SSS arrests Senator Yari for ignoring Bola Tinubu’s phone call amidst tussle for Senate President
The senator defied the president in a high-wire quest to lead the 10th National Assembly. But federal authorities may also have a separate axe to grind.

Senator Abdulaziz Yari has spent two nights languishing in the dungeon of Nigeria’s iron-fisted State Security Service, Peoples Gazette was told by two officials familiar, after multiple telephone calls to his lines from President Bola Tinubu rang through last month.

One senior security officer and a State House aide told The Gazette in separate disclosures on Friday that the SSS arrested Mr Yari on Thursday morning and detained him for “thinking the president is a joke,” as one official put it. Both sources obtained The Gazette’s commitment to keeping them anonymous to bounce potential backlash from Mr Tinubu, who seemed to be shaping up to be a ruthless and vindictive leader after barely five weeks in office.

“He was asked why he ignored the president’s phone calls during the Senate leadership battle,” an official said. “He started arguing that he has every right to contest for the position and decisions about his political career moves should not come from the president.”

“The president was trying to appeal to him to stand down his ambition to make sure any fate similar to how Bukola Saraki became Senate President in 2015 won’t be repeated,” the official said. “We all knew that Saraki’s emergence back then was the first error President Buhari made, and it crippled his first four years in office.”

Sources said Mr Yari received a call from Yusuf Bichi, the director-general, to report at the SSS’ headquarters for an urgent discussion. Upon arrival, Mr Yari was asked to wait for Mr Bichi, who purportedly stepped out. But the senator was delayed throughout the day by a phalanx of armed SSS agents, only to be told at about 10:00 p.m. Thursday that he won’t be going home, The Gazette learnt. The senator’s planned visit with other Senate colleagues to former President Ibrahim Babangida on Friday was consequently aborted.

“His phones were confiscated, and he may be spending days, if not weeks, in custody,” the source added.

Mr Yari failed to garner enough votes for the position, but his Senate associates have alleged irregularities and may challenge the outcome in court. This could set him on a collision course with the president, with officials warning of dire consequences for Mr Yari’s political future should he proceed with the lawsuit.

Already, Mr Tinubu has detained Abdulrasheed Bawa without charges after firing him as the head of the federal anti-corruption office EFCC on June 14. Mr Bawa was looking into Mr Tinubu’s web of ill-gotten assets at some point in 2020, The Gazette previously reported. Mr Bawa’s detention has persisted after more than three weeks, even as he has neither been charged nor publicly accused of any wrongdoings.

Also held under a legally-dubious authority without charges is Godwin Emefiele, a Nigerian banker whom Mr Tinubu promptly fired from office as the central bank governor and subsequently ordered detained by the SSS, a national intelligence outfit whose illiberal manoeuvres have endured despite the country’s blistering journey from the tyranny of military juntas in the 1990s to the third decade of uninterrupted constitutional republic.

Officials said Mr Yari’s detention might also drag out if his colleagues at the National Assembly are not fierce enough in demanding his release, one of our sources said. Like Mr Tinubu, the former Zamfara governor is also a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress. But he poked the president’s ire last month when he declared plans to be Senate President at the resumption of the 10th National Assembly. Federal lawmakers, unlike the president and vice-president, have no constitutional immunity from arrest and criminal prosecution.

Mr Yari advanced his push to be Senate President even after party leaders publicly endorsed Godswill Akpabio for the position, largely on the account of Mr Akpabio’s southern Christian identity and second Senate term. Mr Yari, representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, is a Muslin from the North-West. The party sought to balance equity within its ranks by ceding the Senate presidency to a Christian from the South-South, since Mr Tinubu is a Muslim from the South-West and Vice-President Kashim Shettima is a Muslim from the North-East. House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas is a Muslim from Mr Yari’s region.

https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-sss-arrests-senator-yari-for-ignoring-bola-tinubus-phone-call-amidst-tussle-for-senate-president/

Why is he avoiding oga's call? He's rude

How dare you dare the President?
Even if you won't accept his terms or please.
However, it's all politics.
We shouldn't be dragged back to the days of using security agencies to harass political opponents.

That’s it.

Is Emilokan Tinubu a joke to you? Tinubu knows how to use power, and he will use it. Unlike Buhari.

He called you to APPEAL to you to let the Party decision stand, and you ignored his call. He won’t call to threaten you or force you to step down, but as members of the same political party, he thinks you all can discuss and resolve things amicably, but you think you are bigger than the President because you are from Sokoto/Zamfara. Na your body go tell you.

