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Tag: Senate president

  • Saraki explains failure to honour police invitation personally

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Wednesday said that he did not honour the invitation by the Police to report to their station in Guzape Abuja over the Offa robbery because he answered all the questions raised in a letter to the police.

    The Senate President said that his letter to the Police on the invitation written on Tuesday was duly acknowledged.

    Saraki who gave the explanation through his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that all the issues and questions raised in the police invitation letter were answered, Saraki said that the letter was written and dispatched to the police on Tuesday.

    Read Also:Police denies besieging Saraki’s residence

    He noted that after answering all the questions raised by the police in his letter, he did not believe that there was any further need for him to go to the police personally.

    The Senate President added that he believed that his letter to the police was enough hence there was no need for him to go personally to the police for the same issue.

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had on Monday invited Saraki to appear before the Police Special Anti-Robbery Unit in Guzape to answer questions over his alleged involvement in the Offa robbery incident.

    Saraki had stated in an earlier response that the invitation to him by the Police to report to a station in Guzape over the Offa robbery investigation was “a mere afterthought which is designed to achieve political purpose. “

    He said that he has it on good authority that the Police had already decided on the suspects to arraign in court in Ilorin, Kwara State on Wednesday based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mohammed U.E. and that the turn around to invite him was a ploy aimed at scoring cheap political points.

    He said, “I have been reliably informed that the police invitation was planned by IG as a ploy to stop an alleged plan by some Senators and House of Representatives members from defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC). It was also said that if I was detained between Tuesday and Wednesday, that will abort the so-called defection plan.

    “While I continue to maintain that the issue of my position on the 2019 elections is not a personal decision for me alone to make, it should be noted that all these concoctions and evil plot cannot deter me. Those behind this fresh assault will fail as I have nothing to do with the robbery incident or any criminal matter for that matter.

    “I am aware that following a request made by the Police on June 13, 2018 to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) of the Federation had written a legal advice  dated June 22, 2018, in which he stated on page 5, paragraph (f) that “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged office and the suspects”.

    “The Police have obviously corrupted and politicized their investigations into the Offa robbery incident. They have turned it into an instrument for the party in power to suppress perceived opponents, witch-hunt issue for blackmailing people from freely choosing which platform on which they want to pursue their ambition and a matter for harassing the people whose exit from APC would harm the chances of the party in the forthcoming elections.

    “I want to make it apparent that I have no hand in either the robbery incident or any criminal activity. The Police in their haste to embarrass me sent the invitation to me at 8pm and requested that I report to the station by 8am tomorrow morning. This obviously demonstrated their desperation as I do not see why they are now in a hurry.

    “They also stated in today’s letter that because in my response of June 7, 2018 to their own letter written on June 4, 2018, I stated that I was responding simply to the contents of the letter and that the full text of the statement made by the arrested suspects which they claimed indicted me was not made available to me, they were now including the suspects statements in the current letter. Yet, instead of including the suspects’ statements, they only attached two copies of my own letter to the invitation. No suspects’ statement was made available.

    “This plot aimed at compelling me and my associates to stay in a party where members are criminalized without just cause, where injustice is perpetrated at the highest level and where there is no respect for constitutionalism is an exercise in futility and it will fail.

    “Once again, my confidence in God and our judicial system remains intact and unshaken. The truth shall also prevail in this case.”

     

  • Lagos senators oppose Banire’s nomination as AMCON chairman

    Three senators from Lagos State Tuesday opposed the nomination of Muiz Banire as the Chairman of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON)

    President Muhammadu Buhari had submitted a letter to the Senate seeking the confirmation of Banire as AMCON boss.

    But Senate at its sitting Tuesday received a petition endorsed by the three senators from Lagos State which opposed the nomination of Banire as the chairman of AMCON.

    Read Also:AMCON’s N4.8trn debts must be recovered – Senate

    Senator Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos West), who laid the petition, noted that it emanated from their constituents.

    Adeola noted that enclosed in the petition were “the signatures of the three senators from Lagos State against the nomination.”

    He solicited the permission of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to lay the petition before the Senate for consideration and approval.

    Saraki gave Adeola the go ahead to lay the petition.

