The Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, lambasted Senate President, Bukola Saraki, describing him as an indisciplined, disloyal and member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in soul.
Tinubu spoke yesterday while denying media reports that he was conspiring with Senate President Saraki to move against President Muhammadu Buhari over his alleged disaffection with the ministerial list.
Insisting that President Buhari must be supported by all to realise the change agenda, Tinubu said there was no way he could conspire with Saraki, who he said was indisciplined, disloyal and a PDP member in soul.
Tinubu spoke via a statement from Conakry, Guinea, by his Media Director, Dare Sunday.
“The idea of an alleged conspiracy between Tinubu and Saraki against the President is a lie. Tinubu is committed to the APC vision and the Nigeria Project. The way Senator Saraki captured his current seat travestied party discipline” he said.
Reacting to the attack, the Senate President, Saraki, said he would not join issues with Tinubu and promised that the screening of ministerial nominees, starting tomorrow, would be done objectively according to the laws of the country and in the interest of Nigerians.
Tinubu in the statement said: “It was a crass act of disloyalty showing that Saraki may have joined the APC on paper but has remained true to the malpractices and wrong aims of the reactionary PDP in his soul.
“If this nation is to have more than a fleeting chance of escaping the quagmire into which years of PDP misrule have taken us, we cannot allow these regressive elements to deploy their cunning tricks to divide and pit progressives against progressives,” he said
The APC leader said he would not toss aside a lifetime’s labour because of an alleged slight and certainly would not join with Senator Saraki in stymieing the government which might just be the nation’s last best chance to salvage itself.
“In our journey to national betterment, plans and policies will be made, then amended. Mistakes will occur and then be corrected. Achievements will be had and replicated. Through it all, Asiwaju will remain true to the progressive ideals that fuelled the creation of the APC. He has devoted his political life to achieve what has been achieved. His heart is too much of the people and his mind too fixed on establishing a positive historic legacy to suffer such a cynical policy or engage in the destructive pettiness of which he is accused.”
He continued: ‘’The alleged conspiracy is a figment. It takes at least two people to make a conspiracy. There has been no substantive communication between Asiwaju and Saraki since the latter decided to foul the integrity of the Senate and the party. To be truthful, I don’t think Saraki would care to hear what Asiwaju would have to say to him. He would admonish the Senator to treat the nomination process with dispatch, justice, fairness, transparency, and most of all with the greatest patriotism.
“He would counsel Saraki to shelve his personal situation for the moment to concentrate on the people’s business. It would be a grave mistake and abuse of office for Saraki to directly or indirectly inject his personal matter into the approval process. Saraki should not link the approval of a single minister to his desire for extra-judicial treatment of his issues.’’
The statement read in part: ‘’Other than voice this encouragement, Bola Tinubu will never say a negative word or lift a finger to forestall anyone’s approval before the Senate. For the record, the Buhari Presidency was brought to life by the votes of millions of Nigerians who desire change. Such a collective and historic achievement is not one that anyone who worked to bring it to life would easily seek to de-construct.
“If adhering to the decisions of the party, supporting the government’s progressive plank and working for the good of the people qualifies Tinubu for surveillance, then he will accept that.
“However, we know that any such surveillance is not from state security organs. Such activity would come from the insecurity agencies of the PDP and its mercenary allies elsewhere who would seek to fragment the true core of the APC so that they may scuttle the Buhari reform programme and return the nation to the misgovernance of the past. They hope to delude the APC into attacking itself. By so doing, they believe they can regain through stealth, the reins of government the people seized from them through elections. They seek to break the hearts and hopes of the people. Asiwaju Tinubu would never team with anyone to gain such an inhumane objective…
“Those who midwifed this garish tale gave birth not to truth but to lies intended to kill APC unity and to retard the Buhari administration’s strategic reform initiatives, as earlier outlined by our party manifesto. Given the potential for change that stands before us, we are now beginning to see the true nature of many people. There are those who truly want positive change so that we can break from the ways of a stolid past. Then there are those who speak of change with their mouths but never believe in it in their hearts. They came along with us for the ride or because no other political option availed itself at the operative time. Now given the chance to redeem themselves from their past political actions, they would rather return to the political morass from whence they came.
“Here, I will do those who inhabit the shadows of untruth a favour. I will state explicitly what they hoped to get the reader to infer. Their claim is that Tinubu has joined with Saraki to scuttle the President’s ministerial nominations. They have misfired.
