elected based on provision of the constitution and their continuing stay irrespective of the party they belong to is constitutional, it is lawful and it is democratic. ”

    Speaking further, the Presidential hopeful who expressed his delight over the recent defection to PDP said that, “We are still expecting more” but noted that the party would need to manage the defections well to ensure that there would be no fall out.

    He then said that all members of the PDP should be ready to make sacrifices for the peace and unity of the party.

  • 2019: Defections won’t stop Buhari’s victory – Tony Momoh

    A former Minister of Information, Chief Tony Momoh, on Friday said the exit of some bigwigs from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election in 2019.

    Momoh, also an APC chieftain, expressed the view in a telephone interview our reporter in Lagos.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Sen. Dino Melaye , Sen. Bernabas Gemade were some members of National Assembly that dumped the APC for the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in recent days.

    Read Also:Buhari ‘not bothered’ about defections in APC

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and Gov. Abdul Fatah Ahmed of Kwara had also left with many of their state houses of assembly members to the PDP.

    The Publicity Secretary of APC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, who is political godson of Saraki had also left the party for PDP.

    Momoh said while the defectors might get substantial votes for their new party in their respective areas, Buhari would still win in their domains.

    The former minister said Buhari got more votes than most of the defectors in their respective zones and states, and the same thing would happen in the next election.

    He said that the president had done well as a leader, and Nigerians would show appreciation and re-elect him.

    “I do not think the defection would stop the President from winning in the next election.

    “I will not say that it will not affect the votes of the president; votes are about people, and now that some people have left, it will have some impact.

    “But I do not think that the impact will be such that it would stop the president from winning.

    “Come to think, the president got more votes more than the defectors in their senatorial zones and states mostly in the North in 2015.

    “Overall he got 15million votes in the election. Now that he is president who has performed well, he will get more votes mostly in the South-South and South-East.

    “He has delivered great projects in these two regions which did not really vote for him in 2018.

    “The votes the president will get in these regions will make up much more for the very few votes he might lose to defections in the North,” he said.

    Momoh said APC should not lose sleep over the defection, as Buhari would record his biggest win ever in 2019.

    The former minister said the president had not disappointed Nigerians on the three-pronged promises of security, corruption and economy on which he campaigned.

    He said the second term of the president would enable him to consolidate on his present achievements.

  • Resign now, Yoruba youths tell Saraki

    A group, Yoruba Youths Congress (YYC) Friday urged the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to resign his position having defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Speaking to reporters in Akure, the Ondo State capital, its National President, Prince Dapo Adepoju who is also the Chairman, Coalition of Southwest youths  said it will be immoral for  Saraki to continue as President of the Nigerian senate with his defection from the ruling party to the opposition.

    Read Also:Buhari tells Saraki, other defectors: you’re bad eggs

    The youth leader noted with dismay the undue opportunities granted politicians to take the electorate for granted in their actions.

    According to him, since the APC has majority members in the upper chamber, the minority PDP cannot lead the majority.

    He said; “Our call is to ensure that the national assembly is peaceful, the situation whereby 109 senators will set Nigeria ablaze because of their selfish interest will not be acceptable by the Nigerian youths.

    “The activities of the 8th assembly under Saraki has been retrogressive, in fact the present National Assembly is the most politicized senate since we returned to democratic rule in 1999”.

    Adepoju emphasised that the 2019 polls will not be determined by politicians but the electorate who are mostly youths.

    He also cautioned the leadership of the APC not to victimise any personality that defected to another party since partisan politics is free entry and exit.

    He also called on the leadership of the Senate to as a matter of urgency reconvene for parliamentary business in the interest of Nigerians.

     

  • APC’s query to Saraki after thought, says Senator

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Sen. Rafiu Ibrahim, Wednesday described as an afterthought and an academic exercise, the query issued to Senate President,  Abubakar Bukola Saraki, by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ibrahim said that the APC leadership forgot too soon the announcement Saraki made on Tuesday to the entire world about his defection from the APC to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also:Saraki, Senators, Reps’ defection immature – Cleric

    Ibrahim said in a statement that Saraki does not need to answer a query that has become redundant and overtaken by events.

