₦airaland Forum

Saraki Mourns Borno Deputy Governor, Zannah Mustapha

Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki,
on Saturday said he “received with shock” the news of the death of the Deputy Governor of Borno State,  Zannah Umar Mustapha.

Saraki in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, said it was difficult to believe the information that Mustapha, he met in Borno about a week ago during his tour of some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in Maiduguri could have left this world so soon.

Saraki said: “When I met Umar Mustapha in Maiduguri, he was so full of life that it could not have crossed ones imagination that we were meeting for the last time.

“He came across to me as a complete gentleman who was doing all in his power to assist his principal, Governor Kashim Shettima not only to defeat insurgency in the zone, but to bring succour to the entire people of Borno State, especially those adversely affected by the insurgency.

“It is a pity that today he is not going to witness the imminent end of the mindless bloodletting and destruction of property being visited on a peaceful and hospitable people in the north-east zone of the country.

“We can only take solace in the fact that he lived a good life and died in the service of his people. He was a complete gentleman and a devoted servant-leader. May Almighty Allah grant him a place among the righteous ones in Aljannah Firdaus”, Saraki stated.

The Senate President, also, commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the Governor and people of Borno State and prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the sad incident.

He added: “Only the complete and total eradication of insurgency from every part of the north-east and other affected parts of the country can serve as a befitting tribute to this great Nigerian who has departed so soon.”

The Deputy Governor died in Yola, capital of the neighbouring Adamawa State, while on an official duty.

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SP @BUKOLASARAKI TASKS N/ASSEMBLY WORKERS ON CORRUPTION, INEFFICIENCY
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday, charged the workers of the National Assembly to shun corruption and inefficiency in the discharge of their duties.
Saraki gave the charge, when the leadership of the National Assembly chapter of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), visited him in Abuja.
The Senate president acknowledged that the workers were key to the success of the 8th Senate, saying the upper chamber under his leadership, would continue to make staff welfare top priority.
He stated that, while the Senate was ready to provide conducive environment necessary for staff members to deliver on their mandate, it would in turn, expect managers of its bureaucracy to reciprocate the gesture through hard work and dedication to their duties.
Saraki said: “I want to also urge you to tell your members, particularly in this time of change that we have all fought hard for, that ushered in the new government during the last elections; that we must change from ways things were done in the past. We must avoid bureaucratic delays, we must avoid inefficiencies and we must shun corrupt practices.
“These things are important. It is important for us to accept that things cannot be done the way they used to be. We will do our best to give you conducive and enabling environment, so that the hardship that some of you are going through will be reduced and in return, we will expect productivity; we will expect that things be done differently.”
The Senate president assured that the 8th Senate would work hard, stressing that the unalloyed support of the workers was needed to enable the upper legislative chamber succeed.
“More importantly, please go back and charge your colleagues that we must work very hard to bring result to the great people of Nigeria that are yearning for change; and as you do that, I am sure that what you need for your own welfare will be addressed,” Saraki stated.
Earlier, the Chairman of the National Assembly branch of PASAN, Bature Musa, said the emergence of Saraki as the Senate president had been of great blessing to members of the union.
Musa said: “It is important to note that what you have started here can change the nation because, when you change the life of one person, you have changed the life of a family.”

Saraki: Ooni's Transition A National Loss

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has described the passing on to glory of Oba Okunade Sijuade, the Ooni of Ife, as the end of an era in Yorubaland.
Saraki in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu said he was particularly saddened by the fact that the Ooni departed at a time when the country is in dire need of his wise counsel, respected interventions and patriotic stand on issues of national significance.
While describing the transition of Oba Sijuwade as a "national loss", the Senate President commiserated with members of the Olubuse royal family, people of Ile Ife, Government and people of Osun State and the entire Yorubaland over the demise of a "king who represents the best of Yoruba traditions and customs".
He described the late Ooni as a royal father who will remain dear to his heart for a long time due to his deliberate efforts to promote Yoruba culture and tradition.
He noted that as a way of promoting national unity, the Ooni gave chieftaincy titles to many Nigerians from other parts of the country.
"On behalf of my family and the National Assembly, I convey my most heartfelt and sincere condolences to the royal family, people and Government of Osun State, the entire Yoruba race and Nigerians as a whole on the departure of the foremost traditional ruler, the Arole Oodua", Saraki stated.

The Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday took Selfies With All Progressives Youth Forum Members In Abuja. #SarakiSelfies

Saraki in quandary as Senators reject pay-cut
By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA—SENATE President, Bukola Saraki, appears to be currently in a state of confusion, as his plans to considerably reduce the salaries and allowances of senators apparently hit a brick wall yesterday.
Saraki had, in his early days as Senate President, hinted that his leadership would review downward, the perceived bogus salaries and allowances of senators, saying his decision was in line with the mood of the nation.
The Senate President had constituted an ad-hoc committee on the review of the finance of the Senate for the purposes of cutting cost of governance through downward review of salaries and allowances of senators.
After weeks of deliberations the 10-man committee, chaired by Senator James Manager, PDP Delta South, submitted its report to the senate last week Thursday with recommendations on a slight reduction in the salaries and allowances of senators.
The report, according to a source, recommended a 10 per cent cut in the allowances and salaries of all senators.
The report which was to be openly debated on the floor of the Senate yesterday for possible adoption, was stood down for further legislative input after about two hours of closed door session by all the senators on it.

At the resumption of sitting yesterday, Senator Saraki following a closed door session, said that senators agreed to step down the report for further legislative input without giving any reason.
But some senators, who later spoke to Vanguard on the issue on the condition that their names must be kept secret, said the report was stood down due to its total rejection by the majority of the senators.
Senators it was learnt, warned that the matter must be cautiously handled.
One senator said that though majority of the senators agreed that funny allowances like the monthly N42,000 wardrobe allowance should be cancelled or cut off completely but that many reasoned that substantive statutory emoluments should be sustained in the face of increasing financial requests from constituents and other Nigerians on daily basis.
He said: “Yes, as recommended by the committee, all senators agreed that there must be openness in the Senate budget and by extension, all beneficiary organs of the National Assembly but at the same time, many reasoned that why should we further reduce our budget when already, N30billion has been reduced from the traditional N150 billion that it used to be for all the seven different organs of the National Assembly.
“All of us have people in our constituencies and financial requests from them keep pilling up on daily basis, the reality of which made steps to be redirected, otherwise, some of us may stop coming here.”
However, the Chairman, Senate Ad- Hoc committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, APC, Kogi West, at a media briefing, explained that the stepping down of the report was done in order to carry the House of Representatives and other organs of the National Assembly along.
According to him, the budget of the Senate was not independent of the entire National Assembly.
He said: “The Senate today, in closed door session, discussed the report of the ad hoc Committee on finances of the Senate, and after due deliberations by the senators, we came to the conclusion that since the budget of the Senate is not independent of the budget of the National Assembly, where the budget of the House of Representatives is also inclusive.
“We have the management, we have the NILS, we have even the Public Accounts, we also have the National Assembly Civil Service Commission, we have agreed that we should consult amongst other arms that share the budget of the NASS, with the House of Representatives before we would draw a conclusion on the report. So, the resolution is that we are going to interface with the House of Representatives so that we can be on the same page on the report as presented. This is the resolution of the Senate today in closed door session’

Rebuilding the Northeast is a global responsibility, says Saraki
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, again on Tuesday took his quest for the urgent rehabilitation and reconstruction of the North-East Zone now devastated by the Boko Haram insurgents to the international community.
Saraki while while receiving the Ambassador of South Korea, Mr. Noh Kyu-Duk, and the India High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. A.R. Ghanashyam who visited him separately in Abuja said rebuilding the North-east zone has become the responsibility of the global community.
He lamented that the zone currently lacks functional hospitals, schools and other social amenities that make like worth living and specifically called on the two envoys and their countries to assist in the rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts of the Federal Government in the Northeast, which will immediately follow the seizure of insurgency operations in the area.
He stated that one of the major challenges confronting the country is the insecurity caused by the Boko Haram. "Nigerians are yearning for a move to address some key issues such as the security challenges we are seeing in Northeastern part of country. We went to visit the zone and our observation was that there is need for rehabilitation and reconstruction. They now lack schools, hospitals and houses. All these need to be totally rebuilt in most of those places.", he said.
"I think a lot of our friendly countries like yourself can play a role in this great humanitarian support to see what you can contribute to the development of the area because if we are going to reconstruct the Northeast today, it cannot just be from our regular inflows and revenues.
"I think it is a big responsibility for all our friends to see how they can contribute in putting together an infrastructure development fund that will go towards rebuilding the Northeast. The rebuilding of the Northeast should be a global responsibility", he said.
The Senate President also told his visitors that the Senate under his leadership is currently reviewing extant laws and also initiating new ones to make Nigeria an attractive investment destination.
He said: "We are ready as the Eighth Senate, and one of our legislative agenda that has been listed is reviewing all laws that have to do with making Nigeria more attractive for business people to do business, looking at legal instruments that will also improve our commercial dispute resolution and make people find Nigeria as a place that it will be easy to do business."
He added that the Senate was also interested in how Nigeria can deepen her trade relationship with South Korea and India.
Earlier, the South Korean Ambassador, Mr. Kyu-Duk, noted that the Senate President had already proved himself "as a visionary leader who is set to achieve the change agenda having delivered reforms and change in the areas of health, education, agriculture, security, power and environment as former Governor of Kwara State."
He added: "I am quite confident of your success in leading this august representative body to reform malfunctioning sectors of this country through proactive legislations. Nigeria is a second home to me."
On his part, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Ghanashyam, said his country desired improved business relationship with Nigeria, having sustained mutual understanding even before the two countries became independent.
Apart from the establishment of healthcare and educational facilities in the country, the envoy said that India is ready to partner Nigeria to diversify her economy through agriculture and the knowledge-based industry.o
Signed
The Media Office of the Senate President

Saraki: Online Medium Has Forged My Passport, lgnorant of Constitution Provision

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, at the weekend alleged that an online medium forged his international passport and published it with the intention to malign his personality and satisfy the whims and caprices of its sponsors.

He described the act of forgery as a criminal offence which must be investigated and accordingly punished.

Saraki, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on New Media, Bankole Omisore, said he had consequently asked his solicitors in the United Kingdom to write UK Home and Passport Office to immediately commence investigation into the allegation and consequently bring any erring person or group to justice.

He recalled that on August 6, the medium published a report entitled: ‘Nigeria’s Senate President Saraki Lied in His Official Election Forms’ on its website, where it alleged that Saraki was not a Nigerian citizen.