    He referred the petition to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for necessary action.

    The Senate had on July 18, 2018 acknowledged receipt of the request from President Buhari to confirm Mr Muiz Banire (SAN), as Chairman, Governing Board of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    The President said that request was in compliance with Section 10(1) of the AMCON Act 2010.

    The Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Matters on July 23, screened Banire for appointment as AMCON chairman.

    The committee has not submitted its report o Senate in plenary.

    The petition may be a stumbling block to the confirmation of the nominee.

  • Buhari nominates Muiz AMCON chairman

    President Muhammadu Buhari, has nominated a former All Progressives Congress (APC) National Legal Adviser, Mr. Banire Muiz Adeyemi (SAN), for confirmation as Chairman, Governing Board of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    This is contained in a letter the President sent to the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    Read Also:http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/amcons-n4-8trn-debts-must-be-recovered-senate/

    President Buhari in the letter dated 11th July, 2018 which was read by Saraki, said that the nomination is in compliance with Section 10(1) of the AMCON Act, 2010.

    Buhari asked the Senate to consider and confirm the nominee in its usual expeditious manner.

  • MAN, DIBAN, others kick against 500 percent excise tariff increase

    Stakeholders in the manufacturing industry in the country Monday kicked against the proposed 500 per cent increase on excise tariff by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

    The stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), Association of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employers of Nigeria ( AFBTEN) and others opposed the proposed excise tariff’ hike in their separate submissions at a function of the Senate Committee on Finance.

    The Finance committee in line with resolution of the Senate organised a public hearing on “urgent need to review the excise tariff increment in order to save local distillers of beverages from looming extinction”.

    Read Also:NLC rejects 500 percent tariff on local alchohol

    The stakeholders at the hearing noted that the proposed policy recommended by the Tariff Technical Committee (TTC), would if allowed to be implemented, “affect manufacturers, producers, businesses and render millions of Nigerians jobless.”

    Chairman of DIBAN, Patrick Anegbe in his submission, lamented that if the policy was allowed to stand, N420billion worth of investments would be ruined aside over 250,000 workers who will be laid off.

    Comrade Mike Olanrewaju who represented the labour unions at the session, said the proposed 500% increase on excise tariff is suicidal and must not be allowed to be implemented.

    Olanrewaju noted that the proposed policy was dead on arrival since organized labour and other critical stakeholders were not consulted.

    He said, “One of the strategies expected  from  any responsible and responsive government in preventing crime and fighting poverty is job creation and not job losses through outrageous and outlandish tariff hike that would collapse industries and by extension  render millions of Nigerians jobless.

    “To us in the labour sector, we say capital no! to such tariff increase and if any increase is to be made at all, it should not be above one digit.

    “The proposed increase is counterproductive and would be resisted by all stakeholders because after Dunlop, Micheline and others, we don’t want any industry to collapse or relocate out of the country again.”

    Though the Director General of MAN, M. Segun Ajayi Kadiri in his own submission admitted that the Ministry of Finance and TTC consulted them before the proposed tariff hike, he noted that the rate agreed on the basis of revenue generation by government was not what the ministry eventually arrived at.

    Directed of Legal Services who represented the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said the 500% excise tariff hike was agreed by all stakeholders before the ministry issued circular to that effect in February this year.

    “Protests and petitions trailing the circular since then from concerned stakeholders are to us, unfortunate,” she said.

    The committee told the stakeholders it looking into the policy by collaborating with the executive on the need to review the tariff downward.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who represented the Senate President, Bukola Saraki noted that “the major source of concern is the non-inclusion of primary stakeholders in the industry such as MAN, DIBAN in the consultation process that prompted the decision of the executive arm of government to increase the tariff rate of the affected products”.

  • Supreme Court frees Saraki on false assets declaration charge

    …Says prosecution did not prove case

     

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the charge of false assets declaration brought against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Justice Centus Chima Nweze, in a lead judgment of a five-ma panel, upheld Saraki’s appeal, set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

    The Court of Appeal had, in a December 12, 2017judgement, held that the prosecution established a prema facie case against Saraki on three out of the 18 counts contained in the charge and ordered him to enter defence in relation to the three counts.

