₦airaland Forum

SARAKI’S VISIT TO MIAIDUGURI-: HOPE NEEDED, HOPE GIVEN

By Lawal.

At a time like this in our country where nothing seems to be making any sense at all, problems keep mounting without any hope of solution.

We have the problem of falling oil price, states inability to pay workers and sitting at the middle of it all is the issues of BOKO HARAM.

The issue of BOKO HARAM had seen president Buhari travel to almost 10 countries so just to gather the needed resources to tackle BOKO HARAM.

One must commend the recent visit of the Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki to the IDPs in Maiduguri as a step towards the right direction, the visit which was moved at the floor of the senate by a Senator from the south and was seconded by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekwueremadu who said in his words that no one can quantify the untold hardship, destroy of life and the trauma that follows afterwards which the victims of war undergoes, haven gone though such trauma himself but had to live on hope of a better tomorrow hence it is indeed necessary that the senate visits the IDP.

 

What feature awaits the kids of the North east who had either lost a single parent or both?

A life without any form of Education or dream for a better life is no life at all. Many of the kids in the developed and peaceful areas have to put in a lot of struggles in other to make anything out of life considering the condition of our country where resources are getting scarce by the day talk less of the kids of north east Nigeria who in time soon will forget any definition of what a good life means. If am asked, i will say that the stage is set for a more brutal BOKO HARAM sect if these kids are not properly managed,

The current situation in the north where education has little priority is envisaged as the main machinery which gave room for exploiting our kids and exploring their hopelessness. Kids who are not in school and not under guidance will easily fall pray of ill acts.

Hopelessness can easily be eradicated through educating these kids and above all showing care and taking the message of hope to them.

 

 

We all are products of hope that was given to us by our parents, the society we living in and the exposure we were opportune to have and this is the same parental role the senate presiden has provided by hi visit to the Maiduguri.t
 

The 7th assembly was at the center of it all but didn’t see itr as important to visit the IDP in person to give a message of hope and reassurance that they are not alone but this was not the same for the 8th assembly as the Senate President Sarakis took the message of hope to the north east.

Saraki’s visit was a visit of hope restored for the kids of North East and a reassurance that this government lead by president Buhari would be supported by all tears of government to see the end of Boko Haram.

The hope that the senate president had been able to establish in the hearths of these kids will go a long way in putting an end to any recruitment of young boys the sect may be orchestrating.

We must also not forget the financial support  of a total sum of 10 million naira given by the Senate President to the IDP and this also will provide a cushion of some sort at least for the time being,

Nigeria is for all of us and the visit of the senate president has been nothing nut leadership by example that all of us must emulate regardless of our political status or affiliation.

God bless us all.

Senators Abandon Lawan, Tinubu.


A source close to the pro-Lawan group, told news reporters that inclusion of the core Lawan loyalists in the committee was part of plot by Saraki to break the rank of the aggrieved senators.

***************
Saraki is a very good politician.Underate him at your own peril.

---

Politics is not for the lily 'livered'. Even GEJ said "In politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, just people with permanent INTERESTS"


Certain the great politician Late Olooye will be happy in his grave to see that his son his now a Senate President decades after he was Senate Leader. Prayer of every father is for their children to supercede them. 


Even the much touted local champion,Tinubu was an ordinary floor member at the senate when he was a Senator.


Saraki hate him or love him is good in politics.
He started with 57 senators on June 9 and by July 28, he already had 81 senators.
From all indications that number is going to rise in the coming days.
Like earlier stated, its Atiku pulling the string from background using the powerful Ya'rdua political machinery, which Atiku took over the helms of affair after the demise of the originator and which Saraki is also a member.
All in preparation for Atiku's 2019 presidency, and Only God knows which party.
Failure is an orphan.Opolo eyes go soon clear for Tinubu eye.

DR. ABUBAKAR @BUKOLASARAKI AND HIS UNBEATABLE RECORDS AS A GOVERNOR OF KWARA STATE

By Bashir Akanbi (@Bashirakanbi)

This publication is aimed at straightening things without ambiguities. A rational being would be personally worried seeing some rascals referring to white as red for Nigerians, all in the name of nailing their political opponents and antagonists of their satanic missions for Nigerians. However, it is always mind-bothering reading some mischievous commentators on social media claiming Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki achieved nothing as Kwara state Governor between 2003 and 2011. One would have decided to ignore or underplay such comments but there is need to engage their mischiefs because of the undiscerning readers.

After the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections which saw the triumphs of General Muhammadu Buhari elected as President of Nigeria and some Senators like Sen. (Dr.) Bukola Saraki elected as Senators of Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have been reading some concoctions of nonsense ignorantly packaged by some weak hearted people who have resorted to calumny of distorted facts, all aimed at tarnishing the good image and person of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS), who has been rendering selfless humanitarian services in the cause of fulfilling all his mandates. This he has displayed in several community development projects, both in cash and kind to the people of his state (Kwara) and the country at large through the several political/public offices he has held in the past and he is holding presently.

Verily, the 2013 politically progressive movement of G7 (New PDP) into APC that was seen as a welcome move by everyone who genuinely likes and wants the best for Nigeria, was seen by the conservative retarders as threat to their hood winking. Anyway, one needs more than four walled schooling to be well schooled in the Fine Arts, Science and Schematics of a developing environment as ours, and prepare today for the future as we see in the progressive steps of Sen. Bukola Saraki. The hundred percent acceptance of his leadership by Kwarans as he delivered all elective positions hundred percent to APC and the success of APC in the presidential election has answered the visionless minds who still wanted Nigeria to continue under the cruel government of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), simply because they were ingesting the national largesse or optimistic to be its beneficiaries if GEJ won. Some of them even believed “Federal might” works but Senator Saraki consistently told us such powers are impotent at the height of current political revolutions. Today, some of his boys who served under him as Commissioners, SAs etc but stayed and got capsized with the PDP ship are now spreading their freehold trust in the vision and qualitative leadership of their ex-boss. Meanwhile, many of them boasted and bragged of their party’s victory in the 2015 poll but God who is not hypocritical in his ordainments vindicated Saraki’s political dynasty under the leadership of Sen. Saraki. This is simply because it was this same dynastic that nurtured politically, all of them including their gubernatorial aspirant, Sen. Simeon Ajibola who was nominated and pivoted by Sen. Bukola Saraki in 2011 amidst some controversies which surrounded his candidature. Now all of them have not only gone into extinction, they have untimely reached the terminus of their political careers.