The statement further argued that the publication was based solely on assumptions that “Saraki intentionally avoided question 10 on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) form for candidates contesting National Assembly elections and by so doing must have sworn to an oath of allegiance to another country, such as United Kingdom, the report concluded.”

He added: “The article also suggested that the Senate President avoided stating his place of birth on the INEC form and that he is intentionally concealing his UK citizenship to avoid being disqualified in any way from political office.”

Saraki wondered why the medium had failed to find out his constitutional right to hold dual citizenship before hastening to publish the claim, explaining that certain provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) gives anyone born outside the country by Nigerian parents the right to hold dual citizenship.

He further argued that only those who acquired citizenship by naturalisation are prohibited from acquiring the citizenship of another country.

“For the avoidance of doubt and for record purposes, Section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution discredit the medium’s argument that Saraki is ineligible for public office. The section clearly stipulates that ‘every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria’ are considered ‘citizens of Nigeria by birth.’ What this means is that even if the Senate President were born in the UK, he will qualify as a citizen of Nigeria by birth under Section 25(1c) – citizen by birth through parentage.

“Also, there has always been a flawed misconception on the issue of dual citizenship vis-a-vis a holder of public office in Nigeria. Section 28 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) deals with this wherein it highlights the fact that only those who are Nigerians by registration or naturalisation shall forfeit their citizenship if they acquire the citizenship of another country.

“It is important to state at this juncture that the requirement to forfeit Nigerian nationality/citizenship upon acquisition of the nationality/citizenship of another country, does not apply to persons who are Nigerians by birth within the definition of Section 25 of the constitution. This section also acknowledges and protects the right to hold citizenship by birth of another country – as citizenship by birth is an inalienable right under the constitution

“Furthermore, to put this particular issue to rest, the import of Section 66(1)(a) of the constitution cannot be underestimated. The section clearly states that: ‘Subject to Section 28 of the constitution, anybody who has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country must be disqualified. The key word here is ‘voluntarily’ and is subject to the provisions of Section 28, which protect the right to hold the citizenship of another country if such citizenship is acquired by birth...

“It is also of importance to state categorically here that Senator Saraki’s UK passport as posted on the website of Sahara Reporters is a forged document that deserves thorough investigation by the UK Home and Passport Office. Senator Saraki on of July 19 2015, has instructed his solicitors in the UK to write the UK Home Office to commence immediate investigation into this act of criminality. There is no doubt that this is a typical criminal offence against the state and also an act of defamation of character against the President of the Senate and whoever is found responsible should be prosecuted. The question that needs to be unravelled thereof by the UK Home and passport  Office, among other things, is where did Sahara Reporters get a forged or fake UK passport which it claims it belongs to Senator Saraki and decided to post same on its website?” he asked.

Saraki Is Not Secretly Campaigning For 2019 Eections – Dino Melaye

A member of the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Dino #Melaye, has come to the rescue of Senate #President, Bukola Saraki, who was reportedly in Borno #State to secretly launch his 2019 presidential campaign.

According to Melaye, the chairman of the Senate ad hoc committee on publicity, the Senate President’s visit to Borno had no connection with 2019.

Melaye said: “It is myopic to say the visit has a link with 2019. The visit was not the making of the Senate president but the resolution of the Senate during a plenary last week.

“The visit has nothing to do with the ambition of the Senate president.

“The visit was as a result of the motion moved by Senator George Thompson Sekibo of #Rivers East Senatorial District on the Boko Haram insurgency.

“It was during the debate at the floor that Senate resolved that a delegation led by the
Senate president should visit the North East states,” he said.

Meanwhile, Melaye has given President Muhammadu #Buhari a pass mark, saying he has so far performed well in piloting the affairs of the country.

“Buhari is driving within the speed limit unlike the previous administration that was over speeding, driving 140 Km per hour and at the end of the day, they grounded the vehicle,”
he said.

IN DEFENSE OF THE TRUTH: SAHARA REPORTERS SUSPICIOUS MOTIVES FOR ATTACKING DR. SARAKI
On Thursday, August 6th, 2015, SaharaReporters published a totally fabricated report entitled: "Nigeria's Senate President Saraki Lied In His Official Election Forms" on its website. In that dubious and utterly false report, SR alleged that the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is not a Nigerian citizen. The article went further, based solely on suppositions to infer that Dr. Saraki intentionally avoided question 10 on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) form for candidates contesting National Assembly elections and by so doing must have sworn to an oath of allegiance to another country, such as United Kingdom, the report concluded. The article also suggested that the Senate President avoided stating his place of birth on the INEC form, and that he is intentionally concealing his UK citizenship to avoid being disqualified in any way from political office.
One is not unminful of the obvious fact that freedom of expression may be absolutely basic human right, but it is pertinent to state that it is not without limits. This obvious fact has brought to bear, what is the essence of journalism which is meant to educate, orientate and bring out the truth to ensure justice, equity and fairness in every human endeavor. Unfortunately, it seems the tenets of professional journalism means nothing to Sahara Reporters.

As it stands, a detailed perusal of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, clearly indicates that the point Sahara Reporters is attempting to raise is moot – especially with regards to holding UK citizenship. The ready question at hand to ask is; why Sahara Reporter has intentionally remained silent and avoided to look into the constitutional Provisions of right to hold dual citizenship, especially where the party in question holds Nigerian citizenship by birth. The second relevant question is, if in fact, the purpose of such a publication was for public interest, has Sahara Reporters carried out diligent investigation on the authenticity of its report before publication? If the answers to the above questions are in the negative, then the rationale behind the report is for obvious reasons.
For the avoidance of doubt and for record purposes, Section 25(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution discredit Sahara Reporters' argument that Dr. Saraki is ineligible for public office. The section clearly stipulates that “every person born outside Nigeria either of whose parents is a citizen of Nigeria” are considered “citizens of Nigeria by birth.” What this means is that even if the Senate President were born in the UK, he will qualify as a citizen of Nigeria by birth under S.25(1c) – citizen by birth through parentage.
Also, there has always been a flawed misconception on the issue of dual citizenship vis-a-vis a holder of public office in Nigeria. S.28 of the 1999 Constitution (as (amended) deals with this wherein it highlights the fact that only those who are Nigerians by registration or naturalization shall forfeit their citizenship if they acquire the citizenship of another country. It is important to state at this juncture that the requirement to forfeit Nigerian nationality/citizenship upon acquisition of the nationality/citizenship of another country, does not apply to persons who are Nigerians by birth within the definition of Section 25 of the Constitution. This section also acknowledges and protects the right to hold citizenship by birth of another country – as citizenship by birth is an inalienable right under the Constitution
Furthermore, to put this particular issue to rest, the import of S.66(1)(a) of the Constitution can not be underestimated. The section clearly states that: "Subject to S.28 of the Constitution, any body who has voluntarily acquired the citizenship of another country must be disqualified. The key word here is ‘voluntarily’, and is subject to the provisions of S.28, which protect the right to hold the citizenship of another country if such citizenship is acquired by birth.
In other words, Section 28 states clearly that dual citizenship is allowable where one qualifies as a Nigerian by Birth as contained in Section 25 (1) (a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution. The only instance in which forfeiture of citizenship becomes applicable under the Constitution is by holders of: i) citizenship by registration under Section 26; and ii) citizenship by naturalization, under Section 27 of the Constitution.
The Court of Appeal decision in the case of Dr. Willie Ogebide v. Mr. Arigbe Osula {2004} 12 NWLR Part 886 pp 127 paragraphs D-G says it all. Adeniji JCA reading the lead judgment held that:
Holding the citizenship of another country does not preclude, disqualify or nullify a person from having, acquiring or retaining Nigerian citizenship by birth. This is even more prevalent where such citizenship has been acquired by birth. Furthermore, there is no requirement for a dual citizen of Nigeria (by birth) and another country to renounce either citizenship.
In view of the above, holding dual citizenship does not mean that a public office holder, like the Senate President had earlier changed his nationality in the past; it simply means he has held both citizenships simultaneously without the need to acquire one after the other. As both were acquired by birth, the Senate President automatically had both citizenships ‘bestowed’ on him from the moment of his birth.
To this end, citizens of a country by birth do not need to swear to an oath of allegiance to that country; it is only citizenship acquired through naturalization and registration that have the requirement to take an oath of allegiance. Above all, there is no evidence that Dr. Saraki took an oath of allegiance or intentionally attempted to conceal his UK citizenship – especially as he has never denied holding the citizenship in question.
One is however uncomprensible, as it beats ordinary sense of imagination of how Sahara Reporters went to extent of producing and pasting fake UK passport claiming it to be that of Senator Bukola Saraki. What on earth would Sahara Reporters benefit from such "pull him down at all cost" syndrome? This is an indication that the online media outfit is out to tarnish the image of the President of the Senate. It is a confirmation of the fact that Sahara Reporters is doing the bidding of its pay masters which is well known to all and sundry as the man behind the scene will soon be exposed and brought to the public domain.
It is also of importance to state categorically here that Senator Saraki's UK passport as posted on the website of Sahara Reporters is a forged document that deserve thorough investigation by the UK Home and passport Office. Senator Saraki on the 19th of July 2015, has instructed his Solicitors in UK to write the UK Home Office to commence immediate investigation into this act of criminality .There is no doubt that this is a typical criminal offence against the State and also an act of defamation of character against the President of the Senate and whoever is found responsible should be prosecuted. The question that needs to be unravelled thereof by the UK Home and passport Office, among other things; where did Sahara Reporters get a forged or fake UK passport which it claims it belongs to Senator Saraki and decided to post same on its website?.
To this end, it is no longer shocking, based on the antecedents of Sahara Reporters, the extent to which Sahara Reporters and its sponsors are willing to go to malign the person of Senator Saraki; passing off a forged/fake document as authentic is no doubt a criminal offence in every jurisdiction. Now that the entire public has clarity on Sahara Reporters and it's criminal indulgence, Sahara Reporters needs to explain the source of this fake document to the UK Home Office. Sahara Reporters, its cronies, allies and sponsors must be ready to face the full course of law upon conclusion of the investigation by the UK Authorities. We hereby urge the public to remain vigilant and be watchful of reports and and stories published by Sahara Reporters as they may be laced with blatant lies, deceit and criminality devoid of any iota of truth. We shall make public, the outcome of the investigation by the UK Home office and passport office.
Bamikole Omishore
Special Assistant on New Media
Office of The Senate President

Saraki's Visit To Maiduguri: Political Confusionists Shouldn’t Misinterpret Performance

By: Adewole Opeyemi

In an article published in the Vanguard Newspapers, and several online outlets on the 6thof August, 2015, entitled “Bukola Saraki Visited Maiduguri For Selfish Political Reasons” by Ishaq Madibbo Kawu, the writer has an erroneous take on the Dr. Saraki’s Monday, August 3rd, 2015 visit to the North East, which not only reduces the efficacy of the article, but basically generates unnecessary controversy – where none existed before.

