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Tag: Senator Bukola Saraki

  • NASS: N9billion wardrobe allowance upset Nigerians

    NASS: N9billion wardrobe allowance upset Nigerians

    The newly sworn in 8th National Assembly have been accused of being allegedly entitled to the sum of N9billion as wardrobe allowance as from next week.

    Considering the fact that the said N9billion would not cover for other allowances such as housing, furniture and vehicle, which are the lawmakers entitlements, Nigerians have taken to the social media to express their displease.

    Similarly, management of the National Assembly is reportedly currently allocating offices to the 469 federal lawmakers in both chambers of the NASS ahead of their resumption on June 23 from the two-week recess that they embarked.

    Out of the said N9billion wardrobe allowance, each of the 360 lawmakers at the House of Representatives is expected to smile home with about N17.5 million while the 109 senators would have a share of N21.5 million each.

    Meanwhile, the new senate president, Senator Bukola Saraki in a different report on Tuesday, promised that the 8th Senate will work to prevent revenue leakages in the country.

     

    Find social media reactions below:

     

  • Alkali: we have been vindicated over APC crisis

    Alkali: we have been vindicated over APC crisis

    Prof. Rufai Alkali, the former Special Adviser on Political Affairs to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has reiterated his earlier claim that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not prepared to govern a complex nation like Nigeria.

    Speaking with reporters in Abuja yesterday, he reminded Nigerians of his earlier call on the leadership of the APC, before the handing over of government “to plan more and talk less”.

    But he alleged that he was instead castigated by the APC’s spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    He was reacting to the selection of the leadership of the National Assembly and the responses from stakeholders within and outside the APC.

    He said: “I have observed with keen interest the scenario in the National Assembly that resulted in the election of Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara and other leaders of NASS and what attracted my attention more, though not surprising, were the incoherent and contradictory responses from the leaders of the APC.

    “This is indeed a clear confirmation of my earlier warning to the APC to plan more and talk less. Undoubtedly, things have started falling apart in the APC.”

    On the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP as Deputy Senate President, he said: “Whoever said that the PDP is dead and buried should please show me the cemetery and the grave where the PDP was buried.

    “Nigerians should not forget the fact that some of the members of the PDP who joined the APC went there as a result of some circumstances, but the souls and minds of most of them are still in the PDP.”

  • APC chieftain kicks against Saraki’s victory

    APC chieftain kicks against Saraki’s victory

    The emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President has began to generate reactions within the All Progressive Congress (APC) fold.

    A chieftain of the party in Ondo State, Saka Yusuf- Ogunleye told reporters in Akure,the state capital that the emergence of Senator Saraki which was made possible with his unholy alliance with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may stall the policy of the APC as contained in the manifesto of the party.

    Yusuf- Ogunleye said the action of Senator Saraki has brought back the PDP whom Nigerians have rejected due to their corrupt practices in power.

    The APC chieftain noted that bringing back PDP into the National Assembly is not good for the anti corruption crusade of President Muhhammadu Buhari.

    The APC House of Representatives for Akure North/South described the action of Senator Saraki as an act of impunity and indiscipline.

    He advised that APC and President Buhari should go ahead and work with the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

    He said the APC leadership must not allow crisis to rock the party even at the inception of this administration.

  • Northcentral youths back Saraki for Senate President

    The North Central Youth Coalition for Good Governance (NCYCGG) has supported Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.

    It urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other senators to support his candidacy.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Yahaya Ismail Adesayo, said their call was borne out of the desire to have a vibrant and effective Senate.

    He said: “After considering the past and present records of our zone, the Northcentral and the contribution and the experience of Senator Bukola Saraki, it is sacrosanct to advise the leadership of the APC and senators to support Senator Saraki as the next Senate President.”

    The call of the group followed the permutation that the Senate President be zoned to the Northcentral.

    “We are making this demand against the backdrop of our zone’s contribution to the victory of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Saraki’s loyalty and dedication to the party and the nation.

    “On behalf of the Northcentral youths, I congratulate the people’s General, Buhari, on his victory. While we wish him a fruitful stay in office, we promise our total support for his government.

    “We salute the great people of Nigeria for voting for change and finally the change has come.”

  • Huge crowd as Buhari campaigns in Kano

    Huge crowd as Buhari campaigns in Kano

    HUGE crowd yesterday received All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign team to the Northwest. Kano, the North’s commercial heart and Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, were throbbing with people as APC candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari sold his party’s programme.

    The Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano was filled to capacity. There were more people in the foreground than in the arena.

    Supporters climbed different platforms, including telecom masts, to sight the APC leaders.

    Gen. Buhari and his team, including Campaign Director-General Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, Senator Bukola Saraki, Governor Aliyu Wamakko, Senator Kabir Gaya, party Deputy Chairman Lawal Shuaibu, Chief Bisi Akande and party Chair Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, were received by Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and his deputy, Umar Ganduje. Ganduje is the APC governorship candidate.

    Presenting the party’s candidate to the enthusiastic supporters, Tambuwal said: “I want to tell you that God is with us, for He has given us Buhari who will end corruption in Nigeria…If you come out and vote for us, by God’s grace, we will achieve all we have set to do.”

