Since Tuesday last week the media space has been filled with it issues that borders on the 13 count charge which include alleged false declaration of assets and corruption against Senate President Bukola Saraki by the Code of Conduct Bureau. As most of us are aware, the event took a new shape when the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), headed by Justice Danladi Umar, had, in his ruling on Friday, ordered the IGP and other security agencies to arrest Saraki and produce him before it tomorrow (Monday) upon request by the federal government. This order and subsequent bench warrant followed Saraki’s failure to appear before the tribunal for arraignment. The time has come for Bukola Saraki to choose between the path of honor and that of dishonor.

The Path of Honor:
For a senate president or any top official of the State to be enmeshed in such controversy, the honourable path is simply to voluntarily resign from his high office and respond to the charge against him. Should Bukola Saraki do this, it will send a message that he is not absolutely morally bankrupt. He will not be the first parliamentary leader to tow this path. In July 1999, the Speaker of House of Representative Hon Salisu Buhari resigned after allegation of academic falsification. On 8th August 2000, Deputy Senate President Haruna Abubakar and Majority leader Samaila Mamman resigned their positions on allegation of fraud and corruption levelled against them. In April 2005, Senate President Adolphus Wabara stood down from his position to face allegation of receiving N50m bribe(along with 7 other legislators) from the disgraced Education Minister Fabian Osuji. On October 30, 2007, House of Representative Speaker Hon Patricia Etteh and her Deputy Babangida Nguroje resigned from their positions over allegation of inflating contract. Saraki has the option of emulating his parliamentary predecessors and save some part of his integrity.

The Path of Dishonour:
If the Senate President insists on ignoring the noble path (above), then he's only threading on a path of dishonor. If he chooses this path, he will not be the first top parliamentarian to do so. In August 2000, former Senate President Chuba Okadigbo was impeached over allegations of fraud after ignoring calls for resignation. He tried using every available means to escape and hold his position to no avail. His predecessor in office Chief Evans Ewerem was equally impeached in November 1999 for age and academic falsification. This is a disgraceful path. It will be more disgraceful should Saraki be facing trial as incumbent Senate President.

The Immaterial Excuses:
The excuse that the allegations against Senator Bukola Saraki was an offence that he allegedly committed in May 2003 is not only immaterial but also intellectually insane. As the Executive Governor of Kwara state between May 29, 2003 and May 29, 2011, Bukola Saraki enjoyed immunity as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria. Saraki lost that immunity on May 29, 2011 after vacating the seat as the Kwara number one man. That the CCB decided to institute his prosecution four years after losing immunity is highly commendable. Moreso, crime have no expiry date as long as it hasn't been cleared by a court. The argument that it was a 2003 case hold no water.

Some other of his supporters alleged witch-hunt by some power blocs within his party. This allegation whether true or false is also immaterial and is an insult to the sensibilities of Nigerians. This has always been the excuse of politicians and prominent people whenever their sins found them out.

Let us recall that in 2005, then Governor of Bayelsa state Alamesiegha was asked to resign and was subsequently impeached after he was indicted for money laundering in the UK. He blamed his political differences with President Obasanjo as the cause of his travails. When James Onanefe Ibori was declared wanted by the EFCC in April 17, 2010 over allegation of corruption, he accused EFCC of flouting due process and blamed his travails on Acting President Goodluck Jonathan whom he accused of witch-hunting him. He eventually fled the country to UAE, was arrested there and extradited to the UK, where he's serving jail term. Disgraced exGovornor of Adamawa state Murtala Nyako blamed political motivation behind his travails instead of responding to the corruption allegations levelled against him. When ex-Governor Sule Lamido's sons were convicted in 2013, he blamed it on his differences with exPresident Jonathan. He has also blamed his ongoing corruption trials on political witch-hunt by the APC. Ex-Governor of Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi is blaming political witch-hunt instead of submitting himself to Rivers state government probe and responding to corruption allegations against him. The case is not different from Raji Fashola who is blaming political differences instead of responding to the issues of OVER inflated contract during his administration. Olabode George that was convicted on allegation of contract splitting also blamed his political differences with Bola Tinubu. If you ask the disgraced exIGP Tafa Balogun, he will tell you that his travails was 'politically motivated'. Stella Odua and Buruji Kashamu are also alleging the same thing, "politically motivated".

Lai and Metuh Should Respect Themselves
It is embarrassing that Chief Olisa Metuh and Alhaji Lai Muhammed are trying to play to the gallery. Just yesterday, Metuh re-echoed the 'political motivated' song, while Lai Muhammed attempted to score point through hypocrisy. While Metuh should be reminded that his sermon that Saraki is being witch-hunted is lame, Lai Muhammed and the ENTIRE APC should be reminded that they were active backers of corruption during PDP administration. For instance, in July 2014, the APC Chairman John Oyegun held a press conference to lament the impeachment of Murtala Nyako. In his words...

“What was Nyako impeached for? Offences he allegedly committed five years ago. Those offences were not impeachable when he was in the Peoples Democratic Party. But the moment he defected to the APC, they became impeachable.” www.punchng.com/news/apc-jonathan-desperate-behind-nyakos-removal/

Earlier before Oyegun made that statement, APC Governors through Rabiu Kwankwaso also tried to shield corruption by accusing PDP/GEJ of 'witch-hunting' Nyako and pledged support to him www.leadership.ng/news/377523/apc-govs-solidly-behind-nyako-kwankwaso.