The visit paid by a delegation of the 8th Senate to the camp of Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Maiduguri and Adamawa as a display of nationalism, was borne out of the desire to experience, and report back to the upper legislative chamber the effects of the Boko Haram insurgency. Mr. Kawu’s article, in its entire sequence, has articulated nothing but his strong anti-Saraki sentiments. These sentiments, demonstrate that to a man like Kawu, no deed – no matter how good or altruistic – from the Senate President, is worthy of commendation. This is a dangerous and unproductive frame of mind for an opinion columnist.

http://www.thetrentonline.com/soundoff-sarakis-visit-to-maiduguri-political-confusionists-shouldnt-misinterpret-performance/

Saraki seeks e-parliament system for Nigeria
THE Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has challenged the Senate Committee on Rules and Business to evolve an e-parliament system to open a new chapter in Nigeria’s legislative history.

Saraki, while inaugurating the committee in the National Assembly complex yesterday, said the vice chairman of the committee and Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, as well as other members including Barnabas Gemade, Kabiru Marafa, Joshua Lidani, David Umaru, Clifford Ordia, Chukwuka Utazi and Uche Ekwunife, were specially chosen to make a difference in managing the day to day business of lawmaking.

Therefore, “you must start this new page in the history of the Senate and I believe those who are members here have the capacity to do that, and that is where we begin to say that the Eighth Senate did make a difference and started to do something innovative and useful,” he said.

“I know that being led by the chairman, the majority leader and also distinguished senators, you must be the one to change the operational modalities of the Senate because that is one of the things we want you to do as you prepare the Order Paper on a daily basis.”

According to Saraki, the committee’s composition also shows that the present Senate is operating a policy of inclusiveness, having put politics behind to face the real work of legislating for the country.

He added: “I think what we are also doing here is showing the world what we have always said, that this is an inclusive Senate.

“This Senate is here to serve the people and I think that having someone like Senator Babajide Omoworare as chairman of the committee also confirms that we are beginning to walk our talk about the composition of committees and allocation of responsibilities based on competence, experience and qualification.”

Earlier, Omoworare pledged that the committee would be innovative and proactive in executing its mandate and “ensure that there is fairness in the scheduling of the business of the Senate.

“The committee notes that after 16 years of democracy, there should be a near uniformity and standard in the Standing Orders of the

@Bukolasaraki’s Historical Visit To IDP Camps And Matters Arising By Wale Bakare 
When the Senate president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki touched down in Maiduguri the Borno State capital, not many envisaged that this will be more than the ‘usual’ visit with its characteristic political glamour often used to score cheap points at the expense of the unsuspecting host.

This visit was different, at the announcement of the trip to Borno many senators who were already fed up with the drama that engulfed the chambers for weeks were eager to get on the list to kick-start their legislative duties but unfortunately, Senator Bukola Saraki had to constitute an 8-man senate committee with priority given to Senators from the troubled states indicating an end of the previous era where issues on Northeast insurgency’s were treated with kids gloves by its leadership.
The Senate delegation were warmly received by the people of Borno and immediately, they proceeded to the Internally Displaced People’s camp across the state capital and the outcome was a renewed hope. The visit soon turned out remarkable being the first by the leadership of the senate since the Boko haram insurgency broke out in the northern part of the country in 2009.

Interestingly, the atmosphere was unusually electric as the sleepy town of Maiduguri once again came to live. The children numbering over 4,000 camped across various IDPs were displaced from their original habitat majorly from the neighboring countries as a result of the expanding activities of the terrorist sect. This historical visit became one of such these children were desirous of and denied by past government whose premises upon their long neglect holds no water.

Bukola Saraki and his delegation gave the children a renewed hope, the type that will bring an end to their plight while given them a sense of belonging in the larger society. The smiles on the adults and children’s faces, never seen before symbolises a flick of tranquility; they were at peace with themselves and wished that moment never came to an end. The video clips of the IDPs camp visit sums up the death of all fears; a pure delight to watch displaced children, grown men and mothers reunite in raw happiness.

While the visit may have ended, the true significant of the trip has started to yield much dividends. Asides the 10million naira  donated personally by the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki to some IDPs, there are already plans underway to enact laws that will assist the government and people of Borno State in the quest to crush the Boko Haram uprising. For many people, this will be seen as a first major genuine effort by the leadership of the green chamber to fully support the federal government to combat terror.  It will be recalled that previous efforts by the past government to effectively fight boko haram were futile with cases of high profile corruption among the service chiefs.
As it stands, the population in IDP’s camp is exploding as more areas in the northeast becomes vulnerable to boko haram attacks thereby leading to an increase in out-of-school children who are within the schooling age.  The move by the Senate presidency to support the welfare of displaced people is a major lifeline in the scheme of events, while more of such concerted efforts are being required by organizations and international bodies to help eliminate growing cases of abuse within the camps by co-displaced persons and security agents.

Wale Bakare writes from Lagos
07030052445.

SARAKI’S VISIT TO MAIDUGURI, RESTORATION OF HOPE BY WODAH SUNDAY 
Since the Boko Haram insurgency began ravaging  the north-eastern part of Nigeria, many high-level government officials have stayed away from visiting the area due to the immense security risk involved. However, in recent times, in order to demonstrate that the ‘Change’ mantra of the ruling party, under this Buhari-led dispensation, is in full effect, many All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders have made it their duty to defy the security threats in the North East. Many of them, like Vice-President Osibanjo, and Senate President Bukola Saraki, have made it their duty to visit the area to assure their fellow countrymen and women – who are now referred to as Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) – that they are not alone.

On Monday, August 3rd, I read that the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, lead a delegation to Borno, Maiduguri. The delegation, which was made up of  his colleagues and some of his aides, visited the epicenter of the Boko Haram insurgency. The purpose of the visit, as explained by Dr. Saraki, was to send a clear and loud signal to the IDPs that in their present tribulation, their legislators – particularly those in the upper legislative chamber in Abuja – were still with them. Dr. Saraki further reassured the IDPs and the people of Maiduguri who have been affected that the activities of Boko Haram, that he and his colleagues would do everything necessary to support them.

Additionally, Dr. Saraki stressed that he would be relentless in ensuring that the Nigerian armed forces have all available resources to ensure that not only ensure the safety of the people of the North East, but to bring the Boko Haram insurgents to justice.

Dr. Saraki’s visit was also aimed at generating a message of hope and optimism, against the backdrop of  the overwhelming situation that many of the IDPs have found themselves in. It was for this reason that he took the time to motivate and joke around with the adult IDPs, while also playing with the children in the camps. To round off his visit, Dr. Saraki also made a personal donation of N10 million for the upkeep of the IDPs in the facilities visited.

The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shetima, who accompanied Dr. Saraki’s delegation on the visit to the IDP camps, appealed to the Senate President to ensure that his state and other affected neighbouring states receive special legislative attention. He said that such attention from lawmakers and other decision makers would be necessary to ensure that the North Eastern region once again becomes habitable by vibrant Nigerians.

Governor  Shettima further narrated the ordeal of his people since the unrest started, while also thanking the Senate delegation for daring to be different – as this was the first such official delegation by the Senate in the six years of the crisis.

Throughout the daylong visit, the faces and actions of the people demonstrated that they were aware that those in the corridors of power had not forgot them. Many of them sang songs of praise, and glowed with anticipation of the dividends that the Senate President’s visit would produce, once he returned to Abuja.

At a point of the visit, Governor Shettima could not hold back his tears. He spoke like a man who felt like the rest of the nation was not giving his State the type of support that the situation clearly desired – the type of support that would probably have been given if the crisis had occurred in other parts of the country. Senator Saraki was also clearly moved – as demonstrated by his tweets. He later recapped on the experience by saying: “It is very emotional to see over 2600 children made orphans by Boko Haram at Dalori IDP Camp. We will leave no stone unturned to address this.”

Although, few naysayers have attempted to play down on the significance of Saraki’s visit,  it is however clear that the Borno people are tired of feeling neglected and appreciate the visit by the leadership of the Senate. In the eyes of the children, as many as 4000 who have been orphaned by the activities of Boko Haram, I saw hope of a better Nigeria. They clearly do not long for our pity, but they hope for our support to defeat the menace, and restore their homes.

The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar, who also received the Senate delegation during the course of their visit, also decried the electricity situation in the State. The Shehu mentioned that this problem, compounded with the insurgency makes his people feel abandoned. He said that with about two million people taking refuge in the ancient town of Maiduguri, the lack of electricity opens the people to increased dangers of surreptitious attacks. The  Shehu mentioned that he was hopeful that with the visit by the Senators, this concern would be addressed shortly.

All in all, the visit by the Senate President and his delegation to Maiduguri cannot go unmentioned as it represents that Dr. Saraki and his colleagues are willing to use their capacity as lawmakers  to make positive changes in the life of the people – regardless of ethnic, religious and gender considerations of the affected people.

Indeed the step by Senator Saraki and the entire delegation is a step in the right direction to show that the APC-led 8th Senate, is definitely different and above what we witnessed in the previous years.

Don’t Pitch The Senate Against The President, Senator Ndume Warns

Majority Leader of the Senate, Ali Ndume has warn those imputing politics into recent decision of the Upper Legislative Chamber to send delegations to troubled areas in the North-East zone to stop their negative campaigns or incur the wrath of the people of the area.

Ndume representing Borno South District said the visit of the Senators led by Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to Maiduguri and the second delegation which visited Adamawa led by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, deputy Senate President was not a decision of one man or a small group but that of the entire Senate following an elaborate debate during plenary.

He added that it was unfortunate that some newspapers who obviously are holding brief for some interests bent on setting the Senate against the Presidency decided to make malicious claims about a trip that was aimed at achieving national unity and solving a major national crisis.
“For all intent and purposes, let it be made clear that we from Borno State feel very sad that while we complain that the issue of Boko Haram and the carnage they are inflicting on our people is not getting the kind of attention it deserves from key individuals and non governmental bodies, somebody still felt that we did not deserve the first visit by a delegation of the Senate in six years when the Boko Haram problem started.