    Gen. Buhari, overwhelmed by the massive crowds, slowly made his way to the stage and addressed the supporters in Hausa, reaffirming his commitment to restoring security, power supply, education and infrastructure. He also spoke on the vital importance of collecting the permanent voter cards and ensuring that votes are defended. “Ensure you stay behind and defend your votes,” he said to an enthusiastic audience who replied, screaming: Sai Buhari! Baba oyoyo!

    Kwankwaso said he was optimistic that Gen. Buhari would be sworn in as  the president.

    Tinubu said:  Nigeria sai Buhari, Kano sai Ganduje, Kano  Central Senatorial district, sai Kwankwaso. Thank you. God bless you.”

    The team moved to Jigawa at about 4:30pm.

    In Dutse. Gen. Buhari said his administration would utilise aviation, seaport and railways to generate revenue and job opportunities as alternative to oil.

    He promised to revive the agricultural sector, if elected, to provide food and enough raw material to agro-allied companies.

    He said: “As I have been saying wherever I go, if elected into office, my government will revitalise agriculture from subsistence to commercial through provision of modern techniques of farming.”

    He said the devaluation of the Naira, socio -economic backwardness, insecurity, and lack of social amenities will be a thing of the past

    Gen. Buhari said he would fight corruption headlong and would give opportunity to the less privileged to enjoy free education.

    Odigie-Oyegun said Nigeria must be brought back to life again.

    “What we are saying is that there will be peace in Nigeria, once more, if Buhari wins.”

    The gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Jigawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Badaru Talamis, said once Gen. Buhari is voted in as the president, there woulf be no more corruption.

  • I’ve no hand in plot against Senate President, says Saraki

    I’ve no hand in plot against Senate President, says Saraki

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment  and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, had denied being part of any plot against the senate leadership.

    Saraki, in a statement, said he read with shock, reports in some newspapers that some PDP senators, who lost out in the last primary were planning to remove Mark and replace him.

    Saraki said: “We like to state categorically and unequivocally that Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial district of Kwara State, has no knowledge or being part of any plan by a group of Senators or any individual for that matter about the said publications and he will not be a party to such for any reason.

    “It is our candid opinion and belief that any Senator that loses his bid to return to the Senate should lay on his bed ?as he found it, hence, individual Senator should bear their own cross.

    “It is a common knowledge that when Senator Saraki was the Chairman of Governors Forum, he fought with his colleagues to ensure that at least, each state of the Federation returns one Senator.

    “Hence the reason why there was a reasonable turnover in the Senate in the 2011 election.”

  • Yobe attack: Saraki seeks action to stop Boko Haram

    Yobe attack: Saraki seeks action to stop Boko Haram

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Bukola Saraki has decried yesterday’s attack on a school in Yobe State, which left dozens of pupils dead.

    Saraki, who is representing Kwara Central in the Upper Chamber, said by attacking the innocent pupils, Boko Haram is seeking to break the cords that binds the nation together.

    He accused President Goodluck Jonathan of focussing his energy on how to keep himself in power beyond 2015, than trying to fix the country.

    He called on the President to take all necessary action to end the insurgency, saying the presidency has been silent for too long on the Boko Haram’s uprising.

    Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, said: “My heart goes out to the families of the students affected by the bomb blast on an assembly ground in Yobe State this morning.

    “These children are the future of Nigeria, and again, we have witnessed the fact that by attacking the young and innocent in our society, Boko Haram is seeking to break our united Nigerian spirit through their evil and cowardly acts. This shall not stand.

    “In the past few weeks, we have seen for ourselves how Boko Haram has rampaged through the Northeast of Nigeria – going as far as being audacious enough to tempt our sovereignty by hoisting up a dark flag to signify conquest.

    “Our men and women on the frontlines have performed valiantly, with many of them giving their lives in the struggle to ensure that the evil of Boko Haram does not spread across the country.

    “Amid this rampage, Nigerians have stood together to support those that fight on our behalf. But we are at a loss when it comes to what united direction we must take as a nation to combat these recent developments because the Presidency has been silent on this insecurity for far too long. We deserve better.

    “We deserve better because against the backdrop of the insurgency, amid the abductions of the Chibok girls, President Jonathan has been focusing more energy on trying to keep himself in power after 2015, than in trying to fix Nigeria for Nigerians.

    “This is not the sort of leadership that Nigeria needs. No-nonsense, get-things-done leadership is needed at the moment to send a clear and loud message to the terrorists: ‘Wherever you are, we will find you and hunt you down.’

    “Nigerians too want to be reassured that we are not gradually disintegrating into dark days that will define our success as a nation.

    “In this regard, as we battle this scourge, and unite around those affected by today’s attacks and all victims of this scourge, we must demand that President Jonathan take all necessary action to end Boko Haram’s menace once and for all, instead of using security forces to intimidate perceived opponents.”

