Embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is facing trial for alleged forgery of the Senate Rules, accused President Buhari and the Executive arm of government at large of being the architect of his travails.
He spoke of “a government within the government of President Buhari, which has seized the apparatus of Executive powers to pursue a nefarious agenda”.
But the Presidency would not allow the allegation to go undenied.
It challenged Saraki to name the cabal in President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Saraki’s claim would have been more worthwhile if it had been backed with more information.
He issued a statement, saying: “If he had proceeded to identify those who constitute the ‘government within the government’, it would have taken the issue beyond the realm of fiction and mere conjecture.
“But as it stands, the allegation is not even worth the paper on which it was written, as anybody can wake from a troubled sleep and say anything.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation is the Chief Law Officer of the state. It is within his constitutional powers to determine who has infringed upon the law, and who has not.
“Pretending to carry an imaginary cross is mere obfuscation, if, indeed, a criminal act has been committed. But we leave the courts to judge.”
To claim that President Muhammadu Buhari is anybody’s stooge, the statement said, is not only ridiculous, but also preposterous.
“It is not in the character of our President,” Adesina added.
Saraki accused the Executive arm of the government of bring up “trumped up’ charges against him.
In a statement he signed, Saraki described his trial as a cross he was prepared to carry.
The statement reads: “Today, we the leaders of the Nigerian Senate reiterate our innocence against the charges filed by the Attorney General of the Federal Government of Nigeria at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on the allegations of forgery of the Senate Standing Rules document.
”In our view, the charges filed by the Attorney General represent a violation of the principle of the Separation of Powers between the Executive Branch and the Legislative Branch as enshrined in our Constitution.
“Furthermore, it is farcical to allege that a criminal act occurred during Senate procedural actions and the mere suggestion demonstrates a desperate overreach by the office of the Attorney General.
“These trumped up charges is only another phase in the relentless persecution of the leadership of the Senate
”This misguided action by the Attorney General begs the question, how does this promote the public interest and benefit the nation?
“At a time when the whole of government should be working together to meet Nigeria’s many challenges, we are once again distracted by the Executive Branch’s inability to move beyond a leadership election among Senate peers.
“It was not an election of Senate peers and Executive Branch participants.
”Over the past year the Senate has worked to foster good relations with the Executive Branch. It is in all of our collective interests to put aside divisions and get on with the nation’s business.
“We risk alienating and losing the support of the very people who have entrusted their national leaders to seek new and creative ways to promote a secure and prosperous Nigeria.
“As leaders and patriots, it is time to rise above partisanship and to move forward together.
”However, what has become clear is that there is now a government within the government of President Buhari who have seized the apparatus of Executive powers to pursue their nefarious agenda.
”This latest onslaught on the Legislature represents a clear and present danger to the democracy Nigerians fought hard to win and preserve.
“The suit filed on behalf of the Federal Government suggests that perhaps some forces in the Federal Republic have not fully embraced the fact that the Senate’s rules and procedures govern how the legislative body adjudicates and resolves its own disputes.
”Let it be abundantly clear, both as a citizen and as a foremost Legislator, I will continue to rise above all the persecution and distraction that have been visited on me.
“In the words of Martin Luther King Junior, ”the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at a time of challenge and controversy”.
“I will remain true and committed to the responsibilities that my citizenship and my office impose on me.
“Without doubt, the highest of those responsibilities is the steadfast refusal to surrender to the subversion of our democracy and the desecration of the Senate.
“This is a cross I am prepared to carry. If yielding to the nefarious agenda of a few individuals who are bent in undermining our democracy and destabilising the Federal Government to satisfy their selfish interests is the alternative to losing my personal freedom, let the doors of jails be thrown open and I shall be a happy guest. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Mr. Saraki with due respect sir, within u, u know you're Guilty of most of the allegations (if not all) against u. You're just like a criminal trying to defend himself. Respect d rule of law and lay good example for Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteSimple. I totally agree with you. It is only in Nigeria that any case against any public office holder is a witch hunt. Please let us all stop these nonsense.
DeleteThis is the most irresponsible comment I have ever read, the comment is as idiotic as the writer. Why take side and who made you a judge in this fight?
DeleteBe true to yourself 8:08, aren't you the idiot here? By asking Saraki to man up and challenge his charges in court, pls tell me, how does that amount to taking sides? We shouldn't use this platform to express ignorance and naivety, but rather use it to engage in meaningful, constructive discourse.
DeleteYou should be glad Saraki to be in court to prove you are innocent if the charges are trumped up charges. Is it because you are senate president you should not be prosecuted?
ReplyDeleteSaraki has employed all the legal representations money can buy in Nigeria. Yet, his travails remain because he is twisting and turning the legal process for his own gain.
ReplyDeleteSame law for all.
The is a distraction to the real forgery case which is the biggest the world headlines are waiting for, that a seating president is thrown out for certificate forgery!!! Let's be focus please the world is waiting for the big show down in Nigeria , Presidential forgeries versus legislative forgeries, both are culpable.
ReplyDeleteU are right my country fellow....
DeleteFraud every where.... No clean person anywhere..... Presido certificate forgery, legislative forgery.... Habaa.... God should do something about this country.... God should just pass through once....
Thieves are witch hunting Robbers.....
Buhari did not forge any certificate. He simply said his certificate was with the Army. Without certificates he wouldn't have been enlisted in the army in the first place. Let us be mindful of our comments
Delete@ 2:45, mindful of which comments? Buhari later presented a certificate after the military said they weren't holding back his certificate and the presented cert was found to be forged. This was later swept under the carpet.
DeletePlease call a spade a spade. Buhari is also guilty of forgery. Period!
Because of too much controversies, the Government is not moving forward. You people that comment on this online page should be reasonable in your writings. No matter what has happened, the Government of APC should be advised to be matured and assist their President to work hard for this Country and stop wasting time to harassment their opponent from left to right. They are busy commissioning projects initiated by the past Government but they take credit for it, which shows that they are not transparent. There is a pointer that there is a government within the government. I am not here to abuse anyone, but those of you nearer to the APC Government should advise them properly because they are now toying with the future of all Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteThe Federal Government have been sending countless bill to tackle corrupt politicians but due to high level of our Senators corrupt acts, they never pass anyone into Law.
DeleteSir, the country can't move forward if no strong Law enforcement which these, (I'm tempted to call them idiots), people( so called legislators) never approve.
Sir, movin forward will be very easy if they're checkmate.
Sir, u should have continue to fight on with d tempo of persistence and assuredness but ds ur last statement "let d doors of jail b thrown open I shall b a happy guest" has finished u. In all ur travails up till now nobody has ever determined jail for u even d court itself but u did it for yourself. There is problem here.
ReplyDeleteGod is watching, and He is the greatest Judge of all.
ReplyDeleteFraud every where.... No clean person anywhere..... Presido certificate forgery, legislative forgery.... Habaa KAI KAI boko haram forgery , dasuki forgery,, no wander every leader in nigeria is fantastically fraud,,,,,,even some religious leaders are frauds ..Nigeria we hail thee bam bam bam bam bammm
ReplyDeleteWhy Saraki today, Saraki tmrw and later Dasukigate. Is this government about that? Do what we voted you for. No light, no employment, no good business environment, no good roads etc, no one is saying something about that. Nigerian we should pls open our eyes.
ReplyDeleteIt's already a failed government and sadly, there's no sign of light in this tunnel yet. What a shame!
Delete