“Our people are very happy about the visit. We believe we deserve that those who make laws for us in Nigeria should come to our area and see how we are living, the damage that we have suffered, what type of help we need and how we can retain focus on our plight,” he said in a press statement signed by him and made available to Naij.com

He further noted that the Senate delegation to Maiduguri went on a fact-finding on-the-spot assessment tour to fully understand the depth of the security situation in the North-East as well as determine ways the Senate can intervene.

He said the visit was in support of the efforts of the Buhari-led administration to quickly end the Boko Haram crisis and get the people to return to their normal life.

“If our going to Maiduguri is now being interpreted as 2019 politics, then we want the writer to go to the IDPs camps in the North-east and explain to the people why he wants to stop those who can help us from coming to our aid.

“The Governor was moved to tears while addressing our delegation about how the people feel neglected and how they felt that if the situation in the zone now were to occur in another area, the elite from all over the country would have been on pilgrimage there to identify with the victims. The Governor felt the visit by the Senators was very inspiring and comforting. That is the same visit this columnist who chose to settle personal scores is trying to rubbish,” he said.

Ndume further urged media owners to refrain from allowing their medium to be misused by those who want to canvass unpatriotic and vain viewpoints which only accentuate the fault lines in the nation. He reminded newspaper columnists to remember that they are trustees for the public by virtue of their access to newspaper pages and that they should not abuse the public trust.

Taiye Odewale: Vote Of Confidence That Diffused Tension in Senate.


By Taiye Odewale

Wednesday August 5,2015

In yet another dramatic way, the Senate President, BUKOLA SARAKI (APC, Kwara Central) in the face of strident criticisms cum opposition from a nucleus of the 59 senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over his emergence as President of the 8th Senate on the 9th of June this year and the Senate leadership as presently constituted, got an overwhelming vote of confidence from 81 out of the 108 serving senators across party lines penultimate Tuesday on resumption from trouble shooting recess that lasted five weeks.

It would be recalled that before and during the five weeks recess, the nucleus of the APC senators against the Senate leadership headed by SARAKI, under the aegis of Senate Unity Forum ( SUF), had made the Senate somewhat unstable by singular fact that they were the group APC leadership at the national level wanted to form the Senate leadership as far as the two presiding positions and four principal positions meant for senators of the ruling party are concerned.

For record purposes, the positions are Senate president, Deputy Senate President, Senate Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Whip of the Senate and Deputy Whip which are all occupied now, apart from the Chief Whip of the Senate, by Senators never supported for such purposes by the APC National leadership i.e, SARAKI as Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (PDP Enugu West) as Deputy Senate President, Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) as Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC Kebbi South) as Deputy Leader and Francis Alimikhena (APC Edo North) as Deputy Whip of the Senate.

Accordingly with expected moral backing of the APC national leadership, the SUF group otherwise known as anti – SARAKI or pro Lawan senators, being the anointed APC candidate for the position of President of the 8th Senate before the dramatic emergence of SARAKI in their absence on the day of inauguration when all of them were said to been at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja for a purported meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, started firing from all cylinders available to them to get rid of the Senate leadership headed by SARAKI using the alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate Standing Rules as the strongest missile for that purpose.

The alleged forgery of the 2015 Senate Standing Orders as a missile of dismantling the leadership of the 8th Senate as presently constituted was potently fired through the media during the recess by the group to the point of succeeding in making it a very big criminal case against the SARAKI led Senate leadership in the eye of the public and by extension, portraying it as a crumbling one whose head, or heads, were set for cut off, at Senate resumption penultimate Tuesday, 28th July, 2015.

The alleged forgery according to the group through a petition written to that effect by its secretary, Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC Kaduna North) to the Inspector – General of Police, Solomon Arase early last month, was a criminal act that must be investigated by the Police and appropriate legal action taken against any senator, senators or persons found to be involved.

The petition reads in part: “We write to bring to your attention, the existence of the fraudulent introduction of a 2015 Senate Standing Rules as amended.

“We wish to attach the original and authentic Standing Order for 2011 that was used by the 7th Senate, Annexure A.

“We again attach the annex here to, a purported amended Standing Orders 2015, which was used by the Clerk to the National Assembly (along with the Clerk of the Senate) in inaugurating the 8th Senate on June 9, 2015.

“The so called new Standing Orders purport to allow for secret instead of the open ballot system that has been prevalent in all Senate elections as permitted by the extant rules.

“This infraction, among others, arises from the fraudulent production of the Rules without an approved consideration by the 7th Senate.

“At no time was the Standing Orders of the Senate amended during the entire life of the 7th Senate neither has the 8th Senate sat for long enough to produce the rules now being circulated and in use.”

The police, on the strength of the petition, subsequently quizzed the leadership of the 7th Senate, including Senators David Mark; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; and the former chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang and in particular, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa.

Stoking the fire of opposition against the SARAKI led Senate leadership more, during the recess, was the most vocal member of the group, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara Central) who in different interviews and press releases threatened fire and brimstone that the Senate would be made ungovernable if the leadership does not give way at resumption.

Marafa in one of such outbursts even extended the scope of the group’s disagreement with the Senate leadership to PDP senators plan of installing Godwill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom North West) as Senate Minority Leader which eventually came to pass upper Tuesday.

He said: “Reported plan of some PDP senators in collaboration with the Senate leadership to make Akpabio the minority leader of the 8th Senate is a violation of the ranking rule of the Senate as the same rule was violated in the appointment of the presiding officers despite the fact that APC had properly guided the presiding officers by nominating ranking senators for the leadership positions.

“The leadership under SARAKI violated rule 3 (2) to appoint both Senators Ali Ndume and Bala Ibn Na’Allah as leader and deputy leader of the Senate and now we hear another alleged absurdity that Senator Godswill Akpabio may emerge Senate minority leader.

“Senators Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), James Manager (PDP Delta South), George Sekibo (PDP Rivers East), Emmanuel Paulker (PDP Bayelsa Central), Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP Taraba South), Sonni Ogbuoji (PDP Ebonyi South), Andy Uba (PDP Anambra South) Uche Ekwenife (PDP Anambra Central) and Owan Enoh (PDP Cross River Central) among others, should not be in chamber while a fresher like Akpabio become their leader.

“I swear to God, we will not allow this impunity to stand and a fresh one to be added. By the way won’t somebody ask him, who constituted these caucuses they are talking about?

“Who is the chairman or leader of North West caucus for example? Who is the secretary? If there is, who appointed or elected them, where and using which law?

“We all know how the leadership of the political parties and how they emerge. We know the supremacy of the political party (section 65 -2b) of the constitution. Let somebody tell us the supremacy of any caucus and where it’s hinged.

“May be they want stalemate in the 8th Senate looking at how they are running the place. They better shut it permanently than to reconvene and attempt to run it without respecting the rules.

“Oga Senate President, please read order one. They are misleading you. Nigeria no spoil reach this level, God forbid.

“We will force you on resumption to read order 1 and proceed by its provision. Unless if you want to reduce the red chamber to a jungle where everybody will do what he or she like to do and nobody can call anybody to order.

“Sir, (Senate President) you are the custodian and greatest beneficiary of the content of that red book, if you choose to violate it, we would help you to bring yourself down.”

A threat that created serious apprehension in the polity up till Tuesday morning, with regard to what may likely be the turn of event at Senate resumption that day.

But that was not to be, when the Senate eventually had its session on the said day. Though Marafa raised two legged points of orders to one, it was in nullity.

All the proceedings of the 8th Senate since after its inauguration on 9th June 2015 to 28th July when it reconvened from five weeks trouble – shooting recess on the grounds of being carried out on a document allegedly forged and two, to stop the approval of Akpabio as Minority Leader on the ground of not being a ranking senator as specified in the Senate rules and in line with its traditions, but the well planned move by the 81 other senators to counter any untoward development against the Senate leadership on the floor of the Senate that day, frustrated his solo opposition or better put, one man squad riot against the Senate leadership as presently constituted by ensuring his being ruled out of order on both grounds.

Marafa’s solo effort in that respect goes thus: “I want to posit that the activities of the Senate on the 9th of June stand because it was covered by the proclamation of Mr President which states that the proceedings of the chamber shall start by 10:00am. But all other activities of the Senate from the time, but not limited to the oath of office, is a nullity because it was not done within the time frame specified by relevant provisions of our internal rules as stated in order 13(2). The activities of the Senate on the 23rd and 24th are equally a nullity

“Secondly based on Order 3(2) of our rules, with due respect to our colleagues in the other party, the rule book regulate the proceedings of the chamber. This book brings about law and order in this chamber. This is the book that stipulates the dos and don’ts

“Order 3 (2) states that nomination of senators to serve as presiding officers and appointment of principal officers and other office of the Senate or on any parliamentary delegation shall be in accordance with the ranking of senators.

“The nomination made by the PDP is not in accordance with the ranking and is therefore null and void”.

A submission technically knocked off by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who through a counter point of order submitted that Marafa, as a member of the ruling party (APC) has no business in kicking against procedures and decisions arrived at by PDP senators on a position meant for them and not for the generality of the 108 senators.

Little wonder that the Senate President, BUKOLA SARAKI, in ruling him out of order, described Marafa’s antagonism against Akpabio as Minority Leader of the Senate, as a “case of somebody crying more than the bereaved”, adding that if any antagonism was to be made at all against Akpabio’s minority leadership of the Senate, it supposed to have come from one of those senators, Marafa referred to, as ranking”.

The session took a dramatic turn thereafter with a motion not listed on the order paper, but suddenly and strategically moved through a point of order by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP Imo East) in which 81 senators across party lines signed for passing a vote of confidence on the Senate President and the entire leadership of the Senate as presently constituted.

Anyanwu in the motion seconded by Senator Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West) notes with dismay, the continued harassment of the Senate and senators, the National Assembly management and spouses of senators by security agencies of government.

He added that inspite of that, the Senate should remain focused in the performance of its constitutional duties and responsibilities without fear or favour, especially on matters of interest and importance to the ordinary people of Nigeria in view of the enormous challenges facing the nation.

They also averred that the vote of confidence on the leadership of the Senate as presently constituted was very necessary in view of the sustained interference in the internal affairs of the Senate by detractors and media propaganda against the Senate and senators by selfish politicians.

The motion got express approval of the Senate without debate on account of already securing more than 2/3 supports of the entire senators before presentation and in the process, shut the door against any other move of dissent by the 26 senators remaining in the SUF group since 33 APC senators joined 48 PDP senators in co-sponsoring the motion.