A new Sheriff is in town, his name is Emilokan Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu

Walahi this series go sweet.

Na Jagaban be the lead actor now

Things as these should not come as a suprise. Democracy is on suspension in Nigeria.
The constution of the country is on suspension.
What we have now state capture where anything goes.
Don't be suprised to see judges been arrested.

When we get the constitutional elected president of Nigeria, then we move as a nation


We need a strong Senate that can checkmate the excesses of Tinubu. This is not democracy anymore. Dr. Saraki was right by rejecting Tinubu in 2015 as Vice Presidential candidate. He saw what many did not see in this man call Tinubu

Walahi this series go sweet wella.

Don't mess with a man that takes your insults lightly.

AVECDEO:
Walahi this series go sweet.

Na Jagaban be the lead actor now

And you know that actor no dey die

Things as these should not come as a suprise. Democracy is on suspension in Nigeria.
The constution of the country is on suspension.
What we have now state capture where anything goes.
Don't be suprised to see judges been arrested.

When we get the constitutional elected president of Nigeria, then we move as a nation.

Mr president should lock him up in prison direct. Mr yari is a traitor and a terriorist.

Feintline:
Things as these should not come as a suprise. Democracy is on suspension in Nigeria.
The constution of the country is on suspension.
What we have now state capture where anything goes.
Don't be suprised to see judges been arrested.

When we get the constitutional elected president of Nigeria, then we move as a nation.

A person’s fundamental human rights has been grossly violated and we have mature men in these same comments rejoicing and applauding the decision.


The average Nigerian will not hesitate using soldiers to punish a fellow citizen they feel wronged them. An average Nigerian sees the poor as non entities but expects rich government officials to care about their various plights.

The government is a representation of the average citizen’s mindset yet they cry and point fingers everyday.

Seeing Nigerians suffer always brings a smile to my face.

APCNig:
That’s it.

Is Emilokan Tinubu a joke to you? Tinubu knows how to use power, and he will use it. Unlike Buhari.

He called you to APPEAL to you to let the Party decision stand, and you ignored his call. He won’t call to threaten you or force you to step down, but as members of the same political party, he thinks you all can discuss and resolve things amicably, but you think you are bigger than the President because you are from Sokoto. Na your body go tell you.

A new Sheriff is in town, his name is Emilokan Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu

The story sounds made up. Baba blu no get craze like that. NASS members loyal to him would bring it to the public space embarrassing Baba blu. So DSS would arrest someone for not picking up call from Aso Rock. Does that sound logical to you? DSS will soon release information either denying or confirming the story, and if so, issue clarification. Before then, keep your little thing in your pants.

Jagabanty is a full time nigga, and u no fit carry confirms niggas play

Me I don't answer calls I don't know o ... Abi the President number dey show for Truecaller, oya lawyers come and dissect this, is it compulsory to pick the CinC number.

Stupid headline!

How did Yari get the dollars he spent on the election from CBN

It is really sad and pitiable for the former Governor to ignore the phone call of the President, when he saw the missed call, he ought to have either called the President back or even if he didn't have airtime,he should have flashed him or sent a "call me back text", hopefully he will be given a phone there to call him back.

Tofax:
SSS arrests Senator Yari for ignoring Bola Tinubu’s phone call amidst tussle for Senate President
The senator defied the president in a high-wire quest to lead the 10th National Assembly. But federal authorities may also have a separate axe to grind.

Senator Abdulaziz Yari has spent two nights languishing in the dungeon of Nigeria’s iron-fisted State Security Service, Peoples Gazette was told by two officials familiar, after multiple telephone calls to his lines from President Bola Tinubu rang through last month.

One senior security officer and a State House aide told The Gazette in separate disclosures on Friday that the SSS arrested Mr Yari on Thursday morning and detained him for “thinking the president is a joke,” as one official put it. Both sources obtained The Gazette’s commitment to keeping them anonymous to bounce potential backlash from Mr Tinubu, who seemed to be shaping up to be a ruthless and vindictive leader after barely five weeks in office.

“He was asked why he ignored the president’s phone calls during the Senate leadership battle,” an official said. “He started arguing that he has every right to contest for the position and decisions about his political career moves should not come from the president.”

“The president was trying to appeal to him to stand down his ambition to make sure any fate similar to how Bukola Saraki became Senate President in 2015 won’t be repeated,” the official said. “We all knew that Saraki’s emergence back then was the first error President Buhari made, and it crippled his first four years in office.”