Shouldn’t we commend Sen. Abubakar Bukola Saraki for giving Kwara new developmental direction as below?
- Has Kwara State University (KWASU) he established not become the pride of Kwarans, home and abroad, not to talk of the host community, Malete? The University all the past Governors (military or democratically elected) could not establish for one of the firstly created states like Kwara.
- Is Ilorin International Aviation School not a source of knowledge cum employment for Kwarans and others? Of course it adds to the IGR of Kwara state.
- The rehabilitation of Ilorin Airport to international standard and construction of Ilorin Cargo Terminal is also worth commending him for.
- The Civic Centre on the Asa Dam axis, and even playing host to an international stars including Akon to open the edifice during Nigeria @50 celebration in 2010 as evidence of capability of the venue and scenery is for any kind of event? It leaked that the capacity and beauty of the Civic Centre made Jonathan and PDP to insist on scheduling their rented and imported crowd rally at the Metropolitan Square early 2014.
- Was it not ABS that sponsored the Community Health Insurance and Kwara Safe Maternity Service Act?
- As a Medical Doctor, he established Kwara Advanced Ultramodern Diagnosis Centre which is one of the best in Africa rendering a world’s standard service at affordable cost. I am bold to tell the world that this centre is widely visited from all parts of Nigeria and neighboring countries.
- Was it not ABS who provided us with Ganmo Power Generation Plant, hundreds of ordinary power substations and some injection Substations and Water Works Construction?
- Was it not ABS that started and completed the Ilorin-Oshogbo Road, Baruten road, hundreds of road constructions and rehabilitations across all the 16 local governments of the state, particularly, Ilorin and other mega cities of the state?
- The road from Kwara Police Command A Division to Offa Garage and many other roads were made dual carriage roads and rehabilitated during his first tenure and that of Offa Garage was extended to Ganmo town at the tail end of his second tenure.
- These roads were not only tarred but decorated by beautiful medium kerbs, attractive flowers and street lights. Have we forgotten how Kwarans nicknamed him “The Road Builder”?
- Was it not the same ABS that sponsored the Kwara Child Rights Act?
- What about Every Child Counts programme and many children’s oriented policies he initiated through the office of the brilliant Commissioner for Education and Former Nigeria Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi which were even adopted by Federal Ministry of Education?
- Have we forgotten so soon the Voluntary Teaching Services by Bolaji Abdullahi in which thousands of Kwara graduates were engaged and given stipends monthly before more than ninety percent of them were absorbed into the state Civil Service, Teaching Service and SUBEB?
- What about the Kwara Clean and Green Programme which positioned Kwara as the cleanest State in the country during his first tenure?
- What about Kwara Stadium Modernisation, Expansion and Internationalization?
- What about the establishment of Kwara Football Academy (KFA) which was the talk of the world as Jose Morhino of Chelsea Football Club of England and many international soccer stars attended its foundation laying event?
- He established his own football team, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Football Club (ABS FC) which together with its twin team, Kwara United was always among the top clubs in the Nigeria Premier League. There is no gainsaying fact that Kwara sporting activities was at its peak during ABS’ tenure.
- This same ABS ensured the maintenance of peace, creating an enabling environment for growth and development, enabling haven for several private sector industrialists to promote socio-economic growth of the state.
- Have you ever bothered to inquire, what was the old Adewole before the current Adewole Estate, who vilified Late George Innih, who started the process then, why not appreciate the various estates (Mandate I, II and III, Harmony Estate, Irewolede Phase II, Mandate Estate Omun-Aran etc) initiated by ABS? Mandate Modern Market along Western Reservoir Road, Ilorin is also not left out.
- He facilitated the construction of Ilorin Ultramodern Central Mosque through his friends and associates as fund raisers in 2010.
- What about his many agricultural interests and youths’ training and retraining programmes on farming with startup kits and grants in Malete ADP and other parts of the state? These projected Kwara State and Dr. Bukola Saraki as the best in Agriculture. I hope we do not forget so soon that he was awarded several times by Federal Government and many agricultural NGOs as the best Nigerian Governor in Agriculture during his tenure.
- Shonga Farm Holdings as a model farm, owned by GTB, FCMB, UNITY, KEYSTONE & ACCESS Banks + Kwara State Government, without an individual owning a share in the model “individual farming” system. Do you even know that if you drink WAMPCO’s (PEAK, THREE CROWN milk) milk or Nutricima’s product, that you are drinking Shonga’s milk indirectly!?
- It is a pity that in this 21st century, we can have people still too befuddled to add 2+2 and get 4!. How can a multinational company deal with a government and an individual will own part of the structural income?
- I also heard of the utter rubbish that ABS wanted to relocate the Eid Praying ground, will he also relocate the cemetery? Anybody that goes and knows Eil Praying Ground very well would know its boundary has many decades back, been demarcated by fence at the back. So nobody tampered with the sacred land.
- What about the juicy federal political appointments he facilitated with his intimacy with the late President Yaradua and office as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum for many Kwarans like Prof. Oba Abdulraheem, Dr. Yomi Ogunsola into Federal Character Commission, Bio Ibrahim, Nimota Akanbi and many others? These exclude Kwarans who he used same influence transferred into federal public services as Directors and top public servants from state civil service.
- What about the youths’ involvement in the leadership of the state in which we had the likes of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed, Hon. Zakari Mohammed and so on appointed as Commissioners in their 30s?
- Rehabilitation and Modernization of Kwara Office Complexes housing many Ministries in the year 2009 to boost the morale of Civil Servants and enhance productivities was also lauded and smiled at by Kwarans then.
- The creation of office of Youths Empowerment Coordinators (YEC) for all the 16 LGs through whom his unmatchable youth empowerment strides were carried out is also memorable to mention. LG Liaison Officers (LO) to governors were also appointed among youths. Tourism, Environmental, Women Affairs and other ministries also had it big during this period.
These are just few within the limit of my easy remembrance out of the monumental achievements of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Kwara State Governor. I am sure his aides then should be able to mention many hundreds of such unbeatable track records. They are too numerous to mention. His philanthropic gestures are second to none among his equals in Nigeria. Any personal contact with him will confirm that he is so humble, generous and likes to give arms in anonymity.

What has PDP cohorts done in history to develop the state? They didn't have the courage to ever commit to the solid infrastructural developments, but now that it is in place, they come as nocturnal visitors on every election period from the Federal Capital to steal from where they never sowed.

It is high time that the people of Kwara awoke from their lethargy and note that the so called forefinger is only a finger, notably in the fore ably assisted by four fingers. Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, now the Senate President of Federal Republic of Nigeria is a man, who has blood in his vein like yours, and if some people with a warped sense of transferring their hatred of Dr. Sola Saraki onto Bukola Saraki, haven hidden under the cloak of same Bukola Saraki to gain foothold of power are now rabid enough to be barking down the tree they climbed up on, time shall tell who really wanted the best for this state. Many people do not know that it was not Bukola Saraki’s political wisdom that won him the highly coveted seat of Senate Presidency but his goodwills and beneficial relationship many of his fellow governors and political associates have enjoyed from him in the past. That made the likes of Sen. Sanni Yerima, Danjuma Goje, Godswil Akpabio, Andy Uba and many of them stood across the party lines to support him for the position. Evidently, the vote of confidence passed by 81 Senators last week, which in figure, included 35 APC and 46 PDP Senators finally showed Sen. Bukola Saraki truly had the 35 APC supporting senators as he previously claimed. So had it been the Lawan Group did not abscond from the venue of the first primary election, which gave them more time to buy more Senators from Saraki and that APC did not wittingly insist on Open Balloting System during the second mock election, Saraki would have won gallantly. Well, his election was constitutional and nothing was treacherous about it. Politics itself adopts treachery as an instrument. Alas! Sen. Saraki whose political sagacity does not lie on words but nationalism and patriotism to the subjugated Nigerians played it rightly.

What more can a state governed by a man of monumental achievements, aptly named “Maigida” meaning “Owner of house” look for as sample of a “leading by example” leader? Anyone who knew Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed as a new entrant into public service in 2003 and/or during his stint at both the Finance and later the newly created Planning and Economic Development Ministry in Kwara State, will attest to His Excellency’s quiet hardworking attitude, so for anyone to describe his mien as a sign of weakness has never seen what a cougar looks like in the bush before pouncing. A government of continuity is always like that. Obviously, Dr. Ahmed was busy completing some of the projects his predecessor and leader, Sen. Bukola Saraki could not complete in his first year in office alongside many Kwarans’ oriented projects. Kwarans should discern that they are fabrications of their political opponents, forgetting the politics NOW is more advanced than the politics THEN. That is, political propaganda do not always work now, it is candidates’ goodwills and works that speak for them. It is obvious that the personality of Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed which is in higher inches better than all his opponents that resulted in his reelection in the April 11 general election. Indeed, Kwara is set to clutch the climax of her glory with Sen. Bukola Saraki as the Senate President of Nigeria who would be complementing and supplementing the Better Kwara Initiatives of Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed. They both need constructive criticisms not detractions incited by political opponents and in-fighters of APC from other states. They need our prayers to perform as expected. May God guild and protect them to better our lives as Kwarans and Kwara as our state.

So, agent provocateurs, be warned.
These are merely scratching the veneer of truth.
More are coming as events unfold.

SaharaReporters fixation on Sen Bukola Saraki shows clearly this has gone beyond reporting news to obession. Every week for the past 5 weeks YeleSowore finds a reason or the other no matter how senseless to attack Sen Bukola Saraki. Today he is claiming Saraki connived with GEJ on the missing 20bn NNPC funds when clearly Saraki was the only Senator on the finance committee to refuse to sign the probe of NNPC clear stating the report is incomplete

it should also be noted that the Chagory's are Tinubu 's business partners so no the author of these lies might have just changed Tinubu's name to Saraki in this fabrication

As a Senator in 7th Assembly Saraki refused to sign the report by Senator Makafi because he believed the report wasn't complete he also provided a minority report to that effect.

Senators Laud Saraki's Reconciliatory Moves

The Senator representing Niger North District, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, has commended the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, for his broad-mindedness and the non-partisan approach he has adopted in constituting the committees in the legislative house.

Abdullahi said it took a peace-loving, patriotic and large hearted leader like Saraki to continue to make reconciliatory moves aimed at harmonising all the tendencies in the legislative chamber.

The Senator noted that apart from always reaching out to members of the Unity Group who did not support him during his election, the Senate President has also proved that as a first among equal, it is his responsibility to carry along all Senators, be they members of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),  or that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He noted that it was the Senate President's large heartedness that made him to give the chairmanship of one of the two influential committees that he has constituted so far to a member of the Unity Forum.

Senator Jide Omoworare from Osun East, a member of the Unity Forum was last Wednesday named the chairman of the powerful committee on Rules and Business. Also, Senator Kabiru Marafa, the spokesman of the group, was named a member of the same committee. 