Little wonder that while putting the motion to voice votes, the Senate President , BUKOLA SARAKIsaid: “There is no need for debate on this motion since more than 2/3 majority of the senators (81), have identified with it. We only need to put the two prayers to vote”, which he did, and got overwhelming yes votes from the senators without any nay vote from any of the remaining 26 senators with attendant diffusion of tension in a session earlier anticipated to be tension soaked and explosive.

Analytically, as events turn out on the floor of the Senate penultimate Tuesday, it was arguably an anticlimax, but a positive development for the present Senate leadership who going by the numbers of senators who assented to the vote of confidence passed, have only 26 APC senators left in the Senate Unity Group to contend with, as opposition elements, a scenario that apparently shows that the Senate as it is, presently, is driven by the 49 PDP senators in terms of direction with support of a fragment part of the 59 APC senators who ordinarily supposed to be the driving force of along with their other party colleagues in the SARAKI’s camp.

Boko Haram: Saraki Seeks Foreign Assistance to Rebuild North-East
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday solicited the assistance of the International Community for the on-going efforts by the Federal Government to end the insurgency in the North-eastern part of the country and thereafter rebuild the area as well as rehabilitate the people.
He said that such support would also help bring succour to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the area.
Saraki made the call at separate sessions he had with the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Zenner and his Spanish counterpart, Alfonso Barnudvo Sdbastian De Erice who paid courtesy visits to him in Abuja.
He stated that the humanitarian situation and level of destruction in the area ravaged by the insurgents require urgent and wide support across the world.
He said it was clear to him having led a delegation of the Senate to visit the IDPs camps in Maiduguri on Monday for an on-the-spot assessment that the Federal Government alone cannot foot the bills for total rehabilitation of the people and rebuilding of infrastructure damaged as a result of the activities of the insurgents.
Saraki said: "As you talked about insecurity, particularly the insurgency in the North-East, it is a problem that we alone cannot tackle. A couple of days ago, some of us were there in the North-East, in Borno State, to see the effects on the entire community particularly the Internally Displaced Persons, I think that it is clear that a large part of the North-East need reconstruction and rehabilitation and I think this is an area where long term funding will play a role to help us in the infrastructure.
"Those places needed to be rebuilt. There are no schools. There are no roads. The houses have been destroyed and I think that the international community can assist us by providing funding that will allow us to begin the rehabilitation and reconstruction of these areas.
"I think this is an area I will like to you to focus on and look at the opportunities. Things like these have happened in other parts of the world where international communities have come together and provided a kind of long term funding that will be required for reconstruction.
"It is clear that from our budget alone, it is not possible for us to fund it and I think it is also not right as leaders to continue to subject Nigerians, both old, young men, mothers and their children who have been in camps for years to continue there and I think it is one area that we will like to have your support", he said.
The Senate President told his guests that apart from insecurity, the nation is looking up to developed economies like Germany and Spain in the other sectors such as Agriculture, Mining, Health and Industrialization in order to bring the dividends of democracy to the populace.
Saraki assured his visitors of the commitment of the 8th Senate to work closely with every stakeholders in diversifying the economy.
In their separate remarks, the German Ambassador, Mr. Zenner and his Spanish counterpart, De Erice, commended the Nigerian Senate for putting behind the earlier crisis that bedevilled its take off adding that they will not relent in working closely with 8th Senate and the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration in achieving social, political and economic stability.
Signed:
Media Office of the Senate President

Saraki Leads Senate Delegation to North-East, Tells indigenes, Nigeria is with you ...Donates N10m to IDPs in Maiduguri.
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has assured the people of North-East that the entire country is solidly behind them in this time of trial.
Saraki who spoke when he led a delegation of the Senate on a one day on the spot assessment of the security situation in Borno State, also made a cash donation N10million in support of the upkeep of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
The Senate delegation was received by the Governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kassim Shettima at the Government House, after welcoming the team at the Maiduguri International Airport at 12:10pm.
Saraki said: "We have come to feel your pains, to hear what you have been going through firsthand. To seek to understand the severe bloody struggle you have had to endure and go through emotionally, physically, financially and in many other ways which can hardly be put in words," he said.
Saraki who also led the team, in company of Governor Shettima to pay homage to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Khanemi, assured the people that the Senate will do all in its power to ensure that life returns to the state and the Zone.
Saraki later visited the Internally Displaced Persons camps located at the Umaru Shehu College of Education in Maiduguri and the Government College Maiduguri with over 4000 displaced persons respectively.
The delegation also visited the Dalori IDPs Camp housing over 18,000 displaced persons from Bama local government of the state.
He said the resolution of the Senate to send a high powered delegation led by himself was a demonstration of the commitment of the Upper Chamber to find a lasting solution to the plight of people in the North-East.
Saraki said: "We have come to sit with you and listen to you and hopefully together work out solutions that would significantly change your situation for the better. We believe that after this visit your situation will not be the same again.
"The mission of our visit is simple; we have come to bring you hope and to let you know that the Nigerian Senate has not abandoned you and real change is coming. We are determined to end this carnage, this senselessness and sorrowful war. We are determined to defeat Boko Haram.
"The Nigerian Senate and indeed the National Assembly is willing to support you and your families to ensure that your lives return to normal. We could not in good conscience talk to you from Abuja. No. This new senate would rather come here and this is why we are here," he stated.
While welcoming the Senate President and his team, Governor Shettima who spoke in emotion-laden voice stated that the visit was historic and unprecedented.
He said: "I would like to express my sincere and profound welcome to the Senate President and our respected and distinguished Senators over this official visit to Borno State, which is the first of its kind by any Senate President since the advent of Civilian Administration in 1999.
"This is a clear manifestation of your concern for the plight of the people of the North-East region and Borno State in particular," he stated.
Saraki added: "We stand with you against Boko Haram and everything that stands against your security and against your welfare. We stand together with our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari whose singular devotion to ending these senseless killings gives us greater belief that together we will win the war.
"Our president has continued to work night and day to bring this evil of Boko Haram to a permanent end and we reiterate our resolve to ensure that together we succeed.
"We stand with our troops and will in the coming days show them that this new Senate will do all that is within its powers of authorization and approvals, support them and provide for them the necessary funding and oversight that will guarantee that they defeat thus insurgency.
"The 8th Senate has made the security and welfare of our people priority number one on its agenda. We are very conscious of the level of carnage and destruction that has been wrought on the people here.
"We will be working closely with our counterparts in the House of Representatives to make sure that we rebuild the economy of the North-East. We will not rest on our oars until normalcy is returned to this troubled region."
The governor of Borno State, observed that there are 26 IDP camps in Maiduguri aside those in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and other states in the country.
He urged the National Assembly to pass a Bill that will create the North-East Development Commission to handle the issue of reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement of the IDPs and provide employment for the youths as was done to the Niger Deltans.
On his part, Shehu El-Knenemi called for more support to flush out the insurgents from the North-East and to achieve rehabilitation, empowerment of the IDPs and urgent restoration of power supply to the area.
He said that over two million IDPs are currently being sheltered in Maiduguri alone.
Shettima said: "The people of Borno State view this day and this visit as most apt and most significant. I have no doubt in my mind about the seriousness of this administration to putting a permanent end to this senseless bloodletting and madness of a few misguided elements, who hide under the canopy of Islam to perpetuate this heinous crime against innocent and defenceless citizens.
"The action of these criminals are completely at variance with the tenets of Islam. Borno has seen the worst of this insurgency and the problem is still there rearing its head with its attendant bloodletting and carnage.
"The measures so far taken by this administration have rekindled our hope for a better and more secured future. We hope your coming to see the IDPs will translate into a more robust legislative action that will bring about safety, security and succour to our people," Shettima stated.
Other members of the Senate Delegation include Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Francis Alimikhena, Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Senator Hassan Mohammed, Senator Abubakar Kyari and the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Senator Isa Galaudu.
Signed:
Media Office of the President of the Senate

Saraki Appoints El-Sudi As Special Adviser On Legal Matters
...Isah As Special Assistant On Public Affairs
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has appointed Hon. Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi as his Special Adviser (SA) on Legal Matters. He also approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Isah as Special Assistant on Public Affairs.
El-Sudi comes to the job with a great wealth of experience having started his career as legal practitioner in Kano in 1990 and served as Special Adviser on Legal and Legislative Matters to the Governor of Taraba State between 2002 and 2003. In 2007, he was made the Secretary to the State Government (SSG). He was again appointed the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Taraba State in 2009.
He was a member of the 7th House of Representatives.
Isah was former Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Print Media to ex-Speaker, House of Representatives, Alh. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Signed:
Yusuph Olaniyonu
Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity

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.

Only the progressive minds moves for better planning of our dear country, Saraki has won my extolled way back when he served as NGF chairman which he used his leadership skills to perfect those un-open loopholes within the federal government and the states.
It's never new to me if I see saraki working again for peace move because he has been the beacon of the deepest hope one who works towards all responsibilities... I believe the 8th Assembly under the leadership of Bukola Saraki will done Nigeria proud in connection with PMB.