    He said, “However, it is pertinent to state that the issues raised in the query were in conflict with and complete violation of our constitutionally guaranteed freedom of association. All Senators who have defected from APC did so on their own free will. As matured men and women, we took the decision to leave the APC by ourselves. We did so because we felt that the party no longer represents the ideals that we once fought for.

    “The Senators are political leaders in their own rights and they represent their different senatorial districts. So, it is preposterous for the APC leadership to write that Saraki should be held responsible for the decision of my colleagues concerning their political careers.

    “Is it Saraki that caused the antagonism between Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai which led the Senator to defect? Is it Saraki that caused the problem between Kogi Governor and Sen. Dino Melaye when the party appeared helpless in calling the governor to order as he moves to annihilate the Senator who contributed so much to his election? Is it Saraki that compelled a man of Sen. Abdullahi Danbaba of Sokoto’s standing to defect? Is it Saraki who forced Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu from Oyo State to defect? Can Saraki be blamed for Sen. Abdulazeez Murtala Nyako’s defection after the Senator had complained about the lack of equity and inclusiveness in the APC in Adamawa State? One can give so many examples to demonstrate how the non-committal leadership of the APC looked on, without taking action to stop the sorry state of affairs that made the gale of defections inevitable.

    “With regard to allegations on the conduct of proceedings in the National Assembly in general, and the Senate in particular, it should be noted that the Senate is a body of equal members and the Senate President is only a primus inter pares, first among equals. The Senate President cannot impose any decision on the entire body.

    “All decisions are that of the whole Senate and not just one man. It is for that reason that all motions and resolutions in the Assembly are taken through a voice vote and the majority always carries the day, including our decision to halt the screening of Presidential nominees whose positions are not clearly slated for confirmation by the Senate in the constitution. So, nobody can blame the Senate President for any decision taken by the whole house. It is a collective decision.

    “Those who are raising issues on why the 2018 budget was delayed are behaving as if they were not in the country when heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) refused to defend their respective budgets promptly. After repeated complaints by the leadership of the National Assembly, the President himself had to direct the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to compel the heads of MDAs to come before National Assembly committees for the defence of their budget proposals.

    “Change of party platform is not a new development in our democracy. It has always been part of our party politics and will continue to be a normal feature. Even, in advanced democracies, politicians move from one party to another. In fact, it is an exercise of the freedom of association as guaranteed in our constitution. President Muhammadu himself on July 24, 2018 while reacting to our defection from the APC agreed that it was a seasonal occurrence. So, I am surprised that the APC now saw it as an offence for people to exercise their political rights.”

     

  • Breaking: Bolaji Abdullahi quits APC

    …Accuses Oshiomhole of usurping his functions

     

    After several hours of playing hide and seek, the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has finally resigned his position and membership of the party citing usurpation of his functions as one of his reasons for quitting.

    In a statement made available to newsmen, Abdullahi also said he was quitting because he cannot continue to function as the spokesman of a party whose expectations of his role is incompatible with personal principles.

    Read Also:Saraki leaving will not affect APC fortune negatively, says Okorocha

    He said it is clear to the world that the political group he belongs to is no longer wanted and where his views are constantly second-guessed on the basis of his political affiliation.

    There has been speculation of the resignation of Mallam Abdullahi, a position he denied saying he was still a member of the APC, but decided to quit less than 24hours after the exit of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatai Ahmed.

    The statement reads: “In view of recent political developments in the country and within the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have decided to resign my position as the National Publicity Secretary as well as my membership of the party with effect from today.

    “In the last few days, I have had to endure the flagrant usurpation of my role as the spokesman of the party in a manner that I consider unbefitting of a ruling party and inconsistent with my ethical standards.