Abdullahi noted that "the Rules and Business Committee is the engine room of the Senate that directs the activities of the legislative house. That position given to Omoworare is so influential that it is next to being in the leadership of the Senate."

" It only shows that this Senate President is working for peace and stability of the institution. This is just one example of the several efforts he is making to ensure there is peace in this Senate and I only hope that all my colleagues will reciprocate his gesture", Abdullahi said.

Also speaking on the peace moves being made by the Senate President, Senator Peter Nwaboshi from Delta State said the Senate President was spreading the olive branch to those who are aggrieved by the events surrounding the emergence of the leadership of the Senate.

"I am indeed thrilled by the Senate President's decision to fully reconcile the entire Senate. He is really reaching out to all and sundry and trying to carry every body along. I think he is the right man for the job now. That is why he is being broadminded in his choice of committee members", the Senator said.

He added that the choice of Senator Barnabas Gemade as the chairman of the Adhoc Committee  on review of state of the roads and areas suffering environmental degradation despite his being a henchman of the Unity Forum also showed that the Senate President wants all hands on deck in the plan to make the current Senate achieve its objective of serving the people. Senator Gemade was a former minister  of works, a position which placed him in good stead for the assignment 

In his own comment, Senator Lanre Tejuosho from Ogun Central, praised Saraki for laying emphasis on merit and ability in choosing which Senator serves in which committee or handles what assignment. 

While calling on the Senate President to sustain his peace moves and penchant for putting the right people in the right place while constituting the remaining committees, Tejuoso said there are already positive signs that the present Senate will play positive roles in helping the Buhari administration to eliminate insecurity, youth unemployment, corruption and economic stagnation in the country.

Tinubu’s Struggles = Saraki’s Empowerment- Part 1

By Alimosho Olaoye

(Olaoye is a member of the All Progressive Congress in Ikeji Local Government, Lagos)

As a stanch member of the All Progressive Congress, respecter of Tinubu’s school of thought and beneficiary of the Asiwaju political family in Lagos which extended to some states in South West Nigeria, I am prompted to write this article because of the on-going political tussle between our party leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly’s red chamber to be specific. It is unfortunate that this tussle, which I describe as unnecessary, is out rightly contrary to the campaign promises promoted by Asiwaju Tinubu as the party leader which were the founding basis Nigerians voted for our party.

The contributions of Asiwaju to the change we are witnessing in Nigeria today cannot be overlooked, since 1999, he stood as an opposition leader engineering the spread of opposition from its root in Lagos, to Osun, Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Ekiti which later formed a formidable and ideological force when members of the New People’s Democratic Party led by Kwara state former governor, Senator Bukola Saraki joined. Nobody ever thought such political marriage can be possible, at least in our life time, but it’s striking to note that what united Buhari, Tinubu, Saraki, Amaechi, Kwankwaso and others is not the struggle for position, but the struggle to reposition Nigeria and set it right on track. If it was personal ambitions, the All Progressive Congress would have gone down history lane far before the elections.

After the elections, Tinubu was lauded at national at international levels; he was commended for wrestling with Federal power until he got the support of other stakeholders. However, these accolades seem to have contrary effect on the psyche of Asiwaju, as he has placed himself in the position of a remote control, controlling the party and sharing political position. Suddenly, Asiwaju put on the garment of a dictator; nobody would have believed Africa still has potential dictators. Even though Asiwaju was applauded for the party’s victory at the presidential polls, the success recorded by the party was engineered by key stakeholders who submitted their personal ambitions for the interest and progress of Nigeria. Even though Saraki was in the PDP, while in the party, he stood against impunity even within his own party, not in words alone but in actions. For the first time, the subsidy scam became clear to Nigerians when Senator Saraki raised alarm. This and more are evidences of a selfless interest in the progress of Nigeria.

It must be made clear that what APC enjoys today is not the mandate of an opposition leader but the mandate of Nigerians. Prior to the National Assembly inauguration on 9th of June, 2015, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed threw the party into tension, he changed the party’s perception to a one man show, and he made the party become the first party to fight against its own member without cause. Asiwaju struggled to ensure Saraki didn’t emerge as the Senate President of the 8thAssembly, he created a media war against Saraki placing a perpetual dent on Saraki’s personality, he explored every available means to ensure Saraki would not emerge, even substitution of candidates from Akume to Lawan, and even conducting a kangaroo primary election, but all failed, his struggles empowered and enthroned Saraki as the Senate President.



One thing we must all be clear of is that, Saraki speaks from a national perspective, he speaks on matters of national interest, he articulates the people’s problems with lasting solutions, before and after his emergence as Senate President, he waged no media war against his party or personality. In a rough and disgraceful manner, Femi Gbajabiamila emerged as the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives in order to satisfy Asiwaju’s interest. Some Asiwaju motivated Senators under the “unity forum” have fell cheaply to serve Asiwaju’s interest against the wishes of Nigerians. No doubt, Asiwaju is struggling day and night to ensure Saraki is kicked out as Senate President, with his destructive elements in the Unity Forum, he has held Nigerian Senate and House of Reps unproductive for two months. In the broad sense, Asiwaju is fighting against Nigerians, he is wrestling with our national progress. Nigerians must not take this with levity, as we have ignored our identities vote out poor leadership under Jonathan, we must unite to fight Asiwaju and anyone who comes against national interest and progress. 

…To be continued.



I, Alimosho Olaoye is a member of the All Progressive Congress in Ikeja Local Government of Lagos state.

EFCC PRANKS ON THE INTERROGATION OF MRS. TOYIN SARAKI 

By Bashir Akanbi (@bashirakanbi)

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), one of Nigeria’s anti-graft commissions saddled by law, with the responsibilities of prosecuting ordinary and public serving Nigerians suspected or found shamefaced of financial and other criminal activities was not only misguided by the invitation of one of Africa’s sanctified women and wife of Nigeria’s Senate President, Barr. ( Mrs.) Toyin Saraki, but also pointless in the leakage of the photos from inside their meeting with her. Mrs. Toyin  Saraki , a former First Lady of Kwara State and the Founder of Wellbeing Foundation Africa is a woman of a great acumen whose kind supports and perspicacity aided the excellent performance of her husband, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki’s eight years regime as Kwara State Governor and positioned it as the best Kwara has ever had. This is owing to the numerous monumental and peoples’ oriented achievements he executed in the state between 2003 and 2011. Apart from this, her solely founded and sponsored Well Being Foundation Africa has saved thousands of maternal newborns, children health, widows and aged women in the whole Africa. This, in combination with her many women empowerment schemes in Kwara, Nigeria and Africa resulted in her recent endorsement as ‘Maternal Health Heroin’ by some global health NGOs.  

In no doubt, her invitation by the commission for questioning over alleged ‘shady contracts’ during her husband’s tenure as governor of Kwara is too inconsequential and will continue to be an allegation because nothing of such existed. I am however not opposed to her invitation by the commission for the reason that it acted its responsibility based on a petition received but the leakage of photos from inside the interrogative meeting with her in all senses, is childish and discredits EFCC.  As a well rooted and informed kwaran, though lives outside the state, I am audacious to tell the political devils and perceived enemies of Sen. Bukola Saraki who petitioned this woman of substance that Kwara State had it virtuous during the period claimed and no rational Kwaran would say such, not even the Kwara PDP. After all, we all read, heard and saw how Kwara PDP who are supposedly, the number one enemies of Saraki’s political dynasty and firsthand information handlers of what went wrong between 2003 and 2011 came out of their shells to deny petitioning their former First Lady, Mrs. Saraki. They even went further by claiming their signatures were forged and exposing that it was one of those strokes by some leaders of the ruling APC to weight down the Senate President, Bukola Saraki who emerged independently against the wish of some selfish leaders of the party. Astonishingly, the former First Lady, Mrs. Saraki, who is widely branded as law abiding Nigerian and known for her belief in transparency, prudency, accountability promised to help the commission in their investigation. 

The accompaniment of Mrs. Saraki by some Senators, House of Representative members and others who are either their (herself and husband) family’s political associates or supporters to the commission deserves no media inversion; it is not different from how Gov. Rotimi Amaechi and Sen. Chris Ngige accompanied Gov. Nasir Elrufai to DSS’s office last year. In fact, it is worth recalling that it was Gov. Amaechi that drove him to DSS’s yard then. Media Aggrandizements and pranks cannot fly on this matter because the characters encircled in it are not just politicians but people of proven moral values in the society. Therefore, EFCC should be cautioned against incitement and compromise by the politicians. It is my conviction the vote of confidence recently passed in the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the Senate President and the dismissal of suits on Senate Standing Rule by a court of law yesterday July 28 2015 have settled the dust the faces of the aggrieved law makers in the Red Chamber of the National Assembly Abuja. It is good for Nigerian Lawmakers to let NASS work and let President Muhammadu Buhari perform as quickly as expected by us, the Nigerian people. Any contrary action or act of politicking by them which may slower the leadership of Sen. Saraki and other principal officers in days to come will definitely unclothe the enemies of Nigerians and Nigeria among them. They should face their responsibilities as representatives of Nigerians. Constituents are now wise and not stupid.