Let The Lawmakers Move On and Work for Nigeria
By Yusuph Olaniyonu
Tuesday resumption of the two chambers of the federal legislature resumed after five weeks suspension of plenary. The recess scheduled for July 21 had been postponed by one week, obviously to allow more time for the reconciliatory process going on then among the legislators in both chambers of the National Assembly.
As a result of the media hype and sensationalism surrounding the crisis, obviously fuelled from outside the parliament, many had believed that the resumption day was going to be the real day of trouble in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. They expected the lawmakers to freely break the law by resorting to fighting. Some others talked about the possible collapse of the leadership in both chambers. The ground for this latter belief was laid by a Senator, Kabiru Marafa who kept on making incendiary statements. One would have thought that based on the Senator's statements, the Senate Chambers would collapse on the resumption date.
All these negative expectations were against the background of the efforts by the Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mend fences between the groups in the National Assembly. The Governors met with the various groups but no solution seem to have been found, at least as presented by those using the division in the legislature to underscore their own importance and relevance.
However, what happened in the chambers of the National Assembly last Tuesday was a positive anti-climax. First, in the Senate where members sat before their colleagues in the House of Representatives, the plenary was devoid of any problem. Members came in and exchange banters and greetings in a manner which suggested the holiday had cooled tempers. Then, the legislative debates began.
The icing on the cake was a motion sponsored by 81 Senators expressing a vote of confidence on the leadership of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki. With 81 Senators which when added to the duo of the Senate President and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, both of whom could not vote, the motion enjoyed the support of clearly more than two-third of the legislative house. It therefore, should require no need for voting. Yet, the Senate President still gave the nay sayers the opportunity to express themselves. Surprisingly, no single voice said no. This then made the vote of confidence on Saraki and the rest of the Senate leadership, a unanimous decision of the 108 members presently in the Senate.
With that symbolic signal that peace has finally returned, the Senate was able to return to normal legislative transactions in which two main motions that could solve the problem of bad roads and environmental degradation across the country were rigorously debated.
Also, in the House of Representatives, Speaker Yakubu Dogara successfully announced names of principal officers and the choice seemed to have finally settled all the hitherto prevailing differences. The Representatives also went on to discuss motions of relevance to their constituents. In settling the issues in the House of Representatives, the meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with all the legislators the previous day is widely believed to have played a key role. the President's intervention made possible the shift of positions which led to the return of peace.
Now, where do we go from here? With the return of peace, the legislators have no option than to get cracking. They need to start working for Nigeria. They need to start coming out with legislations, embark on oversight functions, debate policies and programmes which can form the basis for advocacy work. They must start making creative, out of the ordinary and ingenuous suggestions which can help the executive to change the landscape of the entire country for the better. Our people have suffered from want in the midst of plenty for too long.
This time around, the people voted for change, positive and progressive one for that matter. That is why the legislators represent not only the diversity of Nigeria, but also the rich nature of her human capital. They represented the different professions, men and women with varied experiences and world views. Fortunately, they have the fortune of working with an executive led by a determined, courageous and popular retired army General, Buhari as the chief executive of our state.
What is now required is for the legislators to support President Buhari in finding solutions to all the problems keeping Nigeria down. This is where Buhari has a role to play in consolidating and utilising the newly achieved peace in the National Assembly. The President should maintain his earlier position not to get involved in legislative politics. He should immediately send out the right signals and body language that he is ready to encourage the new initiative by the legislators to resolve their internal differences on their own. The President should make it known to those who use the legislative chambers as a front for shadow boxing to steer clear and allow the lawmakers to do their work.
A way to send the right signal that he is ready to help the National Assembly build on the new found unity is for the President to now openly meet and relate with the leadership of both chambers. He should be ready to gainfully engage with them on how to prosecute his war against insecurity, unemployment, corruption and economic recession. The President should immediately create a platform for exchange of ideas on the role he expects the legislative houses to play in backing up his multifarious programmes, policies and projects aimed at addressing the four-point agenda he has set up for himself.
We need to put behind us the past experience in which the President travelled to the United States for crucial bi-lateral discussions on several issues without any member of the legislature. That was on opportunity missed to give legislative backing to executive engagements. Buhari was obviously trying to avoid getting involved in the problems in the National Assembly. However, the gaffe will not be lost on the host President Barrack Obama who on his last trip to Kenya and Ethiopia went with over 20 Congressmen.
My advice therefore is for all Nigerians to let the legislature work. If we give them all the co-operation they need, it becomes easy to access them as an institution and as individuals on how far they have gone in fulfilling the aspiration of their electors.
Olaniyonu is Special Adviser to Senate President.

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.

We're determined to make Nigeria work - Saraki
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday said the Eighth Senate is ready to do all it can within the ambit of the law to re-invigorate the dwindling nation's economy and make it compete with that of developed nations across the country.
Saraki stated this when he received a delegation from the United Kingdom Emerging Capital Market Taskforce, led by Mr. Roger Gifford, in Abuja.
He said the present administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari is working towards attracting investors whose entry will revamp the nation's stock market and ailing industries that dot the landscape.
He pointed out that apart from the country's historical relationship with the United Kingdom (UK), Nigeria expects robust economic ties with her former colonial master as well as investments that will assist in the area of industrialization, employment generation and technological development.
While reiterating the commitment of the Eighth Senate towards facilitating the development of the nation's economy, Saraki said: "The Senate is acutely aware that as attractive as Nigeria's market is for investment, the challenge is in creating a friendly business environment that is conducive and competitive in today’s global context.
"We are already taking the bull by the horns and we are at advanced stage of putting together an engagement structure with the business community to fashion out a holistic plan of action that will bring about a comprehensive review of the regulatory instruments and legal structures that inhibit investments and depress capital formation across our business structure," Saraki stated.
The Senate President assured that the Senate will at all times support and push for policies that will create deep, transparent and open capital market with numerous company listings.
He said: "Nigerians want to see legislative instruments that will help to open and stimulate private sector investment in infrastructural development. This will serve as a primary source of funding for national development and also lead to job creation for our teeming populace in line with the Federal Government's agenda for youth employment."
He commended the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the initiative of sending a task force on emerging capital market to Nigeria. He also enjoined the Taskforce to identify Nigeria as a priority market adding that the Senate will continue to fashion out legislative instruments towards achieving set objectives.
In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Roger Gifford, called for continued collaboration between Nigeria and the UK government. He said Nigeria has been identified as an emerging economy in Africa.
Gifford said the long bilateral ties among the two nations paved the way for the establishment of institutions in capital market.
He stated that the Taskforce will work to create an enabling environment by bringing investors into the country.
"I can only task Nigeria to continue to work together with the United Kingdom in order to make good use of the new partnership." Gifford said.
Signed:
The Media Office of the Senate President

The Saraki You May Not Know

Senate President Bukola Saraki is a largely misconstrued character, writes Sanni Onogu

The blame game trailing the June 9 events of the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly continues unabated. Major players, even those who ought to know what went wrong, are living in denial. Those who thought the bitter power struggle that preceded the election of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu as President and Deputy President of the Senate respectively, would fade away easily, may have learnt to think twice.

Parliamentary radicalism has taken the front seat with legislative lilliputs as drivers. The political chessboard has become more intriguing. The recourse to cheap blackmail has become a tool in the hands of mischief makers. For some, Saraki and Ekweremadu are the issue. Sadly, some who barely know Saraki have been firing like loose cannons blaming the former Kwara governor for the political miscalculation of others.  

Should Saraki really be blamed for the events of June 9th? That is the big question begging for dispassionate answer. Some in their desperate attempt to cause maximum mischief have refused to see reason. Others are so buoyed in their blind support to give a fair and unbiased evaluation of the events of June 9th.

While some interested parties continue to mumble incoherently others chose to speak tongue in check on an issue that is as clear as the day light. Their aim? Saraki must not be! Why should Saraki not be? They chuckle and say: 'Saraki did not obey party directives.' Which party directives? They peddle some kindergarten claims as explanation.   

Perhaps, the arrowheads within and outside the National Assembly, those fanning the embers of discord in the Senate, should be reminded to face fact.

The fact remains that the refusal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to zone National Assembly offices ignited the free for all witnessed on June 9th. It was a costly miscalculation the party must admit.

In the first place, an in-house committee of APC had initially zoned the Senate Presidency to the North Central geo-political zone. This was however not to be. For reasons yet to be disclosed, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party refused to ratify the North Central Senate Presidency slot.

The field was left open as the struggle for the plum position of the Senate President became open ended. The position was up for grabs by the fittest. It should also be recalled that some Senators-elect on the APC platform chose to congregate at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja on a day that had been officially slated to inaugurate the National Assembly. While some lame excuses have been offered for the ICC misadventure, nobody wants to take responsibility for misleading the APC lawmakers. 

Could any unprejudiced observer of the events of June 9th say a mere text message, if indeed there was such text message, is superior to a presidential proclamation duly signed by the C-in-C and communicated to the Clerk to the National Assembly for the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly? Such phantom text message could only be superior to a presidential proclamation in a wonderland like Nigeria. The fact that the National Assembly needs to move on and fast too, must be given currency while the threat to unleash mayhem by some irritant members should be ignored.

That Saraki has taken some audacious and proactive measures to show the colour of his Senate Presidency since June 9th is not in doubt. Saraki has made it abundantly clear that as Senate President and Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, he is prepared to lead by example as the first Senator in Nigeria to post weekly activities so that his immediate constituents and Nigerians at large can see, follow and contribute to what their representative is doing in the Senate chamber.

He has also publicly declared that accountability and transparency, as essential as they are to governance, will be his watch word. The Senate President also believes that dialogue on national issues should involve every Nigerian, not special interest groups in the corridors of power in Abuja, which is what continues to diminish the public view of elected leaders. He promised to maintain not just an open door policy but a door-less policy to engender free flow of ideas with mutual respect.

Saraki has been tested and found worthy. He did it in Kwara State as governor for eight years. His agricultural re-engineering in Kwara State remains unparalleled as he succeeded in turning around the agricultural potential of a state with a total land area of 34,600 square kilometers and an annual rainfall of 1,500mm. Through his famous speech, ‘My Vision of a New Nigeria Farmer,’ Saraki expounded his dream of the Nigerian farmer.

Hear him: “My vision of a new Nigeria farmer is built on my vision of a new Nigeria agriculture. I have outlined some of the strategic actions we need to take to achieve the new Nigeria agriculture. I have a dream of the new Nigeria farmer. And I believe that with all the initiatives and interventions I have outlined, that dream will someday soon become a reality. I dream of a day when farming would no longer be regarded as a means of survival but as a business in its own right with all the potential and possibilities that come with any other business.

“I dream of a day when graduates of Accounting or Banking and Finance would prefer to own and run their own farms rather than seek banking jobs; a day when young men and women who hold degrees in Engineering or any other degree for that matter, would opt for a career in farming, not because they have no options but because they regard farming as a more lucrative enterprise.
“I dream of a young man or woman in jeans and t-shirt walking into a bank with his laptop. And on his computer he is able to make a cash-flow analysis and other business arguments to persuade a bank to give him credits based on demonstrated profitability of his farming venture. And I dream of a day when bankers would be milling around farms, seeking business and competing for farmers’ bank accounts.

“I dream of a Nigerian farmer that is capable of taking advantage of technologies and products of research to multiply his yield; when from one hectare, he would harvest ten tonnes of maize and 40 tonnes of cassava. I dream of a Nigerian tomato farmer, who would not be satisfied with his job until he is able to process and package tomato puree and deliver it directly to the supermarkets. I dream of a new Nigerian farmer with a minimum of 50 hectares of land, who applies 100kg of fertilizer at the right time, instead of 7kg when it is too late.

“I dream of a day when the children of the rich will take to farming and the children of the poor will not seek to escape from the farm, a day when farms would be run by the 5th and 6th generations of family owners, a day when not 70% but only a fraction of our population would be involved in agriculture and would use this to feed the rest of the country and export.