    The apex court dismissed the entire charge and held that the prosecution failed to discharge its responsibility of proving its case.

    Read Also: Assets declaration: Supreme Court rules on Saraki ’s case Friday

    The apex court upheld the June 14, 2017 ruling of the CCT, which freed Saraki. It was of the view that all the evidence presented by the prosecution were hear-say evidence and therefore not admissible.

    The Supreme Court noted that the witnesses that were vital to the prosecution’s case, who would have provided direct evidence were not called.

    The court after discharging Saraki, proceeded to also dismissed the cross-appeal filed by the prosecution.

    Other members of the panel were Justices Dattijo Mohammed, John Okoro, Amina Augie and Ejembi Eko.

     

     

    Details later…

  • Senate to Presidency: Expedite action on release of budget funds

    The Senate Tuesday asked the Presidency to expedite action on release of funds for the implementation of 2018 budget project.

    The upper chamber said that expeditious release of funds for the implementation of the budget is the only way Nigerians could begin to appreciate the positive impact of the fiscal estimates.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, stated this in his address to welcome senators back to plenary Tuesday.

    Saraki also charged senators to “fasten to their seat belts and power on with the work we have been tasked to do.”

    Read Also:2018 Budget: Protesters call for Saraki’s, Dogara’s resignation

    He said that posterity is watching them “and history will vindicate us if we do the job with diligence and in truth.”

    Saraki said, “Happily, the 2018 Budget has been signed by the President. We call on the Executive to expedite the release of funds for Budget implementation, so that our people can begin to see the positive impact in their lives without delay.

    “We as the Senate must continue to exercise our oversight functions to ensure successful implementation and value for money.

    “Naturally, we continue to work towards reforming the budgetary process. Clearly, it is necessary for the Executive and the Legislature to work towards a more robust engagement on the need for a better budget environment and process, going forward.”

    Saraki said that it is clear that internal tensions are also a reflection of the economic condition of Nigerians.

    He said that all stakeholders should put economic bills on the fast lane in order that “we may conclude them, so that we can open the door to greater opportunities for our people.”

    He noted that growth and development could only serve to deepen the country’s democracy.

    “To this end, I call on Committees that have not reported on their various mandates to quickly do so, so that we can conclude work on outstanding bills intended to create economic prosperity for Nigerians.”

    Saraki said that the Senate clocked its third anniversary while they were on break and given the somber mood of the nation, there was no celebration.

    He noted that they have had occasion to get an overview of the considerable achievements of the Eight Senate since its inauguration on June 9, 2015.

    Said, “Indeed, we have come a long way, and have set a new bar in the legislative history of this country. We have passed 213 Bills in the period under review and cleared 138 Petitions – surpassing in three years the records of the entire four-year terms of every previous Senate.

    “This is no mean feat. As we hit the home run, therefore, it is important we do not back-pedal or slow down; we must intensify efforts towards doing all that we are sworn to do for the electorate that voted for us as their representatives.

    “With the backing of the people, we have been able to introduce landmark legislations that have helped boost our recovering economy.

    “These include: the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), which is the most significant business reform Bill in Nigeria in nearly three decades. As a result of the signing into law of the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act and the Credit Bureau Reporting Act, for instance, Nigeria was upgraded on the World Bank’s annual Ease of Doing Business ranking.

    “This has been a very welcome development for our economy and for restoring investor confidence in our business terrain. “Other landmark economic Bills include: the Warehouse Receipts Bill, the Nigerian Railways Authority Bill, and the National Transportation Commission Bill.

    “We have given tremendous support to the fight against corruption with the passage of Bills such as: the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, the Witness Protection Bill, the Whistleblower Protection Bill and the Federal Audit Service Commission Bill.

    “You will recall that it was the quick intervention of the 8th National Assembly – through the passage of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Bill (NFIU) – that saved Nigeria from being expelled from the global community of the Egmont Group.

    “It was in the life of this Senate that we finally ‘split the atom’ of the once intractable Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), after almost two decades in the legislative wilderness.