Earlier in the administration, the government withdrew the corruption charges against Timpre Sylva of APC. The APC governorship candidate in Kogi state, Pa Abubakar Audu is also standing trial for corruption. It is advisable that both parties stop playing politics with everything. The law MUST take its course.

Finally, Nigerians of good conscience are enjoined to support constitutional process against corruption for a better country. As for Bukola Saraki, he has the choice to decide between the path to take; will it be that of Honour or that of Dishonor?



May God Bless Us All

Odiegwu.....interesting piece.

Good one

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cant belive we are on same page! The onions lie with pdp to give him up and not try to hang on to straws. In effect it even potrays pdp as what the apc tend to make nigerians see them as(the stealing is nt corruption gang). Head or tail. The small apc friends he has in the senate would be ready to give him up now for their career sake as its evident bukola leprosy make unveil their own cancer

Did you read the article or you only booked space?

ELTON123:
Good one

This is your best, objective and sane write up for the year.

Better put, this is your only objective and sane write up for the year, so far.

TonyeBarcanista:
Did you read the article or you only booked space?

easy bro don't rush me coming back to comment

It favours all Nigerians if he resigns , but here is my take, let them follow due process. I am sure the lying liers will celebrate barcanista for this.

TonyeBarcanista, I have nothing to say just dey watch how this go end

sandraokosun:
cant belive we are on same page! The onions lie with pdp to give him up and not try to hang on to straws. In effect it even potrays pdp as what the apc tend to make nigerians see them as(the stealing is nt corruption gang). Head or tail. The small apc friends he has in the senate would be ready to give him up now for their career sake as its evident bukola leprosy make unveil their own cancer

For the first time, after being chased out of apc , he's making sense.




Nice one!

temitemi1:
W

Idiat


Your hero wan build airport, u don hear?

For the very first time, we're on the same page, thumps-up for the bitter truth. On the issue at-hand, it will quite be surprising to see the Over-ambitious,arrogant Man submit himself honorably by choosing the path of honor. If he does, he's down politically, d end justifies the means. Watching in 3D TO SEE how it ends.

superstar1:
This is your best, objective and sane write up for the year.

Better put, this is your only objective and sane write up for the year, so far.

he has never been this good.

I thought a man is INNOCENT until proven (in a competent court of law) guilty.
Why is that not the case here

One Bottle of Zobo/Kunu for you my Boy.

anonimi:
I thought a man is INNOCENT until proven (in a competent court of law) guilty.
Why is that not the case here

in this case....saraki is involved...and the word saraki synonymizes Corruption

Ok, let me admit- I agree with the op 100% on this, especially on the excuses always given by our politicians when they find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Can't believe I just said the bolded.

januzaj:
in this case....saraki is involved...and the word saraki synonymizes Corruption

Really?
What is Buhari's name synonymous with? Corruption also
Don't allow yourself to be FOOOLED by the packaging, bro!




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BALLOSKI:

For the first time, after being chased out of apc , he's making sense.



Nice one!

maybe small hope for salvation exist for him

anonimi:
I thought a man is INNOCENT until proven (in a competent court of law) guilty.
Why is that not the case here

Nobody has convicted yet! We are saying that he should face his allegation. The court will decide his innocence or otherwise.

TonyeBarcanista:
Nobody has convicted yet! We are saying that he should face his allegation. The court will decide his innocence or otherwise.

Has he said he will not face his allegation in a properly constituted court?
If he has, please share links to where he said so.
Thanks.

anonimi:
I thought a man is INNOCENT until proven (in a competent court of law) guilty.
Why is that not the case here

oga what else do u want he contraved the assest declaration act. Thats guilt already

Thanks for your advice but the fact remains that Saraki will never resign neither will his transducers find the required nos to impeach him!!

januzaj:
in this case....saraki is involved...and the word saraki synonymizes Corruption

Exactly

sandraokosun:
oga what else do u want he contraved the assest declaration act. Thats guilt already

How do YOU know he contravened the asset declaration act?
Kindly enumerate the EXACT provisions he contravened.
Thanks.

BTW, would you say Buhari is "guilty already" for contravening the asset declaration act
Or you are SELECTIVE in your guilty pronouncements, which will make you a very morally CORRUPT person, not so?



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anonimi:


Really?
What is Buhari's name synonymous with? Corruption also
Don't allow yourself to be FOOOLED by the packaging, bro!


]

if it's not good governance .....what else does it(the word buhari) synonymize

Enwerem and Wabara only resigned when the found out their opponents already had the required votes to impeach them should they refuse to resign!!

Saraki is not even close to impeachment as he still controls the majority of senators of the 8th senate.

You talk about honour!!! What is the honour of the senate if it allows itself to be pocketed by the executive.You already heard the senators say they will deal decisively with the cabals trying to run the show.The next few days would be interesting.

omenka:
Ok, let me admit- I agree with the op 100% on this, especially on the excuses always given by our politicians when they find themselves on the wrong side of the law.

Can't believe I just said the bolded.

Will you also agree with me 100% that Buhari is a very corrupt person



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januzaj:
if it's not good governance .....what else does it(the word buhari) synonymize

Corruption!
Simple and straightforward.

Some of us can see beyond the PRETENCE.

For once, you have written something meaningful. .Please, continue eating what you ate yesterday night/ this morning.

TonyeBarcanista:
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the enemies of Nigeria.