“The Nigerian farmer of my dream is one who is familiar with products of agricultural research and innovation, and he is able to use it to expand his productivity and profitability. He can farm all year round because he has the benefit of irrigation. He is able to integrate forward through value-added activities like processing, packaging and so on. He can stand proudly anywhere in the world and say, I am a new Nigeria farmer. That is the farmer of my dream.”

Saraki did not just stop at dreaming, he launched his back to farm initiative. He initiated turning farming into business programme and the Shonga Farms Holding Limited became a reality. He eliminated the diversion of fertilizers in the state among other bold steps he took to reposition agriculture in the state.

That Senator Bukola Saraki is a great achiever is not in doubt. The fact that he has pursued an agenda of good governance that will bring about rapid socio-economic development, employment opportunities, social amenities and security of lives and property in parts of the country is also not in doubt. He is also irrevocably committed to the cardinal principles of good governance, transparency, accountability, efficiency, rule of law and social equity.

Saraki’s leadership of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum remains the golden period of the body. With a little nibbling, the untidy power play in the Senate will be a thing of the past. The recourse to external help may not help in this circumstance. In the final analysis, the truth must be told. That truth is that Saraki must be!

-Onogu is the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

Senate President Bukola Saraki is a largely misconstrued character, writes Sanni Onogu

The blame game trailing the June 9 events of the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly continues unabated. Major players, even those who ought to know what went wrong, are living in denial. Those who thought the bitter power struggle that preceded the election of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu as President and Deputy President of the Senate respectively, would fade away easily, may have learnt to think twice.

Parliamentary radicalism has taken the front seat with legislative lilliputs as drivers. The political chessboard has become more intriguing. The recourse to cheap blackmail has become a tool in the hands of mischief makers. For some, Saraki and Ekweremadu are the issue. Sadly, some who barely know Saraki have been firing like loose cannons blaming the former Kwara governor for the political miscalculation of others.  

Should Saraki really be blamed for the events of June 9th? That is the big question begging for dispassionate answer. Some in their desperate attempt to cause maximum mischief have refused to see reason. Others are so buoyed in their blind support to give a fair and unbiased evaluation of the events of June 9th.

While some interested parties continue to mumble incoherently others chose to speak tongue in check on an issue that is as clear as the day light. Their aim? Saraki must not be! Why should Saraki not be? They chuckle and say: 'Saraki did not obey party directives.' Which party directives? They peddle some kindergarten claims as explanation.   

Perhaps, the arrowheads within and outside the National Assembly, those fanning the embers of discord in the Senate, should be reminded to face fact.

The fact remains that the refusal of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership to zone National Assembly offices ignited the free for all witnessed on June 9th. It was a costly miscalculation the party must admit.

In the first place, an in-house committee of APC had initially zoned the Senate Presidency to the North Central geo-political zone. This was however not to be. For reasons yet to be disclosed, the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party refused to ratify the North Central Senate Presidency slot.

The field was left open as the struggle for the plum position of the Senate President became open ended. The position was up for grabs by the fittest. It should also be recalled that some Senators-elect on the APC platform chose to congregate at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja on a day that had been officially slated to inaugurate the National Assembly. While some lame excuses have been offered for the ICC misadventure, nobody wants to take responsibility for misleading the APC lawmakers. 

Could any unprejudiced observer of the events of June 9th say a mere text message, if indeed there was such text message, is superior to a presidential proclamation duly signed by the C-in-C and communicated to the Clerk to the National Assembly for the inauguration of the 8th National Assembly? Such phantom text message could only be superior to a presidential proclamation in a wonderland like Nigeria. The fact that the National Assembly needs to move on and fast too, must be given currency while the threat to unleash mayhem by some irritant members should be ignored.

That Saraki has taken some audacious and proactive measures to show the colour of his Senate Presidency since June 9th is not in doubt. Saraki has made it abundantly clear that as Senate President and Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, he is prepared to lead by example as the first Senator in Nigeria to post weekly activities so that his immediate constituents and Nigerians at large can see, follow and contribute to what their representative is doing in the Senate chamber.

He has also publicly declared that accountability and transparency, as essential as they are to governance, will be his watch word. The Senate President also believes that dialogue on national issues should involve every Nigerian, not special interest groups in the corridors of power in Abuja, which is what continues to diminish the public view of elected leaders. He promised to maintain not just an open door policy but a door-less policy to engender free flow of ideas with mutual respect.

Saraki has been tested and found worthy. He did it in Kwara State as governor for eight years. His agricultural re-engineering in Kwara State remains unparalleled as he succeeded in turning around the agricultural potential of a state with a total land area of 34,600 square kilometers and an annual rainfall of 1,500mm. Through his famous speech, ‘My Vision of a New Nigeria Farmer,’ Saraki expounded his dream of the Nigerian farmer.

Hear him: “My vision of a new Nigeria farmer is built on my vision of a new Nigeria agriculture. I have outlined some of the strategic actions we need to take to achieve the new Nigeria agriculture. I have a dream of the new Nigeria farmer. And I believe that with all the initiatives and interventions I have outlined, that dream will someday soon become a reality. I dream of a day when farming would no longer be regarded as a means of survival but as a business in its own right with all the potential and possibilities that come with any other business.

“I dream of a day when graduates of Accounting or Banking and Finance would prefer to own and run their own farms rather than seek banking jobs; a day when young men and women who hold degrees in Engineering or any other degree for that matter, would opt for a career in farming, not because they have no options but because they regard farming as a more lucrative enterprise.
“I dream of a young man or woman in jeans and t-shirt walking into a bank with his laptop. And on his computer he is able to make a cash-flow analysis and other business arguments to persuade a bank to give him credits based on demonstrated profitability of his farming venture. And I dream of a day when bankers would be milling around farms, seeking business and competing for farmers’ bank accounts.

“I dream of a Nigerian farmer that is capable of taking advantage of technologies and products of research to multiply his yield; when from one hectare, he would harvest ten tonnes of maize and 40 tonnes of cassava. I dream of a Nigerian tomato farmer, who would not be satisfied with his job until he is able to process and package tomato puree and deliver it directly to the supermarkets. I dream of a new Nigerian farmer with a minimum of 50 hectares of land, who applies 100kg of fertilizer at the right time, instead of 7kg when it is too late.

“I dream of a day when the children of the rich will take to farming and the children of the poor will not seek to escape from the farm, a day when farms would be run by the 5th and 6th generations of family owners, a day when not 70% but only a fraction of our population would be involved in agriculture and would use this to feed the rest of the country and export.

“The Nigerian farmer of my dream is one who is familiar with products of agricultural research and innovation, and he is able to use it to expand his productivity and profitability. He can farm all year round because he has the benefit of irrigation. He is able to integrate forward through value-added activities like processing, packaging and so on. He can stand proudly anywhere in the world and say, I am a new Nigeria farmer. That is the farmer of my dream.”

Saraki did not just stop at dreaming, he launched his back to farm initiative. He initiated turning farming into business programme and the Shonga Farms Holding Limited became a reality. He eliminated the diversion of fertilizers in the state among other bold steps he took to reposition agriculture in the state.

That Senator Bukola Saraki is a great achiever is not in doubt. The fact that he has pursued an agenda of good governance that will bring about rapid socio-economic development, employment opportunities, social amenities and security of lives and property in parts of the country is also not in doubt. He is also irrevocably committed to the cardinal principles of good governance, transparency, accountability, efficiency, rule of law and social equity.

Saraki’s leadership of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum remains the golden period of the body. With a little nibbling, the untidy power play in the Senate will be a thing of the past. The recourse to external help may not help in this circumstance. In the final analysis, the truth must be told. That truth is that Saraki must be!

-Onogu is the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

The Senate President today inaugurated four committees to enable it carry out its core assignments of providing quality legislation.

The committees are selection Committee which is to be headed by Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Committee on Rules and Business with Senator Babajide Omoworare(Osun East) as Chairman; Ethics and Privileges Committee with Senator Samuel Anyanwu(Imo East) as its head, while the Senate Ad-hoc Committee will be headed by Senator Dino Melaye(Kogi West).

With these Committees in place, the Senate is better positioned to engage with the public more effectively, deliver on its day-to-day activities and maintain the integrity of its legislative oversight.

Signed,

Bamikole Omishore.

LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUHARI: A TRIPARTITE SOLUTION TO TERRORISM IN NIGERIA by Olawale Rotimi (BA, MA, Ilorin, DELF Paris)

Dear President,

Terrorism which was alien to Nigeria has become an intrinsic challenge to the country. This challenge has led to serious infrastructural damage in the areas of education, health and social welfare facilities, poor economy particularly in affected areas, while millions are left homeless. Terrorism in Nigeria did not develop from a vacuum; there are some social and political factors that gave birth to terrorism in Nigeria. Though the terrorist group, under the name “boko haram” has metamorphosed into a very dangerous and threatening group, social and political issues in the Nigerian context cannot be disconnected from its root.

Mr President, it is not news that Nigeria is rich in corrupt records and social injustice- a thorough marginalization of the social structure which makes the rich richer and the poor remain hopelessly poor. A security snap poll results released by NOIPolls Limited in 2014, indicated that political interest, unemployment, bad leadership and poverty as major causes of terrorism in Nigeria. The survey revealed that 26 percent of the sampled populace identified political interest as a cause, while 21 percent identified unemployment as the cause. A 10 percent share was attributed to bad leadership while 8 percent was attributed to poverty. This implies that the foundational causes of terrorism in Nigeria must be addressed in order to overcome the menace.

President Muhammadu Buhari, to make a difference and achieve results previous governments could not achieve, your government must do things differently and set the right pace in Nigerian institutions that will outlive your term. Boko Haram posed a big threat to former President Jonathan’s government; unfortunately, the terrorist group has intensified attacks in a confusing manner since your government was inaugurated. Nigerians voted you, not because of the party that presented you but because of your ability and tenacity to end corruption in Nigeria, thus, same way the terrorist group remains a blemish on Jonathan’s government, they may remain a blemish on your government if you do not approach the battle against them differently. Below are three major solutions to end terrorism in Nigeria at the shortest delay:

Counter Terrorism Military Intervention: Nigerian Army has many success records in Nigeria and Africa; for about three decades, the Nigerian Army was one of the strongest Army in Africa, winning many battles and keeping peace in foreign nations. However, the strength of Nigerian Army seems to have been challenged by the insurgents. Nigerian Army that grounded tough rebel forces in Ivory Coast, Liberia and other countries has found it difficult to topple insurgents on its own soil. The Nigeria Army has to review its fighting techniques and improve its counter-terrorism approaches in combating the insurgents.