    “We split the Bill into four manageable parts; and, not only have we passed the first of those, the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), we have started work on the remaining three – the Administrative, Fiscal and Host Communities components of the Bill and have already taken them up to Public Hearing stage.

    “The clock is ticking and we must ensure that we conclude work on the remaining PIB Bills as soon as possible. Nigerians deserve no less.

    “Our many interventions over the last three years, have shown that we are a Senate that is responsive to the needs of the people.

    “This is observable in the constitutional amendment Bills that we have passed. Notable among these is the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, which received Presidential assent on May 31, 2018, to wild jubilation around the country, due to the momentous generational shift it is expected to trigger in national leadership, in paving the way for the greater participation of youths in governance.

    “A youth-oriented focus has similarly informed our engagement with relevant organisations on youth development and empowerment, in order to create jobs that will usefully occupy our teeming youths.

    “We should be rightly proud of the milestones we have reached in this regard, because as we all know, youth inclusiveness is key to sustainable democratic governance.

    “As a people-oriented Senate, we have made major interventions on the drug abuse epidemic afflicting our communities, especially the youth demographic. In so doing, we have helped spark a national debate about drug abuse that is now the subject of major media attention.

    “Additionally, we have drafted two Bills to tackle the problem, namely the Drug Control Bill and the Mental Health Bill. It is now incumbent on us to introduce these Bills and for the legislative process on the two to begin without delay, following their review by the relevant Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders.

    “Among our most transformative achievements, my distinguished colleagues, is the step we have taken to make healthcare a right of Nigerians, and to put it within the reach of our entire population of 180 million people.

    “This we have done through the setting aside of 1% of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) to establish the Basic Healthcare Fund in the just concluded 2018 Budget.

    “This is grounded in our belief that all Nigerians, no matter their economic status, deserve access to qualitative and affordable healthcare, to make for a stronger Nigeria with healthy and vibrant citizens who will, in turn, drive the country’s growth and development.

    “We are resuming plenary today under a pall of national anxiety and apprehension over the state of insecurity in the country.

    “We have been alarmed at so many senseless killings of Nigerians, with the high number of casualties in Plateau being among the most egregious of late.

    “We held a Security Summit some months back, specifically to address the rising insecurity and to work out strategies in collaboration with security agencies on safeguarding Nigerian lives.

    “We set up the Ad-Hoc Committee on the Review of Security Infrastructure in Nigeria, chaired by Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan; and we must now take steps to consider the Report of that committee and take forward the recommendations therein as may be appropriate.

    “Events have shown that we were right to take these steps in response to the security challenges facing the nation at this time.

    “Let me reassure Nigerians that we are as concerned as they are in the face of this challenge; and we continue to hold government accountable, in order to see to improvement in this area. In addition to the Security Summit earlier mentioned, we held briefings with Security Chiefs in a bid to better understand the problems; and have urged them to table their requests for more funds, so that the legislature can work on that aspect as well, to better equip the security forces to protect lives and property.

    “Through our oversight functions, we can ensure the proper utilisation of such funds and see to it that we have full accountability in the management of the current security crisis.

    “I must say, once again, that the responsibility for ensuring security rests with each and every one of us. Issues of criminality are involved in these heinous acts, and the vigilance of community leaders and the average citizen is crucial, to assist the security agencies do their job.

    “For us as the Senate, it does seem that these issues are also an indication that it is time to revisit the issue of State Police; and to devise a framework for the mopping up of the 350 million pieces of light weapons estimated to be in circulation within our borders – an alarming ratio of three weapons to one person.”

     

  • Saraki’s CoS dumps APC, says party shouldn’t be trusted in 2019 

    Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmad on Monday dumped All Progressives Congress (APC), saying that, the party should not be trusted to rule beyond 2019.

    Baba-Ahmed who is also a one-time INEC Secretary however clarified that his decision to dump APC has nothing to do with his principal, Senator Bukola Saraki.

    He disclosed this while addressing   journalists in Kaduna on Monday, saying that he had already sent his resignation letter to the party chairman of his ward.

    Saraki’s aide described his decision to exit APC as a difficult one to make, adding that, he took the decision after due consultation with members of his Akida faction of APC in Kaduna.

