Sources have revealed that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is
considering tendering his resignation letter as Majority of the senators
have resolved to toe the line of party supremacy, the Nation confirmed.
This came few days after the Federal High Court Abuja, refused to
stop his on-going trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, over a
13-count charge of false declaration of assets.
Reliable National Assembly sources allegedly told The Nation that at
the wake of the judgment delivered by Justice Abdul Kafarati, on Friday,
some front line supporters of the embattled Senate President have
resolved to withdraw their support for Saraki in his bid to remain in
office as Senate President, while his trial at the CCT lasts.
In the meantime, the National Chairman of the All Progressives
Congress, APC, John Oyegun, has ruled out the possibility of the party
losing the senate presidency to the opposition.
In a recent interview with Premium Times, Oyegun insisted that the
party is not likely to lose the position to the opposition, but noted
that should this happen, it will have to be the price for the desired
‘change’.
It was also, learnt that some members of the Senate President’s camp
in the National Assembly are now of the view that the incessant face-off
between the legislature and the presidency allegedly being generated by
Saraki’s trial at the CCT, is needless and avoidable.
“Hence, some of them are ready to support a change in the
leadership of the senate to save the ruling party from further crisis
and at the same time represent the yearnings of their constituents for
good governance by ensuring strict adherence to the provisions of the
laws of the country.”
Another source, a Senator from Lagos State, said, “Mr. Senate
President is currently facing charges that borders on false declaration
of assets.…
“The issue has gone beyond mere accusations as he has
already gone down in history as the first serving Senate President in
the country to be docked in a competent court.
“Sadly, one recalls that there is a way these things have been
handled in the past to save the National Assembly, and by extension, the
government, from unnecessary embarrassment.
All former presiding officers of the National Assembly, who were
faced with similar charges, first resigned their positions in order to
protect the integrity and sanctity of the country’s hallowed chambers.”
The senator regrets that what has been happening in the last few
months, “were blatant display of disregard for the sanctity of the
senate by some misled and confused senators whose loyalty is not to the
country, but to an individual or group.”
The senator added, “But one is happy today, to tell you
that things are changing for better. For one, I can tell you the APC
caucus in the senate is working towards uniting all. We are healing the
divide imposed on us by self serving individuals. We are all returning
our loyalty to the party and the government.”
It was gathered that attendance at the regular and emergency meetings
of the ‘Like Minds Senators’, the group of senators loyal to the
President of Senate, have plummeted in recent times, giving credence to
talks about serious cracks in the ranks of Saraki loyalists.
According to reliable sources, the committee that has core Saraki
allies in the likes of Senators Aliyu Wammako, Danjuma Goje, Kabiru
Gaya, Ahmed Yerima and Adam Aliero, as members, is championing a united
APC caucus that is loyal to the party and government, as against the
current arrangement of a divided caucus.
The Nation also gathered that the dwindling fortunes of the Saraki
camp is responsible for its inability to push through the suspension
plot allegedly instituted against the Senator representing Zamfara
Central, Kabir Marafa, an unrepentant critic of the Senate President.
Weeks after the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public
Petitions, submitted its report on its investigation on Marafa, the
Senate has failed to deliberate on the panel’s recommendations.
Following the Supreme Court’s verdict on the appeal of Saraki on his
CCT trial, Marafa had demanded for the resignation of Saraki.
He had said, “What is happening in the CCT is personal to
Saraki and has nothing to do with his position as the Senate President.
It has now reached the time when Saraki should take a bow to enable him
concentrate on his case at the CCT. I don’t have anything against him
as a person.”
Oyegun has declared that a political solution may not be in sight for the ongoing Senate President’s trial at the CCT.