  • Yobe attack: Saraki seeks action to stop Boko Haram

    Yobe attack: Saraki seeks action to stop Boko Haram

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology Senator Bukola Saraki has decried yesterday’s attack on a school in Yobe State, which left dozens of pupils dead.

    Saraki, who is representing Kwara Central in the Upper Chamber, said by attacking the innocent pupils, Boko Haram is seeking to break the cords that binds the nation together.

    He accused President Goodluck Jonathan of focussing his energy on how to keep himself in power beyond 2015, than trying to fix the country.

    He called on the President to take all necessary action to end the insurgency, saying the presidency has been silent for too long on the Boko Haram’s uprising.

    Saraki, in a statement in Abuja, said: “My heart goes out to the families of the students affected by the bomb blast on an assembly ground in Yobe State this morning.

    “These children are the future of Nigeria, and again, we have witnessed the fact that by attacking the young and innocent in our society, Boko Haram is seeking to break our united Nigerian spirit through their evil and cowardly acts. This shall not stand.

    “In the past few weeks, we have seen for ourselves how Boko Haram has rampaged through the Northeast of Nigeria – going as far as being audacious enough to tempt our sovereignty by hoisting up a dark flag to signify conquest.

    “Our men and women on the frontlines have performed valiantly, with many of them giving their lives in the struggle to ensure that the evil of Boko Haram does not spread across the country.

    “Amid this rampage, Nigerians have stood together to support those that fight on our behalf. But we are at a loss when it comes to what united direction we must take as a nation to combat these recent developments because the Presidency has been silent on this insecurity for far too long. We deserve better.

    “We deserve better because against the backdrop of the insurgency, amid the abductions of the Chibok girls, President Jonathan has been focusing more energy on trying to keep himself in power after 2015, than in trying to fix Nigeria for Nigerians.

    “This is not the sort of leadership that Nigeria needs. No-nonsense, get-things-done leadership is needed at the moment to send a clear and loud message to the terrorists: ‘Wherever you are, we will find you and hunt you down.’

    “Nigerians too want to be reassured that we are not gradually disintegrating into dark days that will define our success as a nation.

    “In this regard, as we battle this scourge, and unite around those affected by today’s attacks and all victims of this scourge, we must demand that President Jonathan take all necessary action to end Boko Haram’s menace once and for all, instead of using security forces to intimidate perceived opponents.”

  • ‘$78 oil benchmark not realistic for 2015’

    Chairman Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday  described the proposed oil benchmark for the 2015 budget as unrealistic.

    Saraki in a statement in Abuja, yesterday,  said the Executive cannot afford to pretend that all is well, following the 25 per cent drop in oil prices at the international market.

    The Senator who is also a member of the Senate committee on Finance, said the government’s position is hard to justify on any economic modeling, or recent policy positions.

    He said: “One is left with the impression that this benchmark is not a product of any economic model, but a politically induced decision that does not paint the correct picture, nor aligns itself to the 2015 forecast.

    “These are troubling times for the Nigerian economy. Our revenue base is caving in under the stress of falling price of oil in the international market, he said, adding that due to the drastic and persistent nature of this fall from the highs of $115 in June of this year, “it is my considered view that we can’t continue to give the impression that it is business as usual.”

  • We’re being vilified for saying the truth, says Saraki

    We’re being vilified for saying the truth, says Saraki

    Former Governor of Kwara State Senator Bukola Saraki has said both the Rivers Sate Governor, Chibuike Amaechi and himself as well as other like-minded people, were persecuted by the powers-that-be for their stance on fairness, equity and justice in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Saraki, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital, while addressing members of APC at its monthly meeting.

    He noted that at the height of the PDP crisis, the same powers-that-be persuaded and lobbied his group not to leave the PDP.

    The former governor added that notwithstanding the persuasion, the group stood its ground and refused to accede to the entreaties since they were pursing the cause of the masses.

    A source at the meeting quoted Saraki as saying: “When we are on the right path and when I have people like you that always assist in prayers, no amount of victimisation can stop us.

    “You see that decision I took was not for selfish ambition, it was because of you my people and we will continue to fight your cause.

    “That is how we were brought up to assist the downtrodden and fight the cause of commoners. That is what our late father lived and died for. He was the architect and advocate of peace and a great philanthropist. And we will not derail from doing what we inherited from him.”

    The senator representing Kwara Central added that happenings in the country were vindicating him and his group as evidenced in the dwindling federal allocation to states, saying it was parts of what “we were fighting against.”

    “Everyone is lamenting the situation even as some PDP governors are regretting, but they told us they cannot say that in public. They told us that they found it difficult to pay salaries of their workers let alone embarking on other developmental projects,” he said.

    Aligning with Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on the federal presence in the state, he alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has done nothing in the state to deserve the people’s votes.

    He said: “I challenge them to point to any of their projects here in Kwara. During my tenure, we rehabilitated Chikanda/Kosubosu road and the late President Umar Yar’Adua approved the repayment before his demise, but President Jonathan has refused to pay.”

    He stressed that the APC remained the only party that can rescue the country from its near total collapse.

    He urged those still remaining in the PDP fold to join the APC, adding that the party’s doors remained open.