    Read Also:Lagos APC commiserates with tanker explosion victims

    He explained that, he was not leaving APC to join another party, but that APC government has underperformed in the country.

    According to him, “this statement is to inform the public of my resignation from APC. I have sent a formal letter to this effect to chairman of my ward.

    “This has been a very difficult decision, to leave a party I helped to form and made my humble contributions to put in power.

    “After three years, however, I need to say that the APC has grossly under-performed and has forfeited any claim to my loyalty and continue membership.

    “I do not believe in all conscience, that it should be trusted and encouraged to continue to govern our great country beyond 2019.

    “I am not leaving to join another party. This is my decision and mine alone. It has nothing to do with the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    “It’s a decision taken after due consultations with Akida Group, a group that has predated my appointment as Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate.

    “I will remain active in politics, as this is the main avenue for salvaging our nation from rising insecurity, poverty and divisions,” he said.

    Dr. Baba-Ahmed was one time chairman of CPC and Interim Chairman of APC in Kaduna state.

    He was later appointed as Chief of state to Senate President.

  • Group demand Saraki’s resignation over killings in Nigeria

    The Coalition for  Good Governance and Transparency in Nigeria led thousands of protesters this morning to occupy the National Assembly to demand the immediate resignation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki over his alleged role in the Offa Robbery incident.

    It could be recalled that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris crack team recently whilst investigating suspects in the crime implicated the Senate President, Bukola Saraki whom they alleged to have been the major brain behind the funding of the crime.

    The Coalition in their demands called for the resignation of the Senate President and his colleagues sponsoring political killings in the country and said it is impossible to have Saraki continue to preside over the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly at a time when there is global outrage over ethnic and politically masterminded killings in Nigeria.

    The protesters carried various placards with inscriptions such as “where are the killers in the National Assembly, we have not forgotten Offa robbery incident and Kogi state assasination so soon”

    “Saraki must resign and stop mocking the dead, the world is watching

    “Insertion of thousands of projects into the budget is tantamount to hijacking of the budget”

    “Stealing is corruption and padding is a crime against Nigerians”

    “Nigerians are not represented in the sharing of the loots via constituency projects” among others

    Various leaders of the group took turn to speak at the event.

    According to Comrade Solomon Adodo who led the protest, he said Bukola Saraki might be looking at every Nigerian like a fool but the Coalition has come out to take strong exceptions to his Machiavellian politics and send a clear signal to him that Nigerians have rejected his style of leadership and want him out.

    Adodo said Saraki’s corruption trial with the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, over his alleged non assets declaration was still ongoing in the anti-graft court and insisted that the path to honour for the Senate President was to step aside to clear his name.

    He tasked members of the 8th Senate to do the needful by immediately impeaching Saraki as the Senate President should he fail to resign, saying such development would bring sanity and restore the lost glory to the upper chamber of the National Assembly in particular and Nigeria in general.

    The group which regretted that Nigeria has become a laughing stock in the international community because of the many corruption cases involving its number three man in government and also accused the Senate President of seeking revenge against President Muhammadu Buhari and some appointees in the crime and anti-corruption agencies

  • Group urges Senate president to obey court orders

    The Middle Belt Movement for Justice and Peace, MBMJP, has urged the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to obey court orders and discharge himself of any bias by swearing in Air Marshal Isaac Alfa (Retd.) as the Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker representing Kogi East Senatorial District in the red chamber of the National Assembly.

    Convener of the group, Comrade Joe Bukka, who made the call yesterday in Makurdi explained that the tussle for the seat started after the party’s primaries in December 2014 between Air Marshal Alfa and Senator Attai Aidoko after the victory of the former was allegedly overturned through falsified documents.

    “But Isaac Alfa approached an Abuja Federal High Court, where Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on April 18, 2016 declared him the rightful candidate and winner of the Kogi East seat.

    “Senator Aidoko appealed the ruling and got a judgment at the Court of Appeal on December 14, 2016, which ordered that a Certificate of Return should be issued him even when it was not part of the reliefs he sought.

    “Not satisfied, Isaac Alfa approached the Supreme Court and on June 16, 2017, the apex court remitted the case back to the Federal High Court for fresh trial before a different judge and to take oral pleadings from parties which effectively rendered the Senate seat vacant.