Kwara PDP denies initiating invitation of Toyin Saraki by EFCC.
The Kwara Chapter of the  Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) has condemned  an allegation that it initiated the invitation of the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Oluwa Toyin Saraki by the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
The party's Publicity Secretay, chief Rex Olawoye who made this condemnation in llorin on Monday while speaking with newsmen said such insinuations is uncalled for.
He described the allegation which was credited to him as baseless and plans of desperate and dubious individuals who aimed at tarnishing the opposition's party image.
Olawoye condemned the story tagged “PDP Petition Led to Toyin Saraki’s Arrest”, adding that the story was fabricated by unknown people, explaining that the party never wrote any petition to EFCC against Toyin saraki
Reacting to another report credited to
him that Kwara state government has received three billion naira from
federal government and used one billion naira to settle workers salary, he said such reports are just geared towards bringing his name and that of his party in dirty waters.

SP @BUKOLASARAKI CONGRATULATES NIGERIA ON 365 DAYS WITHOUT A CASE OF POLIO
The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Saraki has congratulated Nigerians for maintaining a 365 days free of poliomyelitis (Polio) in the country.
Dr. Saraki said the successes recorded in Nigeria in Polio eradication in the past 365 days without a single case of the virus was as a result of the relentless hard work of partners, religious, community leaders, and health workers.
He expressed how pleased he is with the successes in Polio eradication that has a case study of 801 wide cases of polio reported in 21 states in 2005 with 62 wild cases and 34 circulating vaccine-derived cases (cVDPV) that had an endemic transmission rate in 2011 coupled with 122 wild cases and 8 circulating vaccine-derived cases.
The Senate President who is a Medical Doctor further expressed his happiness in the containment of Polio in the country because the transmission rate in 2012 was endemic with reported 53 wild cases and three circulating vaccine-derived cases which were recorded as transmission endemic in 2013 to now having no documented case of poliomyelitis in 365 days.
Senator Saraki disclosed how he undertook a bipartisan approach as the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) by leading his colleagues, public-spirited groups and companies in private sector to partner with Federal Government and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a better and more extensive polio immunization in Nigeria.
He credited the successes recorded in the eradication of the virus to the introduction of the immunization Leadership Challenge.
He explained that the challenge, which was designed in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to reward states in Nigeria that made significant improvements in polio and routine immunization coverage was to fast track achievement of the global milestone of interrupting further transmission of polio virus in Nigeria.
Senator Saraki urges Nigerians not to relent in this fight against polio which has been responsible for significant number of mortality and morbidity mostly in children under 5 years of age stressing that as long as a single child remains infected, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the virus.
The Senate President emphasizes the imperative need to continue the good work towards eliminating this crippling and potentially fatal virus until the World Health Organization (WHO) certifies that Nigeria is a polio free come 2017 and take Nigeria off the list of countries where the disease is endemic and for Nigeria as a nation to adopt this approach to tackle other diseases currently prevailing in the country.

Sen Bukola Saraki and the Missing $20Billion NNPC ISSUE

Bamikole Omishore
 
Before President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to the United States on a four-day official trip, one of the issues dominating the national discourse was the missing $20 billion money in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The issue was first raised by former CBN Governor now Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi.
          
          However, one Senator felt sufficiently peeved that the nation was losing so much resource, which could have been used for the benefit of the masses. He then took up the issue of the leakages in the nation's oil receipts and moved a powerful motion on the floor of the Seventh Senate. That Senator is now the head of the upper legislative chamber, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
   
   
   At that time, the seventh Senate set up a committee to probe allegations that the nation lost $20 billion due to sharp practices in the sector. The report of the  committee led by former Kaduna State Governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi turned to be as controversial as the amount of money said to have been lost. While the committee in anti-climax manner failed to directly identify how much was lost and who benefitted from the loss, Saraki refused to sign the report of the investigation into the alleged non-remittance of $20bn by NNPC into the federation account. In his letter dated 3rd of June 2014 to the Committee to explain why he withheld his signature, he wrote:  “It is my opinion that this report as laid has not fully addressed the matter referred to us adequately and conclusively. The report has not been definitive on its findings and has failed to address some of the critical issues I had raised during our meetings. For this reason; I am withholding my support and signature.”
 
The records of the committee are still accessible in the National Assembly and can be verified. The Senator chose to stand by the people, thereby breaking ranks with his colleagues.
 
Also, it is still on record that Senator Saraki is the only Senator in the committee that refused to sign the report even in the face of severe duress and personal inconvenience. Sen. Saraki during the investigation was known to have been very probing with his questions, meticulously reviewing the data offered by NNPC to get to the bottom of the issue. It would be recalled that though he did not make the last meeting of the committee, when the news broke that the Committee has cleared the NNPC, he was the first and the only senator to rebut the report saying “the recent media reports claiming that the Senate Committee on Finance has cleared NNPC of any unaccounted revenue fund are not true… I have been very active in the investigation, nothing significant has changed to suggest clearing of anyone”. See Thisday Newspapers of May 29, 2014 also online link:
 
 
http://leadership.ng/news/380803/unremitted-49-8bn-oil-revenue-saraki-denies-signing-report
 
The newspapers publications relating to this is all over the print and electronic media for all who want to find the truth. It is therefore unlikely that he could have cut a deal with the Jonathan administration on this matter as some detractors recently wanted us to believe. Only in the world of fabricators will such a claim be possible.  
 
It is also evident that Senator Saraki's commitment to see that the missing funds are found and paid back into the Federation Account was never in doubt from day one. It would be recalled that during this investigation, he went out of his way to collaborate with the IHS Information Analytics Expertise and MJHC Limited London, two renowned international organisations with specialty on oil financials, to do further forensic review on this matter. This expensive endeavour undertaken at his own personal expense also underscores the length at which he left no stone unturned to help the Makarfi committee unravel the mystery surrounding the missing funds. 
 
It is therefore laughable for anybody to insinuate that Sen. Saraki met with former President Goodluck Jonathan to discuss the content of the committee's report. Lest we forget, the committee met for the last time on the February 16, 2014. So, the thought of Senator Saraki working to bring down the number or amount un-remitted in a deal with Goodluck Jonathan is completely false. For the avoidance of doubt, there has been no meeting of any type between  Senator Saraki and former President Jonathan since the former left PDP. So any suggestion that the Ex-president Jonathan sent Mr. Chagoury, the Lebanese businessman to Senator Saraki with gifts /money to seek support from him on the report is totally false. Both the Sarakis and Chagourys have been family friends for over 26years. 
 
  It should also be remembered that it is because of Saraki's yeoman's job on the oil sector fund leakages that he harvested an EFCC case spawn by the Jonathan administration to teach him a lesson for his effrontery. That case which had been investigated without any result has become a blackmail instrument for anybody who hates Saraki's guts.
 
 
In the new politics of the struggle over the Senate leadership, it is not unexpected that this same EFCC case will be dusted up. It will be used again as an instrument of blackmail against Saraki. They will want to pummel him with it. That is the price of leadership. A gallant effort to save the resources of the nation has landed the enemies of a man the instrument to castigate him.
 
      Omishore is Special Assistant (New media) to The Senate President
and has been with the Senate President since his time as a first term Senator in the 7th Assembly.

