The Senate, CCT and the politics of Saraki’s trial By Reuben Abati

The present Senate serving the Nigerian people runs the risk of being remembered as the worst since 1999.  Public Relations Consultants and media officials of this particular Senate have done their part flooding both the print and the online media with details of how productive the Bukola Saraki-led Senate has been, and they have been quite aggressive in telling us about 30 important Bills which when passed, will change the face of Nigeria and deliver change.

The Senate according to one report has considered over 125 bills, debated over 48 motions, and passed three bills. But nobody is apparently impressed. During the Jonathan administration, the Senate was the better regarded of the two legislative chambers. While members of the House of Representatives in the Seventh Assembly behaved as if they were a band of students’ unionists, the then Red Chamber projected an image of maturity and temperance, even if it was also self-serving! With the 8th Assembly, the House of Representatives, apart from the shameful resort to physical combat over the distribution of “juicy” committees in November 2015, has shown itself to be better organized than the present Senate. The critical difference is that of leadership. It is one of management. It is a matter of weight and politics. 

My Trial Not Discussed In Meeting With Buhari – Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday evening said the focus of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly was how to better the lot of Nigerians.

He said the meeting, which was at the instance of the President, was to devise means of delivering the promises made to Nigerians during electioneering.

Saraki spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting held behind closed doors at the First Lady’s Conference Hall inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said, “The meeting was an initiative of the President for an interaction with the leadership of the National Assembly.

“It was a very useful session, being the first one. This kind of interaction helps in ensuring smooth relationship between the two arms of government.

Photos of the new SSG, Customs boss and Chief of Staff

  

Left is the Secretary to the Government of the federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal, Right is the Custom Boss, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.). 

See more photos after the cut...

Senators reject pay cut Recommendation

The Senate on Wednesday suspended consideration of the report of its Finance committee following disagreements among members over the pay cut recommended by the panel.

It was gathered that during a 2 hour deliberation behind closed doors the senators resolved to reject the reduction of salaries and allowances as recommended by the Senator James Manager’s committee.

The senators said it was not possible to accept pay cut with other beneficiaries of the N120bn National Assembly annual budget not doing same. He said his colleagues also resolved to reject the report because the recommendations were not practicable.

Some other senators on condition of anonymity said further consideration of the finance committee report was stepped down because many of their colleagues rejected the contents of the report.

Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South), said senators told themselves the truth at the session on the need to be very cautious on accepting reduction of salaries and allowances.

Impeaching Ekweremadu will worsen N’Assembly crisis, says Sani

Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna-Central senatorial district, said that the impeachment of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, will deepen   the crisis rocking the National Assembly and impede the operations of the executive arm of government.

Sani, who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, said although he didn’t vote for Ekweremadu, the plan to remove him was not the solution to the crisis rocking the National Assembly.

The senator said this during an interview with Sahara TV on Monday.

Sani said,

“We have to tell ourselves the truth. We are in a difficult situation. The fact that we have a deputy senate president from the PDP is a better alternative to the election of a senate president from the PDP because we could have had that on June 9.

Buhari And Saraki Still Not On Speaking Terms Despite Praying Together -TheCable

Hopes of a rapprochement between President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki have continued to fade by the day.

The No. 1 and No. 3 citizens are still not on speaking terms despite saying the eid-el-fitr prayers together on Friday July 17, TheCable can report.

In a widely publicised photograph, Saraki next to Buhari at the praying ground in Abuja, fuelling speculations that the Ramadan, the Muslims’ holiest month, might have helped to break the ice between them.

But presidency sources have told TheCable that if anything, “the relationship has grown colder and the coming weeks promise to be very tense between the two men”.

There are no phone calls, private meetings or exchanges of correspondence between them, according to presidency insiders.

Bola Tinubu says he has not placed any demand on Pres. Buhari

National leader of APC, Bola Tinubu says contrary to popular opinion, he has not placed any demand on President Buhari since he assumed office. Tinubu said this while speaking to state house correspondents after breaking the Ramadan fast with President Buhari at the state house this evening

"I have no demands. If you understand what party politics and leadership is all about, it is about loyalty and commitment to the values which the leadership believes in. I believe in what the president believes in, I respect him and I stand firmly loyal to his cause. So you can go to any length of speculation that you might want, I have not responded to all of that because I understand the president and the president understands me clearly.” he said

He also spoke on the crisis rocking the National Assembly. He said he is backing what President Buhari has said on the matter

South/West APC accuses Buhari of ethnic-based appointments

South-West states’ chairmen of the APC, have decried the pattern of appointments by President Buhari, saying all of them had ethnic slant.

They said aside his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, every other appointments so far made by Buhari have been from the core North and all of them northern Muslims. The party chairmen vowed not to recognise the emergence of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara until the crisis in the National Assembly is resolved by the party.

APC NEC meeting: Buhari, Saraki, Dogara attend, Tinubu, Akande absent

President Buhari, Senator Bukola Saraki, Hon Yakubu Dogara and other party members are currently at the APC National secretariat to attend its inaugural National Executive Council meeting. Two of the party's chieftains, Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande did not attend the meeting. Top on the agenda of the meeting is the crisis rocking the National Assembly. 

More pics after the cut...