    “And on June 13, 2018, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja Federal High Court in his ruling on the matter held that Senator Aidoko was not even qualified to have been nominated by the PDP to contest the senatorial general election in 2015.

    He ordered that the INEC should forthwith withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to Senator Aidoko and issue a fresh Certificate of Return to Alfa after which he awarded a cost of N750,000 each against the PDP and the senator.

    “The Senate president and the Clerk of the National Assembly were also directed to take immediate steps to swear in Alfa as member of the Senate of the 8th Assembly and cease to give any recognition and attachments of the privileges of office to Senator Aidoko.

    “Hence with that judgement of the Supreme Court and the lower courts, no earlier Certificate of Return existed, so Senator Aidoko cannot rely on any earlier Certificate to remain in the Senate and appeal the present judgement of the Federal High Court.”

  • Plateau killings: Saraki urges collective effort to tackle menace

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has stated that working towards peace in Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole, must remain the primary responsibility of every Nigerian.

    Saraki, in a statement on Wednesday signed by his Media Adviser, Yusuph Olaniyonu, was quoted to have stated this during a condolence visit to Plateau State, over Sunday’s killings of over 100 Plateau villagers.

    The statement added that Saraki, who had earlier in the day, met with President Muhammadu Buhari, together with Speaker Yakubu Dogara, was received by the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, at the Plateau State Government House.

    Saraki was quoted to have said, “Let me convey my deepest sympathy for the unfortunate and sad incident that occurred in Plateau State this weekend that claimed many innocent lives. This is not only a loss to Plateau State, but to the entire nation.

    “Although the National Assembly is currently not in session, when we resume next week, this is one of the prime issues that will be up for discussion. However, we thought it necessary to come here personally to meet with the people of Plateau State to commiserate with the families — because words cannot really describe this kind of pain.

    “Our prayer to Almighty God is to grant the affected families the fortitude to bear these losses. At this time as well, I also pray to God to give His Excellency, the Governor, the courage to be able to manage this challenge and bring solace to a lot of people”.

    Read Also:Atiku, Turaki knock Fed Govt over Plateau killings

    The President of the Senate also stated that this was a very difficult time for Plateau State, however, the entire nation stands with Plateau during this difficult time.

    “This is a very difficult time for Plateau State. However, I want to reassure you that the entire country is with you and the entire National Assembly stands with you.

    “We were late in coming here because both myself and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives sought an appointment with Mr. President on the killings that occurred here — to see how we would come together to see what could be done to forestall and prevent future occurrences like this and provide relief and support for all those that have been affected. This is our paramount responsibility. Whatever that needs to be done, must be done,” he said.

    The President of the Senate was also quoted to have called on the nation’s security agencies to ensure that those responsible for the killings are quickly apprehended to help bring an end to the killings in Plateau State.

    It continued, “We must also ensure that all those who are responsible for these killings must account for it. It is part of providing succour and ensuring the peace. You cannot bring back the lives, but finding and prosecuting the perpetrators will go a long way in helping to calm people and ease the pain that they are going through.

    “Therefore, yet again, we call on our security agents to ensure that they find the perpetrators that have done this and make them account for their detestable actions.

    “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to everyone, to the entire people of Plateau State: Nobody wins from this. Nobody. These killings from today sets the clock back many years, therefore, I want to appeal to the entire people of Plateau State, the elderly, the young, the men and the women, to ensure that we work towards peace.

    “Working towards peace is not only the responsibility of the Governor or the traditional rulers in the state. It is incumbent on everyone. Working towards peace is not Simon Lalong’s problem alone.”

    Governor Lalong was said to have commended the President of the Senate and the Senate delegation saying for the visit.

    The statement quoted the governor to have told Saraki, “As the leader of the North Central, we welcome you to our state. When this thing started, as the leader of our geopolitical region, you looked for me and you called me, despite your busy schedule to ask me what you could do to help.

    “On behalf of the good people of Plateau State, I thank you and the Senate delegation for being here. This is because you are not only here representing yourselves; you are here representing the entire National Assembly”.