‘’Their wrong is a great wrong. Like the rest of us, Asiwaju Tinubu waited for the President to select his cabinet. The majority of the selections have been made. There is nothing to do but congratulate the appointees and pray for them. Their responsibilities are vast, the future of the nation now rests on their shoulders. The challenges before them are manifold and daunting. Those who want the best for Nigeria can only hope that these people succeed. The only intervention that Asiwaju Tinubu would make is one of encouragement. He would charge them to remain true to the progressive vision of the party and our President.’’
I won’t join issues with Tinubu — Saraki
Reacting, Saraki, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mr Yusuf Olaniyonu said: “I saw the statement said to be issued by Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu over a story published by a national daily. I have decided not to join issues with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However, I know that most Nigerians are aware that there has been no meeting or communication between me and Asiwaju Tinubu since I was elected Senate President. Therefore, I do not see any basis for a newspaper to report that we are both plotting to oppose the President.
“I recognise Tinubu as one of the leaders of the APC who contributed so much to the victory of the party in the last election. Some other people also contributed and I believe the collective efforts made it possible for the first time in the history of our country for an opposition party to win the general elections.
He also said: “Let me state clearly that I remain a committed member of the APC and will do all in my powers to ensure the party fulfill its promises to bring positive changes into the country.
“Since my election as Senate President, my focus and efforts have been devoted to doing the job that I was elected to do by my constituents and my colleagues in the Senate. Twice, my colleagues have confirmed their support for me as the primus inter pares in the Senate.
“As I said in my speech when we resumed from our recess late September and in Ikenne over the weekend, the screening of ministerial nominees will be handled by me and my colleagues with all sense of responsibility and in adherence to the provision of the constitution. We will be fair to all and be guided by the interest of Nigeria. The screening will be devoid of sentiment and it is not an opportunity for anybody to settle scores. We are equally eager for us to make a positive difference in our polity and Nigerians will be able to judge us whether we acted in their best interest or not.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Tinubu can never be a part of Saraki Machination, he might be anything they would call him in Lagos, But he is the brain behind this government, if I were a journalist I would not waste my time to write that....Sariki is driving an agenda and I think his fall is very close....... performance would vindicate this government.... we Nigerians don't want to come out on the street yet because we want to see more, presently they is semblance of what we want Nigeria to look like, eg fuel everywhere without complaint of subsidy, improve electricity supply and respect of constituted authority by public servants; but if in any way anybody in the guise of party loyalty tries to bring us back, then the real people revolution would begin in Nigeria!!!! we are watching them
ReplyDeleteN I guess dis govt made all dis possible...including d improvement of electricity....hahahaa....illetrate...wat has buhari done in all dis sector u just mentioned...dis r d works of d past govt manifesting,u r here blabbing thrash....ways keeping u from coming out in d street,see dis one dat loves his life more dan anytin..mtsheeew
DeleteWas there no fuel during Jonathan's regime? It's was during Jonathan's time that we stopped queing at Christmas. The last fuel crises in the last two weeks of the last regime was because Okonjo Iweala refused to approve unverified claims for bogus fuel supply. The present regime could do nothing about the crisis for nearly 3 months. Of course there is no subsidy now as crude oil is $45 a barrel and petrol is cheaper. On electricity, what do you think would have been the case with supply if the privatization of the sector had not been carried out by the last government, still wait for Abuja to replace a blown transformer in Ipaja?
DeleteImproved electricity in your area alone, are we all not living in Nigeria how come there is selective power supply? Am yet to see anything worthy of note in this present dispensation.
ReplyDeleteWhy would u wish Saraki to fall? Is there anything in him an APC member leading the senate? The change is for Nigerians and by Nigerians and Saraki happens to be one. If he is disloyal to one person and still effects positive change let it be. You read his response that Tinubu is the major contributor in the success of the election but also other people did meaning he couldn't have done it alone. Be aware that what Tinubu is to lagos Saraki is and his family have been to Kwara so worry less in the fullness of time the truth shall come to pass. For now let Asiwaju allow the national assembly peace.
ReplyDeleteI believe the emperor should know when to keep quiet. You may own some Nigerians, but you don't own Nigeria. Have you forgotten so soon the seed you sowed in the House of Representatives that enthroned Tambuwal as speaker against the choice of PDP at that time! Have you also forgotten the words of our elders that when you dig for an enemy, make it shallow because you never know who will fall into it. That seed has now germinated and bears seeds of discourse which you have to taste.
ReplyDeleteSaraki and Tinubu can never be on the same page. All the decampees from PDPigs care less about the people. Tinubu never jumped from one party to another. He is the brain behind the merger and one of those that made the change possible. Saraki is a desperado. Simple as APC.
ReplyDeleteTinubu o ri kan kan
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