Sources said Mr Yari received a call from Yusuf Bichi, the director-general, to report at the SSS’ headquarters for an urgent discussion. Upon arrival, Mr Yari was asked to wait for Mr Bichi, who purportedly stepped out. But the senator was delayed throughout the day by a phalanx of armed SSS agents, only to be told at about 10:00 p.m. Thursday that he won’t be going home, The Gazette learnt. The senator’s planned visit with other Senate colleagues to former President Ibrahim Babangida on Friday was consequently aborted.

“His phones were confiscated, and he may be spending days, if not weeks, in custody,” the source added.

Mr Yari failed to garner enough votes for the position, but his Senate associates have alleged irregularities and may challenge the outcome in court. This could set him on a collision course with the president, with officials warning of dire consequences for Mr Yari’s political future should he proceed with the lawsuit.

Already, Mr Tinubu has detained Abdulrasheed Bawa without charges after firing him as the head of the federal anti-corruption office EFCC on June 14. Mr Bawa was looking into Mr Tinubu’s web of ill-gotten assets at some point in 2020, The Gazette previously reported. Mr Bawa’s detention has persisted after more than three weeks, even as he has neither been charged nor publicly accused of any wrongdoings.

Also held under a legally-dubious authority without charges is Godwin Emefiele, a Nigerian banker whom Mr Tinubu promptly fired from office as the central bank governor and subsequently ordered detained by the SSS, a national intelligence outfit whose illiberal manoeuvres have endured despite the country’s blistering journey from the tyranny of military juntas in the 1990s to the third decade of uninterrupted constitutional republic.

Officials said Mr Yari’s detention might also drag out if his colleagues at the National Assembly are not fierce enough in demanding his release, one of our sources said. Like Mr Tinubu, the former Zamfara governor is also a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress. But he poked the president’s ire last month when he declared plans to be Senate President at the resumption of the 10th National Assembly. Federal lawmakers, unlike the president and vice-president, have no constitutional immunity from arrest and criminal prosecution.

Mr Yari advanced his push to be Senate President even after party leaders publicly endorsed Godswill Akpabio for the position, largely on the account of Mr Akpabio’s southern Christian identity and second Senate term. Mr Yari, representing Zamfara West Senatorial District, is a Muslin from the North-West. The party sought to balance equity within its ranks by ceding the Senate presidency to a Christian from the South-South, since Mr Tinubu is a Muslim from the South-West and Vice-President Kashim Shettima is a Muslim from the North-East. House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas is a Muslim from Mr Yari’s region.

https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-sss-arrests-senator-yari-for-ignoring-bola-tinubus-phone-call-amidst-tussle-for-senate-president/

Trash is going overdrive at People'sGazette.
So what benefit would arresting Yari serve the presidency?
Akpabio has won the senate presidency,so what power can Yari wield to disrupt anything.
Most times what pisses me off these nonsensical stories from People's Garbage and the TrashReporters is that as st upid as their stories most times sounds,many people still believe them.

Una dey whyna me for this country , so because he didn't pick call, he got arrested ,somebody his people elected, he win election , not like tinubu that rigg his own

Lemme hold on for further conversation..

oonyeoma50:
We the good people of Nigeria are enjoying Tinubu's government, we are not complaining. Tinubu should continue the good work he is doing for Nigerians, he should not listen to anybody.

God bless president Tinubu,
God bless the Republic of Nigeria.

Until Tinubu is dead before you go stop this nonsense.

APCNig:
That’s it.

Is Emilokan Tinubu a joke to you? Tinubu knows how to use power, and he will use it. Unlike Buhari.

He called you to APPEAL to you to let the Party decision stand, and you ignored his call. He won’t call to threaten you or force you to step down, but as members of the same political party, he thinks you all can discuss and resolve things amicably, but you think you are bigger than the President because you are from Sokoto/Zamfara. Na your body go tell you.

A new Sheriff is in town, his name is Emilokan Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu

I thought you people said it's the SE politicians that don't want Akpabio

Smells like fake news

ganisucks:


The story sounds made up. Baba blu no get craze like that. NASS members loyal to him would bring it to the public space embarrassing Baba blu. So DSS would arrest someone for not picking up call from Aso Rock. Does that sound logical to you? DSS will soon release information either denying or confirming the story, and if so, issue clarification. Before then, keep your little thing in your pants.

Critical thinker spotted.
Preserve yourself well, you are an endangered specie around these parts.