    “I have served the APC honestly and to the best of my ability and when I stood for and won my election at the last convention; it was a keen desire to continue to do so.

    “However, in a situation whereby my loyalty is constantly brought into question; my subordinates deployed to subvert my office; and my views constantly second-guessed on the basis of my political affiliation, it has become imperative for me to review my position.

    “Since assuming office as the spokesman of the party, I have tried to set a new template for public political communications in a way that departs from the vulgar abuse and verbal aggression of the recent past, where cheap lies and crude propaganda were normalised as politics, and even celebrated as measures of competence.

    “Unfortunately, those who felt I was not “forceful enough” framed my ethical disposition as evidence of a lack of commitment to the party.

    “The unlawful dissolution of the validly elected party executive in Kwara State earlier in the week was only another phase in the unrelenting assault I have had to endure.

    “As a national officer of the party, who sit in that Committee, courtesy should demand that my views be sought on a matter that concerns my State and in which I am directly involved. That action was, to say the least, disrespectful.

    “Quite recently, we all took the oath to do justice to all and not allow personal interests to interfere with our official responsibilities. With this obviously presumptuous action, and the decision to appoint as chairman of caretaker committee, the same man who had emerged as the chairman from the parallel congress in my State, the NWC has taken sides, violated its oath of office and subverted its own credibility as an impartial arbiter.

    “Yet, these are the same people that have continued to insinuate that others are serving interests other than those of the party. Politics is local, and my personal stake in the issue of Kwara makes it incongruous for me to continue to sit as part of the working committee of the party.

    “Clearly, I cannot continue to function as the spokesman of a party whose expectations of that role is incompatible with my personal principles. In the same token, I can no longer justify to myself that I should remain in a party which has now made it clear to the world that the political group that I belong is no longer wanted, and which has hung my membership of that group as an albatross around my neck.”

  • Offa robbery: Police quiz Senate president

    Detectives interrogated yesterday Senate President Bukola Saraki over the Offa, Kwara State, robbery.

    Operatives of the Intelligence Response Team of the Police met Saraki in his National Assembly, Abuja, office in the afternoon.

    Saraki was grilled for close to two hours, sources said he responded to questions raised by the police investigation team.

    Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris on Monday wrote to request Saraki’s   appearance on Tuesday to clear himself of alleged relationship with five principal suspects in the Offa bank robbery investigation.

    No fewer than 33 people, including policemen were killed in the robbery.

    Saraki failed to honour the invitation but wrote to ask the IGP to detail his men to come to his office to interrogate him as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Apparently in compliance with President Buhari’s directive that Saraki should either be quizzed in his office or asked to give written information, the IGP drafted his officials to Saraki’s office to quiz him on the incident.

    Police spokesman Jimoh Moshood, in a statement, said contrary to the insinuation by an online medium that Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami advised the police against pressing any charges against the Senate President for lack of evidence, the Minister of Justice recommended further investigation.

    Moshood said: “The DPP’s advice did not exonerate the Senate President; it only called for further investigations into the matter

    “It is in the course of further investigations into the case that a letter of invitation dated 23rd July, 2018 was sent to the Senate President to appear on 24thJuly, 2018 at 8.00am before the Investigation Team at Intelligence Response Team office, Guzape Junction, Abuja.

    “Consequently, the Force is hereby re-affirming that the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, has a case to answer by virtue of the facts that the statements submitted by the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, earlier to the Investigation Team was not explicit and detailed enough, and was discovered to require further clarifications and interrogation, and coupled with the fact the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, in his statement, claimed that the full text of the statement of the suspects who indicted him in their confessional statements to the Police was not shown to him.

    “The Force wishes to inform the media and the public that investigation is still ongoing on the Offa bank robbery and the indictment against the Senate President from the confessions of some of the arrested principal suspects, and that, there is no  political influence or consideration in the matter.”