>>>>> SAHARA REPORTERS AND ITS SMEAR CAMPAIGN AGAINST SARAKI
>>>>>
>>>>> Attention of the Senate President’s media office has been drawn to a malicious fabrication by an on-line publication (Sahara Reporters) aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> First, as a Senator in the 7th National Assembly, the Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki never signed the report of the Ahmed Makarfi led Finance Committee investigation into the alleged non-Remittance by NNPC of $20 into the federation account. In his letter dated 3rd of June 2014 to the Committee withholding his signature he said and I quote “It is my opinion that this report as laid has not fully addressed the matter referred to us adequately and conclusively. The report has not been definitive on its findings and has failed to address some of the critical issues I had raised during our meetings. For this reason; I am withholding my support and signature.”
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The records of the committee are still accessible in the National Assembly and a copy is here attached.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Secondly, It is still on record that Senator Saraki is the only Senator in the committee that refused to sign the report even in the face of severe duress and personal inconvenience. Sen. Saraki during the investigation was known to have been very probing with his questions, meticulously reviewing the data offered by NNPC to get to the bottom of the issue. It would be recalled that though he did not make the last meeting of the committee, when the news broke that the Committee has cleared the NNPC, he was the first and the only senator to rebut the report saying “the recent media reports claiming that the Senate Committee on Finance has cleared NNPC of any unaccounted revenue fund are not true… I have been very active in the investigation, nothing significant has changed to suggest clearing of anyone”. See Thisday Newspapers of the 29th of May 2014 and also a web link http://leadership.ng/news/380803/unremitted-49-8bn-oil-revenue-saraki-denies-signing-report
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> The newspapers publications relating to this is all over the print and electronic media for all who want to find the truth. How is it then likely that he could have cut a deal with government on this matter and maintained such resolute stands? Only in the world of the fabricators of this report is this possible.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thirdly, it is evident that Senator Saraki’ commitment to see that the missing funds are found and paid back into the Federation Account was never in doubt from day one. It would be recalled that Senator Saraki during this investigation had gone out of his way to collaborate with the IHS Information Analytics Expertise and MJHC Limited London two renowned international organisations with specialty on oil financials to do further forensic review on this matter also underscore the length at which he left no stone unturned to help the committee unravel the mystery surrounding the missing funds.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, Sen. Saraki never met with Jonathan on this report (committee met last on the 16th of February 2014). So the thought of Senator Saraki working to bring down the number or amount unremitted with Goodluck Jonathan is completely false. For the avoidance of doubt, there has been no meeting of any type between Senator Saraki and former President Jonathan since the Senator left PDP. So any suggestion that Ex-president Jonathan sent Chagoury to Senator Saraki with gifts /money to seek support from him on the report is totally false. Both the Sarakis and Chagourys have been family friends for over 26years.
>>>>>

>>>>> We hereby request the general public to disregard the antics of Sahara Reporters. We further call on Sahara Reports to immediately retract this offending publication and offer an unequivocal apology to His Excellency Senator Saraki, the National Assembly and the citizenry of Nigeria for this unprovoked, reckless and mindless publication.
>>>>>
>>>>> The Media Office of the Senate President hereby uses this opportunity to put it on record that the posts by Sahara Reporters are completely false with no iota of truth whatsoever. We also challenge Sahara Reporters to either post facts or any documentation with proof or desist from misleading the reading public with dirty works of fiction apparently commissioned by some politicians in an attempt to destabilize the legislative arm of government and the country as a whole.
>>>>>
> It is obvious that Sahara Reporters in the last one month has no interest in other stories other than to fabricate fallacies and falsehood against the person of the Senate President and members of his family. While we are aware that the online publication is only doing the bidding of its sponsors and simply joining forces with political detractors who after failing to achieve their partisan aims believe that all is fair in war, we believe that journalism is a public trust and those who hold the trust should, even under extreme circumstance, refrain from abusing the trust. We therefore call on fellow citizens and all members of the international community to treat the Sahara Reporters' publication as what they are: mere falsehood not to be accorded any measure of importance.
>
>> Signed
>> Bamikole Omishore
>> Special Assistant (New Media to Senate President)




NB

NNPC audit report

@SaharaReporters fixation on @bukolasaraki shows clearly this has gone beyond of reporting news to obession. Every week for the past 5 weeks @YeleSowore finds a reason or the other no matter how senseless to attack @bukolasaraki. Today he is claiming Saraki connived with GEJ on the missing 20bn NNPC funds when clearly Saraki was the only Senator on the finance committee to refuse to sign the probe of NNPC clear stating the report is incomplete

it should also be noted that the Chagory's are Tinubu 's business partners so no the author of these lies might have just changed Tinubu's name to Saraki in this fabrication

As a Senator in 7th Assembly Saraki refused to sign the report by Senator Makafi because he believed the report wasn't complete he also provided a minority report to that effect.

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LEADERSHIP: WHEN WILL JAGABAN OF BORGU FATHOM THE WRITING ON THE WALL?




On Nairaland: ‎https://www.nairaland.com/2466855/nigeria-national-assembly-leadership-tussle

BREAKING NEWS : HOW NASS CLERK STALLED PLOT TO STOP @BUKOLASARAKI AS SENATE PRESIDENT
Source: Tribune
By Taiwo Adisa
Monday Juky 20, 2015
IT emerged in Abuja, on Sunday, that the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, rejected plot by some politicians to stall the inauguration of the National Assembly on June 9.

The clerk also stalled the bid to stop the election of Senate President, DR BUKOLA SARAKI, after rejecting a proposal to call off the sitting of the Senate at 10.00 a.m. on June 9.

Sources in the National Assembly had told the Nigerian Tribune that following the rejection of the proposal to send reminder text messages to all senators and members of the House of Representatives for a meeting at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, by the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, leaders of the party behind the push resorted to the national secretary.

It was also gathered that the leaders sent three ranking senators to Maikasuwa to convey to him the need to keep the sitting of the Senate in abeyance.

Sources said the lawmakers told Maikasuwa that the Unity Forum, favoured by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Senate leadership positions, could not win the election on the floor if SARAKI was allowed to gain entry and get nominated.

The emissaries were also said to have told the clerk that the only option open to the party was to drag SARAKI and others before President Muhammadu Buhari, so that the president could appeal to the Kwara senator to withdraw from the race.

Sources, however, told the Nigerian Tribune that the clerk said he had prepared for the inauguration of the National Assembly, armed with the constitution and the Rule Book, adding that if the APC senators failed to appear at the sitting, the senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who are 49 in number, could form the quorum 40 inaugurate the House.

The ranking senator that led the delegation to Maikasuwa was said to have told the clerk that all APC senators were to stay away from the sitting.

But the clerk was said to have insisted that the PDP senators alone would form quorum in the Senate chamber that day.

The clerk was also said to have told the APC senators that the proclamation already issued by the president was more or less a law binding on him to conduct the sitting of the Senate at 10.00 a.m.

He was also said to have told his guests that the proclamation could only be issued once in the lifetime of a National Assembly, meaning that the one issued could not be withdrawn.

The clerk was said to have studied the aide memoir prepared by his predecessors while preparing the Rule Books of the Current Senate and the House of Representatives in 1998, ahead of the inauguration of the Fourth Republic in 1999.

Sources further said the leaders of the APC then got message to security agencies to block the entrance of the National Assembly and stop anyone from gaining entrance and that by so doing, the sitting could be frustrated.

Sources said words, however, later got to the presidency that the gates of the National Assembly had been blocked, prompting the Villa to get words across to the Inspector-General of Police to immediately ensure that gates of the National Assembly complex were thrown open.

The message enabled the pro-SARAKI senators and PDP lawmakers to gain access to the complex and enabled Maikasuwa to conduct the election of presiding officers of the Senate that day.

Ekweremadu, APC and the ICC Meeting

By Olatunde Odunyemi

The emergence of the leadership of the current National Assembly in our country has thrown up many issues which will generate a heated debate for a long time. The June 9 inauguration of the Eight National Assembly and the drama attending the election of the Senate President, Speaker and their deputies have presented drama, intrigues and political calculations which deserve that not only books be written about the event of that day and what happened before and after, but also requires scholars of political science and Nigerian political developments and government to further interrogate and document what happened for posterity.

While so much has been written and many explanations given by the actors and their supporters on the leadership crisis, one has noticed how the issue of the emergence of Senator Ike Ekweremadu representing  Enugu State and a member of the minority party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) as the Deputy Senate President has equally assumed a life of its own.  It is being presented  that the Ekweremadu issue is what President Muhammadu Buhari could not live with in the entire National Assembly leadership crisis. Those who are sponsoring this narrative said the President and the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) would not forgive the senators from the ruling party who participated in the June 9 election on the floor of the Senate.

However, it appears that those who accuse the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the other Senators who participated in that election of selling out to PDP and betraying the position of the party have refused to answer one particular question. The question is: Why were majority of the APC Senators not in the Senate Chambers that morning? 