 

Economic Empowerment Intervention: There is a strong link between socio-economic deprivation and terrorism, socio-economic deprivations leads to poverty and frustration. Poverty, frustration and ignorance often serve as breeding ground for terrorism; thus, fighting terrorism through economic development should emerge as a new and long term objective of countering terrorism. As popularly said, an idle hand is the devil’s workshop, an idle population is generally prone to crime. In the fight against Boko Haram insurgents in Nigeria, economic empowerment ought to be adopted to prevent more terrorists from emerging and also rehabilitate people who lost their properties and businesses to insurgents.

Good Governance: Lack of good governance has been a major cause of terrorism in Nigeria. Nigerian government has deprived Nigerians of good governance, justice; fairness and equity have been elusive in the social system. Nigerians have long been denied the dividends of democracy. Thus, good and credible leadership practices must be demonstrated by the incumbent government to strengthen the nation and create an enabling environment for citizens to succeed.

Dear President, military action alone will not end terrorism in Nigeria, military action must be accompanied with economic empowerment and good governance. A corrupt government will inspire provocation from its citizen. Your Excellency, you must make a difference and add colour to leadership in Nigeria by fighting corruption and improving the economy. This will not only put an end to terrorism, it will also reduce crime to the barest minimum. God bless Nigeria!

 

Rotimi is the Editor of The AGES Magazine and Special Assistant on Media to Barrister Razak Atunwa, Member of House of Representatives.

SENATE PASSES VOTE OF CONFIDENCE ON SARAKI

The Senate on Tuesday passed a Vote of Confidence on Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki's presidency, putting to bed insinuations in some quarters that it is divided.

The motion, which was moved by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo east), had a wide range of support base and acceptance of majority of the Senate, as 81 Senators supported the motion.

The passage of the Vote of Confidence on Saraki's leadership as President of the Senate has effectively laid to rest insinuations of rancour among the Senators, who are said to be displeased with the Senate President.

It would be recalled that Saraki emerged President of the 8th Senate entirely on the goodwill of majority of the Senators who voted for him as their preferred choice against the wish of some party leader.

However, with the latest development, those rumours and insinuations of a divided Senate can be said to be over, as an overwhelming majority voted to pass the motion of a Vote of Confidence on his leadership.

Senate President, Dr Saraki in a welcome speech charged Senators to jettison any act of politicking that is capable of distracting them from the core business of governance and delivering change to their constituents.

Saraki was quoted as saying "Our mandate is not to come and play party politics, but to be solution providers for numerous challenges that has bedeviled our country from every side "

WELCOME SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR (DR) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI (CON) TO SENATORS OF THE 8TH SENATE ON RESUMPTION FROM A SHORT RECESS ON TUESDAY, 28 July, 2015.
Protocol:
Distinguished colleagues, it is my pleasure once again; to welcome you back to the Senate Chambers after a short recess. It is expected that the recess would have in no small measure helped us consolidate the stability of the National Assembly. Now it is time to move as one house in one direction to fulfill the promise we made to our constituencies that gave us our mandate to deliver real change.
Distinguished colleagues, before we went on recess, we started the process of laying down the marker for the new Senate by inaugurating the Ad Hoc Committee on Senate Finances and the Committee on Legislative Agenda. We expect the reports of Committees to refocus the energy of the Senate on the challenges ahead. We want to show and indeed must show that this Senate is alive to its lawmaking, oversight, policymaking and representation duties.
While we may have adjourned plenary the Senate continued to work within, proactively reaching out to key public institutions including the ICPC, the NBA, NLC, CBN, the IOCs, the FIRS, and many other agencies of government for briefings on the state of the nation and their various agencies as part of a broader Senate strategy to understanding the legal regulatory and institutional gaps that may be holding these agencies back in fulfilling their mandate. This we see as a preliminary step towards closing areas of identified leakages in the revenue system.
Our revenue profile has taken a great hit with the economic realities we face today. Aside the drop in the oil receipt, we have seen revenues plummet due to oil thefts, indiscriminate grants of numerous import duty waivers, concessions and grants. Nigerians want to see the National Assembly tackle these obscenities in our revenue systems as it denies our people the right to good governance.
Distinguished colleagues, our country is passing through a difficult time. We cannot afford to watch the mindboggling leakages in our oil receipt to go on, this Senate is in tandem with Mr. President on this and is determined to turn every stone and shift every rock to ensure that all revenues due to the country from oil are recovered. We are not the only oil producing country in the world; oil theft cannot therefore become an acceptable part of our oil business.
Furthermore, Nigerians are tired of the inadequacies in the power sector and want to see a reinvigorated power sector capable of delivering enough energy to power the new Nigerian economy. Our people dream to see a more open economy, they want to see legislative instruments that will help to open and stimulate private sector investment in infrastructure development, and enhance the ease of doing business in the country.
Distinguished colleagues, in recent times, we have seen resurgence in the activities of Boko Haram and some other criminal elements in our society leading to the death of many of our citizens. We cannot continue to let senseless groups cause untimely death to our citizens without hindrance. This is another sad addition to the cocktail of security challenges we can ill-afford at this time. In the coming days, I will constitute a high powered Senate delegation to visit our troops on the battle line and some of our internally displaced persons in the North East to have a firsthand appreciation of the challenges, the suffering and plight that has befallen our people in the area. Soon afterwards we shall, working together with the House, develop concrete steps towards the rehabilitation and renewal of the battered local economy of the North East.
Make no mistake about it, the aim of these militant groups is simple, to test our resolve and disintegrate our unity. But let me reiterate the readiness and willingness of the National Assembly to support and work with President Muhammadu Buhari to comprehensively rout Boko Haram. We join Mr. President in saying “that we will defeat terrorism in our country and region, because we have the will to win this fight.” Our resolve is collective, we urge all friends of Nigeria including the United States and the entire international community to join us.
Distinguished colleagues, we have our work cut out for us, we cannot afford to frolic. Nigerians did not give us our mandate to come and pursue leadership, their mandate was for us to pursue governance and bring solutions to their burning issues. It is time we remind ourselves of the solemn promise to deliver to our people real change. Leadership is secondary to our primary responsibility of good governance. As Senate President you have given me responsibility to ensure that our primary responsibility is placed on the table not under the table. Nigerians did not put their lives on the line for politics but for the delivery of good governance.
10. My distinguished colleagues, the Job of changing our corporate destiny starts today. Though the challenges are huge, they are not insurmountable. Let this challenges inspire us as leaders to show courage, statesmanship and valour. We have taken the right first steps out, we must now set out at dawn. We do not have all the time indeed our clock is ticking.
11. Distinguished colleagues, it is time, lets get started and deliver meaningful change to our people.
12. Thank you for your attention and God bless Nigeria.
Sen. (Dr.) Bukola Saraki (CON)
President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Saraki congratulates Odusile, challenges him to Eliminate quacks
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has congratulated the newly elected President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alh. Waheed Odusile and urged him to take seriously the task of eliminating quacks and fake journalists who give the profession a bad name.
Saraki described the election of Odusile as well deserved going by his track record of professionalism as a journalist but noted that the union under the new leadership must devise means of ensuring that some individuals who harass people at public functions while claiming to be journalists are dealt with according to the law so as to stop them from creating a bad image for the profession.
"The new executives under Odusile should take the issue of enforcement of compliance with professional ethics as a priority. Journalists of today should be ready to abide by the code of ethics of the profession and they should be more professional because their role in sustaining democracy and on-going development in the country cannot be emphasised.
"No doubt that you have what it takes to lead a critical body like the NUJ at this juncture in our democratic journey. I am particularly pleased that your election was based on your popularity and wide acceptance by your colleagues from all over the country," he said.
He enjoined the new NUJ boss to use his new position to better the lots of both journalists in the country and the journalism profession because the contribution of the media will go a long way to boost the efforts of the present administration to revamp the nation's economy.
He said he is looking forward to a robust partnership with the media and their elected representatives in the task of making legislations that will lead to improved standard of living in the country.
Signed
Sanni Onogu
Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President

Police: Investigation into Forgery of Senate Rules Inconclusive
Officer Emmanuel Ojukwu

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has said it has not concluded its investigations into the alleged forgery of the Senate’s Standing Order, adding that no copy of its report had been handed to President Muhammadu Buhari as reported in some sections of the media.


Speaking to THISDAY yesterday on the purported report, the Force Public Relations Officer Emmanuel Ojukwu described as false the news report that the investigation into the alleged forgery had been concluded and a report submitted to the president by the police.


A news story at the weekend claimed that the president had received a copy of the police report last week, confirming that the Standing Rules used to inaugurate the Eighth Assembly were forged.


In the story, the police were said to have recommended the prosecution of those found culpable of forging the rules, which were used in the election of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on June 9, 2015.
The report was said to have indicted the management of the National Assembly, especially the clerk, Salisu Maikasuwa, among others, and recommended the prosecution of the suspects.


However, Ojukwu told THISDAY that the investigation was still ongoing, adding that no report was submitted to the president.
“I want to state categorically that the investigation into the allegation of forgery at the Senate is still ongoing. We have not concluded it yet, so where did the media get the information that not only has it been concluded but handed over to President Mohammed Buhari.


“The investigation is still ongoing and whenever it is ready, we will make it available to the public. The media report that we have concluded the investigation into the case is false and should be disregarded,” he said.


Also commenting on the story, a Senator said he expected the police, being part of the executive arm of government, to recognise the separation of powers, which could invalidate their findings.


He added that if there were any alterations to the Senate rules, they must have been done by the civil servants in the National Assembly and not the senators who had not even been sworn-in to review the rules.


Acting on a petition by Senator Sulaiman Hunkuyi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the police had on July 6 quizzed Maikasuwa over the alleged forgery of the standing rules of the upper legislative chamber.
The petition alleged that some parts of the 2015 rules were different from the one ratified by the Sixth Senate in 2010 and was used by the Seventh Senate in 2011.


The police, on the strength of the petition, had subsequently quizzed the leadership of the Seventh Senate, including former Senate President David Mark; his deputy (now Saraki’s deputy), Ekweremadu; former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; and the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.


Maikasuwa, who is the custodian of the standing rules, was also invited for questioning by the police.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/police-investigation-into-forgery-of-senate-rules-inconclusive/215720/