Senate President, Bukola Saraki has blasted all those who claimed that he has plans of switching from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describing them as his political adversaries.
Mr. Saraki became Senate President Tuesday, following an alliance with senators of his former party, PDP, at the expense of Ahmed Lawan, Yobe State, who was the anointed candidate of APC.
He won unopposed, while 51 senators loyal to the party leadership were at the International Conference Centre, waiting to hold a purported meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr. Buhari did not attend the meeting eventually and later noted the constitutionality of the process of emergence of Mr. Saraki as well as that of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The APC rejected the outcomes of the two elections, saying Messrs Saraki and Dogara were not its candidates.
The development has fuelled speculations that Mr. Saraki and other senators loyal to him may have reached a deal with the PDP to return to the opposition party.
In a statement issued by his media office on Wednesday, Saraki who refrained from mentioning names, is believed to have directed his accusation at Alhaji Lai Mohammed, APC National Publicity Secretary.
It would be recalled that Mohammed has described the present composition of the leadership of the nation’s National Assembly, the Senate headed by Senator Olusola Saraki, and the House of Representatives, led by Yakubu Dogara, as pro-Peoples Democratic Party.
In response to Mohammed and rumour making the rounds that he will return to PDP, Saraki denied that he had a plan to decamp to PDP, describing the insinuation as ” absurd and laughable.”
According to him, “it is just cheap blackmail by political adversaries who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it. And those making such desperate allegations should remember that I willingly left the PDP on matters of principles when the party was in power. Is it now that the party is out of government and in opposition that I will now return having worked so hard for my party in the last general elections,” he queried.
He stated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he remains a loyal party member and a leader of the party, committed to contributing his quota to building the party and helping it to deliver its promise of change to Nigerian people.
He urged all members of the National Assembly to put politicking behind them and settle down for the proper business of legislating. “Our country is going through a very trying times. We have the challenge of insecurity in the North East. The massive problem of youth unemployment and general economic challenges occasioned by the falling oil prices in the international market and the consequential fall in revenue.
“All these are coming against the huge public expectation that propelled our party into office. We have pursued our legitimate aspirations appropriately. Now that the issues have been settled, we need to move on in the larger interest of our people, without whose mandate we would not have been in a position to aspire to these positions in the first place.”
The Senate President stated his readiness to embrace every member of the Senate regardless of his or her political leanings in the leadership elections just concluded. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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How the APC shot itself in the foot http://t.co/8RjRGjbIPY
ReplyDeletesaraki! Saraki!! Saraki!!! how many times did I call you... just to let you know that you have just killed your political career. I really do have issues with some of these politicians, why the hurry and this questionable way??? you already have the majority, why not wait for the house to be full so you can beat them hands down without questions... I have know problem with you being the senate president but why this drama... well lets see where you are heading to... I strongly believe to distruction!!!
ReplyDeleteDo not call Saraki, He has not done anything unconstitutional. APC senators left for a party meeting instead of attending national sitting which they were elected to do. That was very myopic of them and that serves them right. Why should APCresort to selection and appointment instead of election. I see what happened to Saraki as being good for democracy. That PDP stlye of appointment and imposing candidate that is about to be introduced in APC should die a natural death. The president who has nothing to be scared of has said he has no problem working with them so why should APC have issues. They should just wake up, girde their loins, get down to business and be on top of the game of governance because cryimg over spilt milk would amount to dalliance with failure. Nigerians cant afford another failed government.
DeleteYou get it wrong. It is the APC or more particularly the ACN (Tinubu wing of APC) that imposes and selects candidates and never PDP. PDP has always been a democratic party. Tinubu wanted to impose selected candidates like he was used to doing in Lagos and the South West and has learned a big lesson.
DeleteClose your mouth Mr. 7:55AM. Party politics is no longer needed in Nigerian today. Out elected leaders to day belongs to everybody and also belongs to no body. Time to hand picking of Senate, speakers etc..etc by party Chieftains is over. Goodnight.
ReplyDeleteyou are an idot; you seem not to understand what politics is, you are mixing politics with leadership ode!!! we will soon find out who will be given a long good night ha ha ha
DeleteLai Mohammed is back as the opposition spokesperson.
ReplyDeletewhen a fool is misbehaving allow him to reach his final destination. sharaki did not miss road. he is in the right track call APC or PDP whatsoever. please stop unnecessary comment about our new senate president of all Nigerian.
ReplyDeleteA word is enough for a wise. Saraki is just been clever by half.
ReplyDeleteSarahi should make peace with everyone, this King Kong attitude won't help. The same people that voted for you will sell you out. Apply wisdom.
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious that Saraki is leaning towards PDP. From his statements above, you would discover that he attributed nation's problem to falling oil price rather than blaming PDP govt for it. This is contrary to the attitude of Nigerian politicians who will always blame the opposing party for their challenges.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to forget APC was formed by New PDP which is made up of PDP defectors that left the party. Tinubu and Buhari later joined that party.
DeleteSo it was PDP that made oil price fall? Fool.
DeleteAPC should take it on the chin and move on. It's not like all this is anything to do with helping the masses
ReplyDeleteSaraki was over ambitious in becoming Senate president and so he manipulated his way through. He knew the game very well and outsmarted his colleagues.
ReplyDelete