The follow up question is: were the APC Senators not aware that President Muhammdau Buhari had exercised his legal powers by communicating to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikas

INTERVIEW: WHY I BACKED @BUKOLASARAKI FOR SENATE PRESIDENCY- @DELEMOMODU
He also explained why he backed former Kwara state governor, Bukola Saraki for Senate Presidency against the wish of a national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.
Read the full interview below.
You were, before the general elections, one of the unofficial spokespersons for President Muhammadu Buhari, who was then the APC presidential candidate. But of recent, your thoughts about the president appears to be changing?
I am surprised at your comment because I have never changed. I am the biggest supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari today. All I have done is to tell the president what people are saying outside, that is my job. We don’t tell our leaders the truth. I told former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the truth throughout his tenure. This is detailed in my forthcoming book, titled, ‘’Pendulum, a book of prophesy’’. Everything I told President Jonathan happened. I owe that to our president too today.
Once you become the president in Nigeria, people stop telling you the truth. They only tell you what you want to hear. I am a stakeholder in this government. I wonder what would have happened to me if the PDP had returned to power. I was already under constant threat. I received threat messages. I had to name all the numbers anonymous because they were all attacking me for supporting Buhari. I didn’t support the president because I wanted anything from him. I supported him because I believed at this time of our lives, we need a father-figure, what I called the Mandela- option in Nigeria. And I thought Buhari, as a man of integrity, of impeccable character, fits that bill
But, three months after the election, Nigerians are getting impatient because most of them cannot wait for even one second. I was the first to write an article titled, ‘’In Search Of Patience’’, telling the people to exercise patience with the man. But being patient does not mean we should fold our arms indefinitely. There are things that can still be done. I found a proverb some where which says ‘’the meat of antelope tastes very good, but while it is cooking, we can still make do with groundnut’’. While we are waiting for that big action, some things must keep us going, whether pop corn, ice cream or something. If the National Assembly, within some minutes, approved about 15 Special Advisers; so, what is stopping us from picking our National Security Adviser, if we have to change the one there now.
How about the Chief of Staff, the Principal Secretary, the Secretary to the Federal Government. The longer it takes, the longer the tension, and also the longer the pressure on Mr President. I want the president to know that if they begin to put pressure on him, things may begin to fall apart. Had it been some things are already in place, I am sure the tension would have reduced.
But things have rotten so much so that many people support the president taking his time before making any appointments.
No. I was once a presidential candidate. Before a man says he wants to be president, he must have his plans and blue print of things that he saw not working properly. As such, he thought he had solution to them. Yes, you might not have 100% solution to the problems, but you have a fair idea of what needed to be done urgently. And you said you have the answer to them before you offered yourself to serve. And there is nobody more experienced than President Muhammadu Buhari. He was there over 30 years ago. He also acted in other capacities before now.
So, I expect him to be able to know what he wants to do. Your principal staff, you will know who they are, and you will appoint them. Even the ministers, by now, there is no law that says all the ministers must be ready at the same time. The problems we have in Nigeria are so big that one second is like eternity. I pleaded with people few weeks back to be patient, but I am telling you that the public outcry is no longer favourable to our cause. And I don’t want us to lose that moment to the concerns of the people. It is like a plane that is about to take off.
The outcry, some have said, is genuine but that people are not well informed about the enormity of the problems at hand?
No one is crying foul. Don’t let us misuse language. They are only asking for action. They have the right to that. Their expectation was that of a magician. That was what I wrote in my article. What the Nigerians expect of you is like that of Jesus Christ turning water into wine, raising Lazarus from the dead. I wrote another article, ‘’Buhari and the burden of expectations’’. To whom is given, much is expected. Nigerians saw him as magician. They believe he has talismanic powers to transform Nigeria from penury to prosperity. You can’t blame them. Nobody is blaming Buhari, we are just saying ‘please sir, time is not on your side’. I am not one of those who will rush him.
I am just reflecting the mood of the nation. I am a journalist. I gave him hints of what people expect him to do. I am not one of those who write abstract nonsense. I write constructively as a patriotic citizen. I joined the struggle since my days at University of Ife in 1978. I have never stopped since then. I also a country my children can live in and live in peace. I want a country where no girl would vanish into thin air for two years without any trace. I want a country where young school leavers would get jobs. I want a country where I will not spend all my money to generate electricity. I want a country where the infrastructure meets international standard like other oil producing countries. I want a country where our people will not be too distant from their leaders.
Talking about sudden change, you were known to be a friend and admirer of the APC National Leader, Ashiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, but suddenly you started supporting the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, against his party?
There is nothing sudden in that. From day one, I supported Saraki for various reasons. I will say that, boldly, any where. And I stand by it. I supported him based on empirical facts of what I know. One of it…..
Cuts in)But you are not a member of the party?
Yes, that is the beauty of it all.
So how come you are saying authoritatively that ‘’from what I know’’?
I interact with people. At my level, a 55-year-old man, I have friends everywhere. I have contacts. I say this with every sense of responsibility. I don’t know of anybody who worked harder than Saraki, Amaechi and the rest of them for Buhari. Yes, so many people worked for Buhari, but I am telling you that from my own stand point, from my interactions, these people mentioned almost worked themselves to death for Buhari. As a matter of fact, at a time, some people were saying it was better to have consensus candidate for the party so that there won’t be rancour after the primaries; but some people refused, saying they were not ready to step down for Buhari.
Saraki was one of the first people who declared total and unflinching support for Buhari. Amaechi adores Kwankwaso. I know that for a fact. Ameachi loves Kwankwaso to death. But because of Buhari, Amaechi refused to support Kwankwaso. I don’t know if Kwankwaso will forgive him for that. But, he was honest enough to tell Kwankwaso that ‘’I have given my word to Buhari, I cannot turn back’’. Same thing with Saraki. I know for a fact that Saraki worships Tinubu. Quote me. Maybe our Oga (Tinubu)does not know it. You know, sometimes, you don’t know those who love you if you have a lot of crowd around you. But I am saying it to you that Saraki, the Senate President, worships Tinubu.
Then or till now?
I am sure till today. Saraki was one of Tinubu disciples. In fact, when some people were saying Tinubu wanted to hijack the party by installing his men, Saraki and Amaechi were among those who said ‘no, we must give our leader whatever he wants; we must not humiliate our leader’, because they(new PDP) had the power at that time to install their own candidate and they would have won, because the new PDP that joined APC at that time was formidable enough. But, they insisted they must defer to Tinubu. It is what I know, not that they told me.

SP @BUKOLASARAKI CRITICISES SAUDI ARABIA’S VISA POLICY FOR NIGERIANS
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has criticized the entry visa issuance policy of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Nigeria for this year’s lesser hajj, umrah.
Mr. Saraki, who arrived Medinah on Saturday, listened to complaints from some Nigerians who are performing the lesser hajj and noted that the Saudi authorities, unlike other embassies in the country, refused to articulate a visa policy which potential visitors to the holy land can follow and obtain their entry visa without any difficulty once they meet the requirements.
“The present process in which visitors to Saudi must go through a third party has created artificial bottlenecks now being exploited by the travel agents and the embassy officials. Our people are now made to suffer indignities arising from conspiracy between the embassy officials and the so-called agents. The process is fraught with corrupt practices,” he said.
The Senate President said some Nigerians informed him that they had to send their passports through Saudi embassies in other West African countries where the cost of the visa was less and they did not need to go through the hardship experienced in Nigeria.
“It is unimaginable the amount of money people paid to get visa for this year’s lesser hajj and we do not want that to repeat itself for the hajj proper coming in a few months’ time. You know this religious rites and obligations are very important to our people and so, despite these inconveniences, they still struggle to get here and we have a responsibility to ensure this exploitation and inconvenience stop immediately,” Mr. Saraki said
He reassured Nigerians who complained to him that the Saudi visa policy will be one of the issues the Senate will look into when it resumes plenary later in the month and that the Saudi authorities as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja will be engaged to find a lasting solution to the problems of visa issuance to Nigerians by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Senate President further called on all Nigerian Muslims on lesser hajj and those at home to devote the last days of Ramadan to pray for peace, security, development and progress of Nigeria.
He urged them to specifically ask for Allah’s intervention in the search for a lasting solution to the Boko Haram crisis in the North-Eastern part of the country and for God to help President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to revamp the economy of Nigeria.

