Secret Reporters No place to hide
Amako Nneji
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.
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