Under-fire senate president, Bukola Saraki has 'denied' the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) party by removing the name from his official profile page on Twitter.
According to some Twitter users, the Senate President’s verified Twitter biography previously read, in part, “Member of the APC.”
However, when our correspondent visited the page, it simply read, “Senate President and Chairman of the 8th National Assembly. Committed to Transparency and Accountability.”
One user, Am Human No Labels, said, “Sir, are you no longer a member of the ruling party? I can’t find APC on your bio anymore.”
In the same vein, @olufemisp wrote, “I knew it was when @bukolasaraki deleted the “APC” that proudly adorned his bio. This Saraki war will consume the party.”
Another user, AS Aruwa, said, “I just noticed that @bukolasaraki has deleted ‘Member of the APC’ from his bio. Someone is about to decamp?”
Maryam Abubakar also asked, “Now that the ‘APC’ on Bukola Saraki’s Twitter bio is gone, what should we expect?”
“Why is the APC on your bio gone sir?” @RichieDectector asked, while Ayokunle Odekunle wrote, “@BukolaSaraki removes the ‘APC’ from his bio. It gets more interesting.”
Afolabi Ajiboro also said, “@ogundamisi have you noticed that @bukolasaraki has removed APC from his bio on Twitter? Minutes later the PDP released statement defending him.”
The Senate President did not respond to the controversy on Twitter.
However, the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said, “It is not a new development. The party logo was there during the elections and we took it off after the elections about a month ago.”
Meanwhile, the Force Headquarters on Saturday said it was still waiting for the bench warrant issued by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for the arrest of the Senate President.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, said the police had yet to get the court order as of Saturday when our correspondent inquired about the delay in the execution of the arrest warrant.
Kolawole explained that the police cannot arrest Saraki without the court order.
“We have not received the bench warrant till now (Saturday) and until we get the court order, we cannot execute it,” she said over the phone.
Justice Danladi Umar of the Code of Conduct Tribunal had on Friday in Abuja ordered a bench warrant against Saraki for failing to appear before the court to answer charges over alleged false declaration of assets.
The judge specifically ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, or other security agencies to arrest Saraki and produce him in court on Monday to take plea in the 13-count charge slammed on him by the Federal Government.
But Saraki’s lead counsel and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Joseph Daudu, said he had filed an appeal asking the court to set aside the ruling dated September 18, 2015.
Daudu said the trial judge erred in law and “acted without jurisdiction by countenancing and assuming jurisdiction over the criminal trial/prosecution of the accused/appellant at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for a charge, which is being challenged at the FHC, Abuja in suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/775/2015 between Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki vs Ministry of Justice and three others and in disobedience of the order of the FHC, Abuja Division dated September 17, 2015.”
He averred that it was not necessary for his client to be present in court since the accused had filed an application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to adjudicate on the charge brought before it.
The Federal Government had on September 11 filed a 13-count charge against Saraki before the CCT and the case was fixed for Friday for his arraignment, but the accused failed to appear in court.
According to the suit filed at the CCT, allegations against Saraki include failure to declare property on Plot 2A, Glover Road, Ikoyi, Lagos; failure to declare property on No 1, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2482, Cadastral Zone A06, Abuja) and failure to declare property No 3, Tagus Street, Maitama, Abuja (Plot 2481, Cadastral Properties Limited). Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Every other thing about Saraki except him addressing the theft is immaterial now.Why are Nigerians so gullible,that's why the politicians take you for a ride always.Someone is accused of stealing unbelievable amount of public money and resources and all you talk of is party affiliation,who cares what party Saraki or others belongs to if they steal.Wake up Nigerians for once
ReplyDeleteGood talk my brother. we are so gullible and naive. Thats the reason for bn takn for granted in Nigeria. Madness in every sectors.Religion. politics. homes. offices. Let Saraki address the real issues of what he has been alledged he stole. OLE ni gbogbo won. We all support CCT and pick out others. May God redirect Metuh......metuh saler and i he fails to criticise reasonably he may receive the wrath of God because Masses are suffering. .....skinnn
ReplyDeleteI loved ur statement,till u mentioned metuh....meaning u ve brought party affiliation into it....y did u not mention lai mohammed....d aim of dis ur statement has been defeated...
DeleteI don't think the accusation is that any money was stolen? But that 3 properties were not declared and that he declared a property that he ought not to declare because it was not his property?
DeleteWhat would you call Saraki declaring assets not in tune with his earnings.If you as a governor has more properties and cash deposits far well above your salary then you must be able to give logical explanation for the sources of the income/wealth.That's the main reasons assets declarations are made mandatory in civilized nations
DeleteI am impressed with the first and 2nd comments and won't hesitate to add my voice. It hurts that a lot of Nigerian youths (the supposed future leaders of this great nation) have allowed pure sentiments to cloud their sense of judgement/reason. For pete's sake, the Senate President is not superior to probe/investigation neither is he above the law. If an allegation has been levelled against him, it is incumbent on him to put up a defence. I can't imagine some Nigerians saying the trial will ruin APC as if the party is the owner of Nigeria. Who cares if the party is torn apart?? I don't. What I want is transparency, accountability and a change of status quo. If we continue to tow the path of sentiments in the war against corruption, then nobody should blame the government if the monster remains. If Saraki views this as a vendetta or feels victimised and wants to avail us information about corruption charges in respect of other individuals, he should go ahead. Let the can of worms be open, let high profile corruption trials commence, let's rid our nation of corruption once and for all.
ReplyDeleteHow many times will Saraki be tried for the same offense? His independence is being used as an excuse to bring him down. If he has been a yes boy, no one would be after him but his stance on the independence of the House is discomfiting many in the corridors of power. I advice him to move with his supporters to another party and let the heavens fall.
ReplyDeleteif only you knew anything about Nigeria, then you will not make this very childish comment, go and buy current affairs.
DeleteYou've all talked well,I was so shocked when I went through Saraki's properties both home and abroad and this really tempted me,I started thinking of another thing,if a man can hold and own such properties which it was even not fully declared,its only God that can judge them in all they are doing. I pray God help our president and give him support to win this race,because if I may ask when does this man called saraki,started working? and his political carrier? What is his salaries and allowances, is he not spending at all? Secondly, if his children can be having such huge amounts of money as cash,where do they get it and which company Are they working for? These are the questions am asking which am very sure no one could answer,even saraki himself.he shouldn't hide anyway so far he can own such properties he should be able to prove it at the law court.God has blessed Nigeria, but may God bless Nigerian.
ReplyDeleteBut Saraki was not at all a poor man before he bacame Governor or Senator was he? I know he was in business those years even though he was a qualified Medical Doctor and even then had properties in Europe and in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story,has CCB asked PMB to name the amount of each houses he has?have dey asked him the address of each house?who asked him his wife and children properties?who asked Tinubu his assets or Amaechi?or Tinubu?so Bukola is not on the same page with PMB and APC noe means he must serve as scape goat.hmmmmmm #storyforthegods.if Bukola decamp to PDP APC will accuse him of anti party or what?what of his loyalists? Just my own personal opinion
ReplyDeleteYou can say what you want, that will not stop the right thing from being done, Nobody said anyone is above the law, but now is Saraki's turn to dance to the tune of the Music, and he must dance alone in the dust
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