SENATE: MOVING ON TO ECONOMIC ISSUES

http://www.abubakarbukolasaraki.com/senate-moving-on-to-economic-issues/

I'm aware of activities of certain online platforms being sponsored by mischief makers to post all sorts of negative lies against my person.
Be rest assured, It will not change my focus to deliver on my mandate as Senate President which is to ensure legislation that will directly impact the lives of Nigerians and not any special interest group while making Transperency and Accountability to Nigerians my priority.

by Henry Umoru
ABUJA- SENATOR James Manager, PDP, Delta South said yesterday that the election of both Senators Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu as President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate respectively followed due process.
Speaking with Journalists yesterday, Senator Manager who has been in the Senate since 2003, explained that what took place on the Senate floor, June 9 was legal and in conformity with the 1999 Constitution, Senate Rules and Parliamentary convention, just as he stressed that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC cannot blame Senate President Saraki for the emergence of Ekweremadu of the PDP as Deputy President of the Senate.
Senator Manager who was Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, stressed that what happened June 9 has provided a balanced Senate in view of the closeness in the numbers of Senators belonging to the two parties on the floor, adding, “We had never had the parliament that was as balanced as this where the gap between the minority and the majority is slim, just 10 human beings. The type of transition we had recently is also alien to Africa hence we have to handle everything with absolute care and maturity.
“We must make sacrifices because so many things are bound to happen separately. We must display maturity and compromise so that the nation can move on. What we are experiencing now is democracy in action.”
Senator Manager who noted that the legality of the election of Saraki and Ekweremadu has been clearly stated in Section 5 of the Constitution, which spells out the process of convening the Senate and the election of Presiding Officers, said: “How elections are conducted to the National Assembly, and how a presiding officer can be removed, are provided for under Section 5 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.
“Section 64 ( 1 ) of the Constitution reads, “The Senate and the House of Representatives shall each stands dissolved at the expiration of a period of four years commencing from the date of first sitting of the House. Section 64 ( 3 ) states that “Subject to the provisions of this constitution, the person elected as the president shall have power to issue a proclamation for the holding of the first session for the National Assembly immediately after he was being sworn in or for its dissolution as provided in this section.
“The president cannot wake up one day to dissolve the parliament because there is already a provision for that except the extra ordinary happens which we pray not to happen because democracy has come to stay in this country, so the new legislative year won’t come to an end until the 9th of June 2019.
“The proclamation was made and going by our rule book, Rule 1 ( b ) in all cases not provided for, hereafter or by sectional or other order, or practice of the Senate, the senate shall by resolution, regulate its own procedure.
“From 1999 till date, once a proclamation is made, the first sitting of the senate is the election of the presiding officers. That has come to stay. Of course, at 10:00am prompt. There must be a roll call. All senators are expected to be present at that time to answer his name.
“If somebody who was supposed to be there on that day was not there, and he is still in his home state, it is not the business of anybody. The request was made by the Clerk to the National Assembly after the roll call on June 9, whether there were people who want to nominate somebody to the office of president of the senate and there was a nomination.
“It is not the business of another senator looking around to see whether any other senator was there or not. As far as I am concerned, what happened that day, was in order because that is what National Assembly is used to doing. Everything about National Assembly is law and practice. I would not know whether some people were invited somewhere or not.”
When asked if the election of the two presiding officers met the required quorum, Senator Manager who admitted that a quorum was formed, however noted that the time has come for all stakehold

'I DIDN'T MAKE A DEAL WITH PDP' - SENATE PRESIDENT @BUKOLASARAKI OPENS UP
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has revealed the drama that preceded his election as the eight senate leader, saying there was a plot to abduct him a day before the election, while denying reports that he made a deal with the opposition to make Ike Ekweremadu his deputy.
In an interview session with journalists on Saturday, June 27, Saraki revealed that after he had gotten wind of the abduction plot, he changed his itinerary by arriving the parliamentary car park at 6am on Senate inauguration day, June 9.
He said he stayed in his car until 10am, and then walked into the chamber.
Saraki also refuted the rumour that the price he paid for his victory was for the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Senator Ike Ekweremadu to return as the deputy Senate President, noting that the absence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators in the chamber paved the way for Ekweremadu’s emergence.
“Never in our wildest imagination did we envisage that some senators would not be present on the day of the inauguration,” he said.
Speaking further, Saraki explained, “first of all, as regards the meeting (at ICC), on the morning of the inauguration, I didn’t finish at a meeting until 4:00am of that day and I had got information that efforts would likely be made to make sure that I didn’t get access into the chamber.
“So, as early as 4:00am and 5:00am, I had made contingency plans that I must get into the National Assembly because the plan before was that senators-elect should go to Transcorp Hilton Hotel around 8:00clock and 9:00am to proceed to the National Assembly.
“But I was advised that it would not be safe or it would not be secure for me to do that because if some people made sure I didn’t get into the chamber, it would not be possible for me to be nominated, for the nomination to be seconded and for me to accept the nomination.
“I can tell you today that I was in the National Assembly Complex as early as 6:00 in the morning and I stayed in a car in the car park till quarter to 10:00am. That is the truth. I stayed there and I was there with no communication whatsoever.
“So, anybody who said he spoke to me to go to the ICC was not being truthful because I didn’t even know what was going on. All I was monitoring was how people were arriving the complex.
“It was just before 10:00 that I got information that the Clerk to the National Assembly had entered the chamber. So, I got out of the small car I was inside, stretched myself and put on my Babariga because I didn’t have it on before then.
“I walked from the car park into the chamber. That was why some of you would have seen that I looked very tired that morning.
“Even when I was in the chamber, I didn’t know what had transpired earlier. The only thing I observed was that it appeared that some of our senators were not in the chamber, but because the fact that my colleagues arrived in batches, I had the opinion that they were on the way and, by 10:00am, the programme started.
“Before I knew it, my election had come and gone. Even my people were worried; it was only when I got into the chamber that they were relieved.”
On Ekweremadu’s emergency as the Deputy Senate President, Saraki said, “in my own view, and, in the view of some of those who worked closely with me, I worked hard for my election. I had direct contact with every single senator, one on one; weeks leading to the election, I did not rely on anybody. I worked hard; both in our party, the APC and out of it.
“I approached every senator, I talked to them, we built confidence, not only in the APC, but, also, in the PDP. I talked to them. That was why I laughed when people said I had a deal with Ekweremadu or I had a hand in the emergence of Ekweremadu.
“I didn’t need any deal to win. I had penetrated, there was no deal; I didn’t need any deal in the first place. I had worked hard such that everybody who was a Senator, I campaigned hard and canvassed for their votes and won their confidence.
“At one of the meetings held at Transcorp Hilton which Senator Godswill Akpabio co-chaired with Senator Ibrahim Gobir and a few others, which had both APC and PDP members, if you heard most of them there, the position they took was that ‘this is the Senate President they want.’
“Across party lines, that day they believed in me and that this is the Senate President that can lead us, there was no deal.
“Sometimes, I wonder how some of our colleagues found themselves at the ICC. If it had been a case that the Clerk of the National Assembly had made an announcement and the event had been postponed or it was no longer holding, plus, the invitation, I’m sure some are asking now, what really happened?
“First of all, the PDP senators had announced to the public that they were supporting me without even meeting me because, in their own meeting, majority had decided to vote for me.
“In their own interest, strategically, they decided that, `look, this is a fait accompli’ because 30 of their own senators were going to vote for this man anyway and the remaining felt it was better to join.
“It wasn’t until 2:00am that they called us to tell us their decision . With regards to the deputy, when they told us that they had a candidate, we, too, told them we had a candidate for Deputy Senate President in the person of Senator Ali Ndume!
“After our own meeting, it was our thinking that it was after the election of the Senate President that the two groups in APC would meet and we would agree on a candidate. We never in our imagination thought they would not turn up. By the time we got there, we were only 24 while the PDP was more than 40.
“In an election, there’s no way they would not have defeated us and that was what happened? And now, when people say it was a deal, I say that if the CNA had started the procedure in the House of Representatives first, and moved to the Senate, thereafter, today, we, the APC, would have had a deputy Senate President.”
“It is unfortunate that we have a PDP man as deputy Senate President. It is painful. It is painful for every APC member because when we went through the struggle, that was not what we signed for. But it has happened; but it is unfortunate and it is not fair to put the blame on one side because it is a combination of errors and miscalculations that led us to have, that morning, some Senators were at another place instead of being there.
“So, to suggest that it was out of a desperate act to emerge, is what I reject completely and those who followed the events would know that I didn’t have that deal to emerge.”