APC insists on Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu's removal

APC says Deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu who is a member of PDP must be removed from office. Senator Ekweremadu who was also the deputy senate president in the last administration, was elected deputy senate president during the controversial senate leadership election on June 9th which produced Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President.

A member of the ruling party who spoke on condition of anonymity with Punch, said Ekweremadu serving as deputy senate president will adversely affect President Buhari's administration.

He also added that President Buhari has refused to see Senator Saraki and Hon Dogara since their emergence as Senate President and Speaker.

NASS crisis: APC Govs meet with Buhari, urge APC Senators to respect the wishes of the party

Following the lingering crises in the National Assembly over the appointment of principal officers in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, APC Governors late Tuesday night had a closed door meeting with Pres. Buhari to discuss on ways to resolve the matter. At the end of the meeting, the Governors called on APC members in the National Assembly to respect the wishes of the party regarding appointment of principal officers. 

APC Forwards Names of Candidates For Principal Positions In NASS To Senate President, Speaker

Chairman of the APC Chief John Odigie-Oyegun yesterday forwarded names of the party's chosen candidates to ocupy principal positions in the National Assembly to Saraki and Dogara. The names which was contained in a letter signed by Chief Odigie-Oyegun reads; 

"Please find below for your necessary action names of principal officers approved by the party, after excessive consultations for the 8th Senate as follows: Senator Ahmed Lawan(Majority Leader)–North-East; Prof. Sola Adeyeye( Chief Whip)–South-West; Sen. George Akume (Deputy Majority Leader)—North-Central; and Sen. Abu Ibrahim(Deputy Chief Whip)—North-West."

APC Governors Demand Resignation of Chairman,

Oyegun Eight Governors of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), were at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja Tuesday to demand the resignation of its National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun. 

Oyegun who was presiding over the party’s NWC meeting at the time, excused himself to meet the governors, including Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger) Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa). 

APC Crisis Getting Worse: Obasanjo’s Peace Move Stalled

Efforts by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to nip in the bud the crisis set off by the controversial election of the principal officers of the National Assembly may have hit a brick wall.

The crisis of confidence which has pitted party leaders of the All Progressives Congress against the new head of the National Assembly, Senate and House of Reps, is set to take a turn for the worse.

Contrary to what some people have been saying, President Muhammadu Buhari, is very angry with Saraki and his agents in APC for their acts of gross indiscipline.

Stop Making Mockery Of Governance’ PDP Tells APC

Read the press statement below...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency to stop making mockery of governance with premature celebration of imaginary achievements except if the intention is to set up President Muhammadu Buhari for national and international ridicule.

The party said it was embarrassing that the APC and aides of President Buhari decided to invade the minds of Nigerians with propaganda and tissues of lies instead of assisting the President who was inaugurated three weeks ago to settle down, form a government and deliver his campaign promises to Nigerians.

Rep Kicks Against Campaign To Cut Lawmakers’ Earnings

A member of the House of Representatives, Chief Joe Edionwele, on Monday, protested against the debate for pay cut for legislators, describing the proponents of the crusade as ignorant.

Edionwele, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party representing Esan West, Esan Central and Igueben federal constituency of Edo State, said some lecturers, bankers and oil workers were earning more than federal lawmakers.

While speaking to journalists in Abuja, the lawmakers said, “I think people are speaking out of ignorance. Even before now, I was one of those who believed the same thing. The records will be made public. We will ensure that the National Assembly does that, Nigerians need to know. The salaries we earn are not in any way close to what people speculate. People in the oil and gas sectors, banking and even lecturers earn more than us and the President.

National Assembly Crisis: APC Underrated G-5 Governors – Kwankwaso

A former Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said that the crisis in the National Assembly was caused by a miscalculation by the All Progressives Congress leadership.

 According to him, the leadership of the party probably underrated the G-5 governors in deciding on those that should vie for top positions in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

 The miscalculation, he said, played out on the floor of the National Assembly during the election of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as well as their deputies.

Sanctioning Saraki/Dogara: Lai Mohammed Says Party Is In A Dilemma

The National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lai Mohammed says the party is currently in a dilemma in regards to carrying out its planned sanction on their party members, Senator Bukola Saraki and Hon Yakubu Dogara for presenting themselves for elections at the National Assembly against the party's wish. 

While speaking on Channels TV this morning, Lai Mohammed said there have been reservations expressed by some people that the party might lose its majority in the house to the PDP if they do not manage the situation properly 

National Assembly Leadership: ‘Your Threats Are Empty’, PDP Tells APC

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has dismissed threats by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the new leaders of the National Assembly as empty boasts aimed to cover its naivety, inexperience and unpreparedness for governance. 

The PDP also admonished the APC to shed its arrogance, eat the humble pie and get more organized for governance adding that it lacks the capacity, capability and means to sanction duly elected leaders of the National Assembly.

Despite the controversy surrounding his emergence as the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki has brushed aside his rejection by the leadership of his party, the APC and unfolded his agenda for Nigerians.

Saraki promised that that the new Senate and National Assembly would make laws that will enable the country to renew its infrastructure, reform the oil and security systems as well as boost agriculture.

Similarly, Saraki assured that the new NASS would make laws that would lead to the creation of jobs and make doing business in Nigeria much more competitive.