'I DIDN'T MAKE A DEAL WITH PDP' - SENATE PRESIDENT @BUKOLASARAKI OPENS UP
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has revealed the drama that preceded his election as the eight senate leader, saying there was a plot to abduct him a day before the election, while denying reports that he made a deal with the opposition to make Ike Ekweremadu his deputy.
In an interview session with journalists on Saturday, June 27, Saraki revealed that after he had gotten wind of the abduction plot, he changed his itinerary by arriving the parliamentary car park at 6am on Senate inauguration day, June 9.
He said he stayed in his car until 10am, and then walked into the chamber.
Saraki also refuted the rumour that the price he paid for his victory was for the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Senator Ike Ekweremadu to return as the deputy Senate President, noting that the absence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators in the chamber paved the way for Ekweremadu’s emergence.
“Never in our wildest imagination did we envisage that some senators would not be present on the day of the inauguration,” he said.
Speaking further, Saraki explained, “first of all, as regards the meeting (at ICC), on the morning of the inauguration, I didn’t finish at a meeting until 4:00am of that day and I had got information that efforts would likely be made to make sure that I didn’t get access into the chamber.
“So, as early as 4:00am and 5:00am, I had made contingency plans that I must get into the National Assembly because the plan before was that senators-elect should go to Transcorp Hilton Hotel around 8:00clock and 9:00am to proceed to the National Assembly.
“But I was advised that it would not be safe or it would not be secure for me to do that because if some people made sure I didn’t get into the chamber, it would not be possible for me to be nominated, for the nomination to be seconded and for me to accept the nomination.
“I can tell you today that I was in the National Assembly Complex as early as 6:00 in the morning and I stayed in a car in the car park till quarter to 10:00am. That is the truth. I stayed there and I was there with no communication whatsoever.
“So, anybody who said he spoke to me to go to the ICC was not being truthful because I didn’t even know what was going on. All I was monitoring was how people were arriving the complex.
“It was just before 10:00 that I got information that the Clerk to the National Assembly had entered the chamber. So, I got out of the small car I was inside, stretched myself and put on my Babariga because I didn’t have it on before then.
“I walked from the car park into the chamber. That was why some of you would have seen that I looked very tired that morning.
“Even when I was in the chamber, I didn’t know what had transpired earlier. The only thing I observed was that it appeared that some of our senators were not in the chamber, but because the fact that my colleagues arrived in batches, I had the opinion that they were on the way and, by 10:00am, the programme started.
“Before I knew it, my election had come and gone. Even my people were worried; it was only when I got into the chamber that they were relieved.”
On Ekweremadu’s emergency as the Deputy Senate President, Saraki said, “in my own view, and, in the view of some of those who worked closely with me, I worked hard for my election. I had direct contact with every single senator, one on one; weeks leading to the election, I did not rely on anybody. I worked hard; both in our party, the APC and out of it.
“I approached every senator, I talked to them, we built confidence, not only in the APC, but, also, in the PDP. I talked to them. That was why I laughed when people said I had a deal with Ekweremadu or I had a hand in the emergence of Ekweremadu.
“I didn’t need any deal to win. I had penetrated, there was no deal; I didn’t need any deal in the first place. I had worked hard such that everybody who was a Senator, I campaigned hard and canvassed for their votes and won their confidence.
“At one of the meetings held at Transcorp Hilton which Senator Godswill Akpabio co-chaired with Senator Ibrahim Gobir and a few others, which had both APC and PDP members, if you heard most of them there, the position they took was that ‘this is the Senate President they want.’
“Across party lines, that day they believed in me and that this is the Senate President that can lead us, there was no deal.
“Sometimes, I wonder how some of our colleagues found themselves at the ICC. If it had been a case that the Clerk of the National Assembly had made an announcement and the event had been postponed or it was no longer holding, plus, the invitation, I’m sure some are asking now, what really happened?
“First of all, the PDP senators had announced to the public that they were supporting me without even meeting me because, in their own meeting, majority had decided to vote for me.
“In their own interest, strategically, they decided that, `look, this is a fait accompli’ because 30 of their own senators were going to vote for this man anyway and the remaining felt it was better to join.
“It wasn’t until 2:00am that they called us to tell us their decision . With regards to the deputy, when they told us that they had a candidate, we, too, told them we had a candidate for Deputy Senate President in the person of Senator Ali Ndume!
“After our own meeting, it was our thinking that it was after the election of the Senate President that the two groups in APC would meet and we would agree on a candidate. We never in our imagination thought they would not turn up. By the time we got there, we were only 24 while the PDP was more than 40.
“In an election, there’s no way they would not have defeated us and that was what happened? And now, when people say it was a deal, I say that if the CNA had started the procedure in the House of Representatives first, and moved to the Senate, thereafter, today, we, the APC, would have had a deputy Senate President.”
“It is unfortunate that we have a PDP man as deputy Senate President. It is painful. It is painful for every APC member because when we went through the struggle, that was not what we signed for. But it has happened; but it is unfortunate and it is not fair to put the blame on one side because it is a combination of errors and miscalculations that led us to have, that morning, some Senators were at another place instead of being there.
“So, to suggest that it was out of a desperate act to emerge, is what I reject completely and those who followed the events would know that I didn’t have that deal to emerge.”

Then who is better to be the Senate President of the 8th Assembly? Is it Ahmed Lawan that nver sponsored any Bill through out his 3 terms as Senator or what?

coolitempa:
Even as a supporter of APC....I cannot support this man as senate president.....his past is toooo.....

To me, The writer is just playing a kind of hate Politics

yusufalabere:
let me just start with what you said and I quote "the police commissioner who went along with this nefariou act was later shot dead by hired assassins on his way to his village during the Christmas of 2012. I do not know whether Bukola was involved but the coincidence was too ominous". so far you not sure of what you are saying it means all your aligation against Bukola Saraki has no evidence. my advice for you is to put stop to all this before is too late.

LOL, The last election said it all and they are here crying fowl claiming their Dad owe Okocha money, Its possible to owe Igbo man money for 24hrs without crying? Shiroo

keyzid:
You ain't typing that trash? Are you? Nobody here in kwara wants Saraki.

I don't know Senator Bukola Saraki Personal but in Nigeria today, We have known him to be one of the strong forces that fought bloodless and Sane revolution. Be as it may, You don't just begin to dent image of your own for the sake of personal interest and greed at the expense of Nigerians...It is better the writer come out plan to tell Nigerians who he is supporting to be the 8th SP than stylishly denting image of anyone to give edge to the person we don't even know until Ambition and Personal interest Set in.. I am not supporting Sen. Ahmed Lawan to be the next SP but I can't stoop to low to begin to sail falsehood around to dent his image when Nigerians already know who is who after the both Contenders had interview with ChannelsTv...

I want people with sincere conscience here to question the writer, I mean Salient questions. Nigeria is not so weak to let lose Senator Bukola Saraki if he is truly guilty of the charges as claimed by the writer. I don't think we have any guilty and corrupt leader that will ever kick against FG when he knows he has Skeleton in his cupboard and that will definitely be used against him to clip him down but Senator Saraki cleared many doubts even when I was personally doubting if he is corrupt or not, He waged sane revolution against the ruling power and danced to the beat of the hunters (EFCC) and nothing found till date yet, We keep assuming fairy tales and dishing out concoction to assassinate his character to give Edge to Ahmed lawan that I never knew until the race of SP!

Saraki family is not the only prominent family in kwara but the question goes thus; How many prominent families in kwara are ready to do what the Saraki family is doing to assist people? They begin to go closer to people in kwara at the eve of election but only saraki leaves his doors open through out the 4years yet, you question his victory and acceptance in kwara.. I will implore the writer to urge other prominent kwarans to stand up and do the same or better than Saraki is doing to see if they won't get the result Saraki is getting in kwara.

What many people failed to realise when trying to assassinate image of any political stalwart in Nigeria is that, "You don't try to build the weak by Pulling down the strong",. If the writer thinks all this allegation is real, common senses will always draw pple like us back to ask why and how he delivered kwara 100 percent to APC Nigeria in the last election without any allegation of rigging exercise in kwara. We need to think beyond hate politics and not preaching hates, Peddling lies to defame unlawfully just to give edge to perfect personal interest at the expense of Nigerians.

After reading through the Sponsored hate Article and not Submission, I took time to read each comment and am happy to have seen perfect comments which obviously justified audience were not Convinced because it's so Glaring that, it was a sponsored concoction to assassinate the image of Senator Bukola Saraki. Anyway, The writer can do better than this and not until he misinformed audience to give edge to the bench warmer, Sen. Ahmed Lawan.

I wish we all can outgrow politics of Bitterness against one another all in the name of scoring cheap political points. I learnt this lesson for the general elections which few Nigerians for the sake of greed and personal interest heavily kicked against General Muhammadu Buhari not by actions but by Sponsoring tarnishing tales to assassinate his character in other to give the present failed reign edge over whom we already see as masses messiah. Am happy seeing this clarification because some have bin accusing Senator Bukola Saraki of Pending court cases even when we all know he is one of the strongest hands that gave us the Victory we are all celebrating today in Nigeria, When we as masses needed voices and forces to realise Nigeria of today, Senator Bukola Saraki gave us and we never asked if he had Pending cases, why now? Once more, am glad for the clarification cos am already seeing him as the 8th Senate President of Federal Republic of Nigeria!

In response to the incited submissions, via reading through ur submission, it is clear that it was incited to dent the image of Sen. Bukola Saraki as he stands better chances of becoming the 8th SP. Without iota of truth or convincing evidences with your claims, Don't you think if ur claims were reasonable enough, Kwarans would have denied him in the just concluded election but if you don't know, he convincingly delivered kwara State 100 percent to General Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC. Note, Anyone with Skeleton in his cupboard dare not stand against the presidency as it is a culture to use skeleton in cupboards to witch Hunt any Whistleblower but Sen. Saraki did and became a regular customer to EFCC which nothing was found against him after several Questions. I want my brother that posted this incited submission to have a rethink or present evidences to back his fallacy against my own claims..